The Scoop: The Dark Room wine bar and photo gallery to open in Grand Center

Fine art and fine wine will be under the same roof when The Dark Room opens in Grand Center. A combination wine bar and photo gallery, The Dark Room will be located in the heart of Grand Center at 615 N. Grand Blvd., formerly occupied by William Shearburn Gallery, and is expected to open in mid-March.

A partnership between Grand Center Inc., Ken Kranzberg and the International Photography Hall of Fame, The Dark Room is designed to be an adult-only venue that enhances community engagement, encourages conversation and inspires ideas.

The wine bar will offer seating for 40 patrons, spread between a bar, high-top tables and two community tables, explained Chris Hansen, managing partner at The Dark Room and director of theaters and events for the Kranzberg Arts Center. (Hansen is also a partner at The Demo concert venue at Atomic Cowboy and a former owner of Lola.) The Dark Room will offer a rotating wine list curated by Bill Kniep of Pinnacle Imports, as well as craft beers. Food options will include charcuterie, fine cheeses, small plates and desserts.

While the wine bar will please the palate, photography from artists around the country will please the eye. The International Photography Hall of Fame will curate the rotating monthly photography exhibited in the 1,800-square-foot gallery, selecting works that appeal to collectors and enthusiasts alike.

This article appears in January 2014.