The Vault is ready to open.
It’s a new classy wine bar in downtown Ripon serving 38 varietals from champagne to merlots and unique beer selections from the Dust Bowl in Turlock.
The wine bar at 111 East Main St. in downtown Ripon is the creation of two sisters from Modesto.
Both women – Kara Bogetti and Merissa Dening — graduated from Central Catholic High School and also from Long Beach State with majors in psychology and business marketing. Kara is a real estate broker in Ripon with KB Brokerage. Merissa works with her husband John who developed storm drain inserts for pollution prevention working out of offices in Oakdale and Ripon.
The Vault hosted a soft opening for 47 guests from Ripon and Modesto Wednesday night in their 1,000 square foot location. The actual opening of the wine bar has yet to be determined but is expected to be by early next week.
The Vault has a granite construction on the bar surface and five glass cocktail tables along the west wall with one continuous seating and padding as back rests in a deep blue. On the outside of the glass tables are stools finished in carpet like texture of gray and silver to contrast with the blue. Tall chairs with back rests stand at the edge of the bar.
The free hanging lighting above the bar and above the cocktail tables adds a certain ambiance to the establishment.
Kara and Merissa’s parents Rod and Karen Lowe were on hand for the soft opening to each raise a glass to their daughters and wish them well in their endeavor. It was Merissa who came up with the name, “The Vault.” She said she was lying in bed digesting a choice of names when she asked herself where does a person keep their valuables – in a vault, of course – the perfect name for their wine bar.
They both agreed it didn’t make sense to go into a business partnership with anyone else but family – a sister was their number one choice along with a staff of nine. There are two managers at The Vault, Chaz Lokollo and Kristie Cherry.
When the establishment does open, daily hours will be Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are set for 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Live entertainment will be at The Vault Thursdays from 5 to 8 p.m. and Saturdays 7a.m. to 10 p.m. They will also be open on Sundays from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. and closed on Mondays.
John Lowe, Kara and Merissa’s dad, was the guest speaker Wednesday noon at the Ripon Rotary Club telling about the new wine bar. He then branched out into his invented storm drain inserts that have become a hit in the industrial world, according to Rotarian John Mangelos.
To contact Glenn Kahl, email gkahl@mantecabulletin.com.
