Vance Maldonado and his partners, Blake and Ruth Boyd, established Crush Wine Lounge six years ago after discovering The Woodlands lacked a restaurant concept similar to what they themselves wanted in a lounge. Maldonado said Boyd wondered why there was not a place in The Woodlands for people in their mid-30s and 40s to enjoy a drink and avoid steakhouse prices.
“There were two options: a grungy sports bar or a steakhouse bar,” Maldonado said.
Then came the challenge of securing real estate. The Woodlands Development Company was considering other restaurants for the Waterway spot Crush now occupies at 20 Waterway Square. Crush was chosen by the Development Company in 2008, and the lounge was born in May 2009.
“They said yes after [considering] four or five other concepts,” Maldonado said. “We won, and it was kind of crazy because all we had was a storyboard and a plan.”
Crush is named after the term for extracting juice from grapes. Although Maldonado said most guests favor California wines, Crush has wines from Italy, Spain, France and South America.
The lounge also offers premium well drinks and a restaurant menu that features modern American cuisine, such as pan-seared tuna and roasted airline chicken. Crush also carries cigars.
“I believe we have the largest selection of cigars—30-40 sticks,” Maldonado said.
The cigar list is called The Little Black Book, and customers order selections from the bartender or the server. Guests can also handpick their cigars directly from the humidor.
Crush has two levels for smoking outside, either on the balcony level or the rooftop.
“A cigar goes with scotch, and it goes with wine,” Maldonado said. “People wanted cigars, and we filled their needs. We added them when we saw a need for our guests. Some people come by just to buy cigars for a concert.”
Crush offers disc jockey music Wednesday through Saturday evenings on the rooftop overlooking The Woodlands Waterway and Waterway Square. Maldonado said guests on the balcony level hear the music, too. He said customers are often surprised to discover the wine lounge offers two levels.
“A lot of people don’t realize we are the same business and serve the same items upstairs as we do downstairs,” he said.
Crush offers a private room for parties and private functions like corporate dinners.
The ambience at Crush is what one would find in a vibrant American city, Maldonado said.
“We try to bring in hints of L.A., Miami and Manhattan, with an upscale and cosmopolitan feel,” he said.
20 Waterway Square, Ste. 200, The Woodlands, 281-362-7874, www.thecrushbar.com
Hours: Tue.-Wed. 4 p.m.-midnight, Thu. 4 p.m.- 1 a.m., Sat. 4 p.m.-2 a.m., Sun. 4 p.m.-midnight
