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Todd family defies coronavirus by opening new business

Pour on Roy will be “elegant but not overpriced”

by Melanie Jongsma

LANSING, Ill. (June 4, 2020) – “There’s nothing like a pandemic to start a new business, right?” laughed Amy Todd. She and her family have begun the process of opening a new wine bar in the building they own at the corner of Ridge Road and Roy Street.

The location was formerly occupied by Troost Coffee & Tea, a much-loved gathering place for caffeine, conversation, and community. When owner Renae Fentress decided not to renew her lease, Amy wondered if this was an opportunity to finally actualize a business idea she’d been considering for years.

“Well, I love wine,” she explained. And when she approached her family with the idea of opening an upscale wine bar in the Troost location— “They jumped on board very quickly.”

The family includes Amy, her brothers Jim and John, and her sister and brother-in-law Tammy and Jim Green. The troupe attended the May 19 Village Board meetings to present their business idea and request the needed liquor license.

From left: Jim Todd, Jim Green, Tammy Green, John Todd, and Amy Todd, wearing the required facial coverings, presented their business idea to the Village Board on May 19. (Photo: Melanie Jongsma)

“We really just thought the idea of bringing something really cool, like a wine bar, to that space would be a really nice addition to Lansing,” Amy explained to the Board in her presentation. With the opening of Fox Pointe as an entertainment venue last year, the Board has been particularly interested in developing new businesses in the downtown area that will enhance the experience particularly for out-of-town visitors.

The Todd and Green families understand the potential that Fox Pointe brings to local businesses. They also own the Mancino’s Pizza & Grinders on Ridge Road, and they see an uptick in business on nights when something is happening at Fox Point. “I was at every Wednesday Night [Concert] last year,” said John Todd, “and it was phenomenal. The crowd, the whole atmosphere was fantastic.” They want to take advantage of that momentum for their new establishment, which will be called Pour on Roy.

Pour on Roy will be an upscale, elegant wine bar. (Rendering provided)

Pour on Roy will be an upscale, elegant setting where patrons can enjoy wines, craft beers, and “small bites” both before and after a Fox Pointe event. The space is not large enough for a full kitchen so The Pour will not offer a full food menu, but being connected to Mancino’s will allow for a pass-through so patrons can order flatbreads or other oven-made items in addition to the charcuterie trays that will be the mainstay of the menu. The Todd and Greene families will all be hands-on involved in the business.

Amy hopes to offer wine tastings and pairing events featuring local sommeliers, giving people opportunities to not only enjoy wine but also learn why certain vintages pair well with certain foods and experience the variety of domestic wines that are available— “It’s not all just France and California,” she says.

The former Troost space will not require much remodeling in order to be transformed into The Pour on Roy. The room that was formerly used as an occasional meeting room will be opened up, creating an expanded area for hightop tables and seating, with some space for possibly a single guitar as live background music.

The planned remodeling will include removing the room that Troost patrons used as a meeting room. (Photo: Melanie Jongsma)
Owner Amy Todd is excited about bringing an upscale wine bar to Lansing as a complement to the Fox Pointe venue. (Photo: Melanie Jongsma)

The business concept was enthusiastically received by the Board on May 19, and at the June 2 meeting Trustees voted unanimously to approve the requested Class 9 Liquor License, which permits the retail sale of beer and wine for on-premises consumption only.

“If we really put our minds to it, we could probably have this up and running in about 60 days,” John Todd told the Board. “We just feel that this is a great addition to the community.”

Pour on Roy will be located at 18155 Roy Street, Unit 2, in Lansing, Illinois.

Melanie Jongsma
Melanie Jongsma
Melanie Jongsma grew up in Lansing, Illinois, and believes The Lansing Journal has an important role to play in building community through trustworthy information.

4 COMMENTS

  1. Fantastic, Can’t wait!! So excited for you, your family and all of us in Lansing! Congratulations!!!

  2. Congratulations to all of you. You are such a great part of Lansing and are making it even better. I’m sure you will have great success in your new venture. Lansing will welcome you with love. I’m wishing you the best with love.

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