Chez Nous will open near the intersection of West Cary and South Foushee streets. (Mike Platania photo)
Melissa Stallard’s roots lay far from France, the country for which she said she’s always had an affection.
“I’m not French, but I wish I was,” the Caroline County native said, laughing.
Chasing that wish, Stallard has visited l’Hexagone a half-dozen times in recent years, including two trips last year. “I’m a big Francophile,” she said. “I’ve got a lot of friends from the country.”
Now, amid a career change away from the insurance industry, Stallard is looking to bring some French flair to Monroe Ward.
She recently signed a lease to open Chez Nous, a new wine bar and shop at 4 W. Cary St.
Melissa Stallard
The front of the 1,100-square-foot space will be a retail area where Stallard said she’ll stock French-inspired items including kitchenware, perfumes and pantry goods.
The rear of Chez Nous will lead up to a wine bar, where Stallard, 50, said she’ll serve wine and some small plates, as well as a bottled wine to go.
She said she hopes for it to be like the wine bars she’s found in Paris.
“I’m envisioning that when you come off the street on Cary, it’s like you popped into a shop in France,” she said. “That’s what I want it to look like. It’s going to be very quaint and very cozy.”
The wine bar area will have seating for about 30 including at small marble tables with bistro chairs.
Chez Nous’ wine list will be predominantly French, and its food menu will be limited to around five rotating items including things like charcuterie, deviled eggs topped with smoked salmon and open-face sandwiches.
“I’m trying to do nice, small bites that are a little elevated,” Stallard said.
“Chez Nous” is a French phrase that translates to “at our place.” Stallard said she hopes her shop will invoke the saying.
“It’s very familiar and convivial. The French say ‘chez nous’ as like, ‘Come on over, come on over to our place.’ It totally encapsulates exactly what we’re going for,” Stallard said.
Stallard said she’s working on renovating the space now with plans to open in early 2025. Pollard & Bagby’s Lebs Breeden represented her in lease negotiations.
Stallard said in addition to leaving the insurance industry this year, her children also graduated from high school and college.
“This was a big year for me. It was a lot of change going on, and I just felt like I needed to lean into it and embrace it instead of fighting it,” she said.
Meanwhile, at the other end of Cary Street, new local wine shop Dinner Party is preparing to open this month.
At first I thought this seemed like an odd location, but when looking at the map and remembering my recent walks over there – maybe it isn’t a bad choice. There are lots of new apartments and condos being built in Monroe Ward and it’s right around the corner from The Jefferson. Hopefully retail opportunities like these will help activate the underutilized parking lots that makeup the majority of Monroe Ward. I’ll be sure to walk over from my apartment and check it out when it opens.