Visual Art Opening Up Activities
Wine & Design Franchise Will Expand To Eau Claire's B7 Flats In New Year
national sip-and-paint business will soon open location in the Chippewa Valley, to offer nightly classes, kids activities, create local partnerships
Downtown Eau Claire will soon welcome its latest sip-and-paint business: Wine & Design.
Wine & Design, a Raleigh, North Carolina based franchise – which began in 2010 – plans to open its doors within the B7 Flats apartment building (224 N Barstow St., Eau Claire) in January of 2026.
Today, the franchise – which creates premier art experiences that elevate paint and sip beyond the canvas,” its website reads – has dozens of locations across the United States; in Wisconsin, Madison is the sole location of Wine & Design in the state – but not for long.
Hannah Kunze, the owner behind Eau Claire’s prospective Wine & Design location, intends for the space to mirror other locations within the larger franchise; she aims to build community through nightly art instructionals, do-it-yourself projects and emulate the casual, social settings Eau Claire’s nightlife scene depends upon.
“Wine & Design is all about building community in a creative way,” Kunze said. “I can’t wait to start the business (in Eau Claire), meet people and establish my family here – it’s a great place to be.”
With eager anticipation for the Eau Claire location's January opening, Kunze has already brought the Wine & Design spirit to downtown with its "Finders Keepers" campaign.
The arrival to Eau Claire is a full-circle moment for Kunze. She spent her early years growing up in the city of Eau Claire prior to moving to Colorado in her early adulthood, followed by more travel across the country with her family, until now.
While also being a Wine & Design franchisee, Kunze prides herself on being a lifelong art instructor – with degrees in K-12 art education – who engages with students from all walks of life.
She first encountered her very own community of creatives – brought together through Wine & Design – in North Carolina, where the franchise was founded. When her family eventually relocated to Idaho, she jumped at the opportunity to buy into the franchise and start her own Wine & Design studio there.
Now, she has the opportunity to continue this same path as an art instructor through the soon-to-be Eau Claire location. “I love the company; Wine & Design is my passion,” Kunze said.
The Eau Claire Wine & Design, nestled within downtown's B7 Flats, will feature much of the same offerings as other national purveyors: private and public painting instructional courses; “Art Buzz Kids” (Wine & Design’s youth program); the D.I.Y. division for chunky knit blankets and hand-dipped classes; Wine & Design “On Wheels” for mobile art engagement; among many other activities yet to be unveiled.
With eager anticipation for the Eau Claire location’s January opening, Kunze has already brought the Wine & Design spirit to downtown with its “Finders Keepers” campaign.
Throughout the month of December, Kunze will leave one-of-a-kind art pieces, inspired by Wine & Design courses, throughout mystery locations along Barstow St. for the community to find and keep – free of charge.
“I feel this was a great opportunity to introduce (Wine & Design) to Eau Claire … It’s very heartwarming to do (this) campaign; to share art and the love of art,” Kunze said.
Eau Claire's Wine & Design location is ongoing, with Kunze in the process of transitioning from her former location in Idaho. The business will continue its local art campaign while working to secure a beer and wine license, contract artists to host classes and develop an official website for class registration.
“I am loving the connections I am making,” Kunze said in anticipation of Wine & Design’s opening in downtown Eau Claire. “I knew I wanted to be downtown; Barstow (Street) was the way to go … the vibe was just the right fit.”
To learn more about the Wine & Design franchise and class offerings at other locations, visit wineanddesign.com.
