The owners of Le Petit Bar are bidding a heartfelt farewell to the West Bay wine bar which they have run for several years.
Christian Esser, who ran Le Petit Bar with his husband Shalico Christian, said that the decision to close had been an emotional one, but that he was incredibly proud of what it had achieved since opening its doors in November 2022.
“Over the past several years, Le Petit Bar has been far more than a wine and cocktail bar,” he said, “It has been a place where friendships were formed, stories were shared, and unforgettable memories were created over a great glass of wine or a beautifully crafted cocktail.”
Customer support
He added, “To everyone who walked through our doors, supported us, celebrated with us, or simply stopped by for a drink, thank you. You became part of our story, and we will never forget you.”
The couple made the difficult decision to close the business for a number of reasons, both personal and financial, said Esser.
“Running a small independent business is very hard and we are putting a focus more on our own health and our main business,” he said.
Esser said that while one chapter is coming to an end, another is continuing to grow “beyond our expectations,” with the Academy of Wine & Spirits evolving into one of the Caribbean’s leading providers of wine, spirit and hospitality education.
“What began as a vision to make world-class beverage education more practical, engaging, and hospitality-focused has grown into an international academy delivering programmes across the Caribbean and throughout the United States,” he said.
Le Petit Bar, which is located just behind the Jacques Scott liquor store next to Foster’s Republix in West Bay, officially closes on Saturday, 25 July. In the meantime, wine aficionados can snap up tickets for its last wine-tasting event on 14 July, which will feature prestigious Barolo wines from Northern Italy.
Esser is hopeful that a buyer can be found for Le Petit Bar’s fixtures and fittings, which can be bought on site as a turnkey business for $50,000.
“It has all the licensing you need and the support of the landlord too, who is very supportive,” he said. “Sometimes, the hardest decisions create the greatest opportunities.”
Although he and Christian were saying goodbye to Le Petit Bar “with heavy hearts”, Esser said, “We look to the future with optimism, excitement and gratitude. This is not the end. It is simply the beginning of an exciting new chapter.”
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