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Former tech executive, partner create Napa restaurant, wine shop

NAPA – Retired tech executive Rich Poliak and partner Noel Burke are close to opening their first downtown restaurant and wine bar, which they hope will become a staple in the reviving district as well as the valley’s most comprehensive tasting room.

“This has been in process for about a year now. We wanted to create something different in Napa. It still has that wine bar focus, but we are trying to include a really varied wine list from in and outside of the valley,” Mr. Poliak said. “It’s very clear to me that there is a resurgence of interest going into downtown Napa, and I think we will be in a good position when we open this summer.”

The 2,000-square-foot space is named Elements Restaurant and Enoteca. The interior will infuse the elements of fire, water, air and earth, with seating for about 50 to 60. San Francisco architects Olle Lundberg and Lundberg Design made the drawings.

“The look and feel of the place should be striking,” said Mr. Burke, who will be the restaurant’s general manager. “It’s going to bring a little bit of that edginess you might find in the city, but not so over the top that it seems out of place.”

Former ZuZu chef Charles Weber will also join the group behind the stove, with plans to combine a variety of food styles and draw from what’s fresh in local farms and markets. The restaurant is described as casual fine dining with a small plate format between $4 and $18. It will have a few items that are always available, but specials will change depending on what is in season and new wine releases.

“The menu will reflect flavors of different wineries around the world – French, Spanish, Italian, Mediterranean – very simple, fresh and harmonized with the wines. I like to cook spontaneously. There might something nice at the market one day and not the next,” Mr. Weber said.

The site is located in a former pizzeria that has been gutted and is going through renovations. The building houses five units and was built in the 1950s.

The location at the corner of Second and Franklin streets does not currently see a lot of foot traffic, but it is literally in the middle of several large projects, including the 141-room Avia Napa boutique hotel and a new 68,000-square-foot office building.

Mr. Poliak said it is possible they could add another location, but they are also planning a wine club and possible internet wine sales. Mr. Poliak said every wine that is available for tasting will also be for sale, though the startup list is still being finalized. They are hoping for between 50 and 75 wines.

Wines will include varieties from California but also from Europe and other parts of the world. The entrepreneur does plan to rotate the wines with the seasons, adding more whites and roses, for example, in the summer.

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