Orosoko and Oaklore owners open new South End bar and bottle shop
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The garage doors open and face Orosoko across the street. Photo: Laura Barrero/Axios
A new bottle shop and bar by the owners of Orosoko Sound Bar and Matthews-based distillery Oaklore Distilling will open in South End later this month, the owners tell Axios.
Why it matters: Oaklore Bar & Bottle Shop will be open six days a week, including Sundays, making it one of the few places in Charlotte where liquor bottles can be sold on Sundays.
- Located across the street from Orosoko, Oaklore Bar & Bottle Shop will sell Oaklore spirits exclusively.
"The new space will complement Orosoko's operations, offering patrons a stylish, comfortable venue they can visit while they wait for dinner," an Orosoko representative tells Axios.
The vibe: The 900-square-foot space at 1425 Winnifred St. will seat approximately 50 people across its centerpiece bar and additional lounge seating.
- Its menu will feature signature cocktails made with Oaklore Spirits (and other premium spirits), crafted by beverage director Martin Olivos.
- The bottle shop will exclusively sell Oaklore whiskey, vodka, gin, rum and other products.
Once open, Oaklore Bar & Bottle Shop will operate Tuesday 5–10pm, Wednesday–Thursday 5pm–midnight, Friday–Saturday 5pm–2am, Sundays noon–9pm. Closed on Mondays.
What's next: Oaklore Bar & Bottle Shop is slated to open in late September.
- Later this year, a private tasting room that fits an additional 16 guests will open adjacent to the bar.
- A 300-square-foot patio with a canopy will be added off the main sidewalk, overlooking Bland Street and Orosoko, by the end of the year.
The big picture: A 2021 state law made it legal for distilleries to sell liquor in closed containers on Sundays. Previously, they were only allowed to sell during the hours the ABC was open.
- There are only a couple of distilleries in Charlotte — Great Wagon Road Distilling in NoDa and Seven Jars Distillery in north Charlotte, which is closed on Sundays.
Orosoko is a relatively new upscale restaurant with shareable plates and top-notch acoustics by owners Greg Pappanastos and Jay Pound.
- It's located at 130 W. Bland St., across from Morelia Gourmet Paletas.
Oaklore Distilling opened in 2022, co-founded by Matt Simpkins and Tom Bogan. Its most popular spirits, Four Grain Bourbon and North Carolina Straight Rye Whiskey, are available in more than 60 bars and restaurants, as well as in more than 50 ABC stores across the state.
- Last summer, to meet demand, its owners purchased a new 6,000-square-foot building, along with a bottling line that increased its production capability from 100 cases a week to 280 cases in 1.5 days, or by 250%.
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to show that Oaklore's beverage director is Martin Olivos (not Bryant York) and its owners are Greg Pappanastos and Jay Pound (Nick Spain exited early this summer to pursue his real estate career full-time.
- This story was originally published in April 2025 and was last updated in September 2025 with photos and new details.