Wine and Cheese store.

[Innkeeper]

Don't want to completely rain on your party, but some advice would be handy. Sounds like you live in a good market. That's a plus. Limit your offerings and check the licensing requirements (understand Texas is a bear). A simple retail wine and cheese store with occassional tastings would be easier than a wine by the glass cafe.

You still need to learn a LOT about both wine and cheese before you give it any more consideration. Also check out in addition to the above, anything unique about distribution and wholesaling in the area.

In our state the distributors have territories divided up horizontally. Commerce and population runs along vertical lines (based on rivers and interstates). A fellow opened up a wine and picnic basket business on the Belfast waterfront a few years ago. His plan was to make his wares available to visiting yachtsmen. He lasted six months. His first mistake was to check a wineshop in Camden (20 miles south) for available wines, and then printed up his menu. You guessed it; different distributor. His next mistake was to fail to notice that Belfast, at least at the time, was the least favorite port of call on the entire Maine coast among yachtmen.

All this is just to point out to you, the kinds of challenges that can come out of left field.