I asked the owner of Bin Wine Bar to tell me one thing she hates about wine. She didn't think twice before replying:
"The pretentiousness."
Maybe that was a silly question for a wine lover, but Rebecca Illingworth's answer illuminates everything the first-time bar owner is trying to do in St. Paul's Lowertown.
Whether most of us (myself included) would like to admit it or not, wine is intimidating. Illingworth's wine bar oozes an air of accessibility. That doesn't mean she's pouring Two Buck Chuck. But as a consumer, it also doesn't mean you're going to be overwhelmed by a phone-book sized wine list or feel stupid because you don't know the difference between a chardonnay and a sauvignon blanc (but c'mon, that's an easy one).
Illingworth sure has picked the right spot for Bin. It's the latest addition to Lowertown, which has become a fertile pocket for new restaurants and bars. Bin sits a couple doors down from Barrio and the Bulldog (apparently, all bars on this block must begin with the letter "B"). There are rumors that Bill Murray (who co-owns the St. Paul Saints) is interested in opening one of his Caddyshack restaurants in the area. I guess we'll have to stop calling downtown St. Paul by its other name: Boringtown, USA.
Since opening on Feb. 13, Bin has attracted a loyal base of condo dwellers and office workers. Illingworth lives a block from the bar. She grew up in Mexico City, eventually landing in Minnesota, where her mom worked in the restaurant industry until retirement. This is Illingworth's first foray into the hospitality business, having spent most of her career in the advertising business. She still works as a consultant and has a home in Chicago.
Located in the century-old Park Square Building, Bin has taken advantage of the historic atmosphere. The thin space is intimate, but it benefits from huge arched windows. They reach from the floor to the top of the high ceilings. Illingworth has furnished the bar with re-used tables and chairs. The bar itself (seats about eight) came from a coffee shop in Wisconsin.
As for the wine, Bin offers 25 by the glass ($5-$9), 20 of which are available in 1- or 2-ounce tastes ($1-$2). On any given night, you'll find most customers with small wooden crates on their table. These are the wine flights, which you create yourself by mixing and matching the 20 different tastes. It's extremely affordable and fun. (For connoisseurs, the reserve list contains more than 25 bottles, priced between $50 and $190.)
