A new wine bar is making its debut in Uptown Waterloo. Located at 23 King Street North, Babylon Sisters offers an evolving selection of consignment-only wines.
“We are especially focused on showcasing female vintners,” note owners and partners in life, Kypp and Janine Saunders. “We offer feature flights and coravin pours for the knowledgeable and novice wine connoisseur.”
Last week, the new Uptown hot spot hosted a few soft opens and the Saunders’ are excited for their grand opening this coming weekend.
Babylon Sisters offers three ounce pours so that guests can sample many different selections – accompanied by featured cheese boards with flight pairings.
Opening during the pandemic has come with some challenges for the pair. Unfortunately, they were unable to work during one of the lockdowns and supply chain issues have been problematic with both lumber and wine. All said, the Saunders are grateful to open and feel the time is right as businesses work to reshape and recover after the pandemic. “We feel that Uptown is perfect for this type of establishment,” add Kypp and Janine. “New places have been opening in the area that are focused on more mature consumers and we are following that development.”
No stranger to running a small business, Kypp Saunders is also a co-owner of Sugar Run in downtown Kitchener. Babylon Sisters will also be selling takeout cocktails from there as well as wine and gift cards from their house bottle shop.
“We are super excited to welcome Babylon Sisters to our Uptown family,” adds Tracy Van Kalsbeek, Executive Director of the Uptown Waterloo Business Improvement Area. “They already have an amazing patio set up along with the others in Dominion Lane and I can’t wait to sit there and enjoy a flavourful flight!”
New Kids on the Block
A number of other new businesses have opened (soon to open) along the same side of the block on King Street between Erb and Dupont Streets including HyerLove, Uptown Swine & Vine, Champa Kitchen and Kinton Ramen and Streetlights across the street at 28 King Street North.