Meet Nick Varnadoe | Owner/Proprietor – Erie Social Club

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nick Varnadoe and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nick, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
A layoff during the pandemic was actually the spark that led to Erie Social Club.  It provided the opportunity to follow my dream:  Opening a wine and cocktail bar has been a dream of mine for many years. We love Old Town Erie and thought the area was in need of a comforting space where friends and family could gather, relax, and enjoy a wide variety of wines and spirits. My experiences from 25 years working at Disney in Orlando and my passion for wine helped me navigate the ups and downs of building and running a bar.  I pulled from lessons learned from years working in the service industry to create a unique environment where everyone is treated as a special guest, not just customers.  From leading a service-focused team to product sourcing to day-to-day operations, I’m grateful for how my first career at Disney prepared me for this new adventure.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?

Erie Social Club is a wine/cocktail bar and eatery located in Old Town Erie. Our space is warm and accommodating with an abundance of comfortable leather chairs and couches which are perfect for socializing. We offer a wide variety of wines by the glass and bottle, specialty cocktails and hundreds of individual spirits poured neat, on the rocks, or mixed.   We also serve food that pairs well with our massive drink selection including charcuterie boards, salads, pressed sandwiches, homemade pretzel bites, desserts and more.

We offer trivia nights, bingo, and have a selection of fun board games, and one of my favorite spots – the little liquor library.  We finally found a fun way to share our expansive collection of books about wine and cocktails!   Our heated patio is dog-friendly and provides a perfect spot to relax in the fresh air.  The venue is also available for private party rental, business events, and social events.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
This endeavor would not have been possible without the love and support of my amazing family. First, my wife and business partner, Maggie. We met at Disney over 30 years ago and it’s been a Disney fairytale of a ride ever since. Maggie suggested that I become certified as a Sommelier, and also urged me to explore the possibility of opening my dream bar. With her support we designed and built Erie Social Club. In addition to being co-owner, Maggie works full time in the travel industry and teaches yoga locally. Our children Chris, Katie, and daughter-in-law Sierra have been involved since the beginning. Chris helps with IT, works back bar on occasion, and jumps in as needed despite working full time in Boulder. Katie is our social media expert, book club leader, trivia co-host, and bingo caller (she also works full time in Boulder). Sierra helped get the kitchen operation up and running and is now our business and event coordinator, managing all of our public and private events. We also have an amazing kitchen, bar, and service team who show up ready to welcome our guests and provide friendly service we are proud of.  And finally, we have been embraced by friends, neighbors, and the growing business community here in Erie and are so grateful to everyone who has helped make the dream a reality.

Website: eriesocialclub.com

Instagram: @ErieSocialClub

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eriesocialclub