Area native opens wine bar to be part of city’s resurging nightlife

 With an influx of arts and cultural activities as well as a host of restaurants and retail shops, downtown Scranton has began to attract those who once fled the city for more happening places.

M.J. Dougherty is one of those who left the area after being lured to cities around the world that he thought were more conducive to those wishing to eat, drink, and socialize until the sun rose.

Now, Mr. Dougherty is back and is betting that Scranton’s renaissance continues.

The 27-year-old Clarks Summit native and Penn State graduate has opened Dionysus, the city’s first independent wine bar that features wines from around the world.

“I have lived all over the place since college including the Netherlands, Ireland and even Colorado,” said Mr. Dougherty. “I came back to Scranton with no intention of staying, but I noticed how much things have changed and how the city was going in a positive direction and I wanted to be a part of it.”

New beginning

In August, Mr. Dougherty opened the upscale wine bar in the 200 block of Penn Avenue, next to the old Pub Charles, where a local developer still hopes to build St. Peter’s Square, a ritzy condominium and retail complex.

Today, Mr. Dougherty said he plans to expand the business and include regular wine tastings in the basement. “We are working on the basement space here because I think people will love the great stonewalls we have,” he said.

Dionysus already offers a variety of red and white wines as well as chocolates, fruit and different cheeses to go with each drink. Neatly decorated with soft-leather chairs, a chaise and track lighting, the bar area has wall slots for each wine, clocks which show the time in several cities around the world, and a round chalkboard-like space where artists get to design a painting that hangs for at least 45 days.

Dionysus also offers musicians a venue to entertain.

“We also host First Friday here and it’s always a lot of fun,” Mr. Dougherty said, noting that “this is not an Irish bar, but I’m an Irish boy and this city is happening.”

A pre-grand opening held last summer featured a private party that included a number of local dignitaries, including Mayor Chris Doherty, who called the place a fun and great experience.

“(Mr. Dougherty) is excited about where the city is going,” the mayor said. “He’s done a great job with his wine bar and he’s very enthusiastic and everyone has a good time there.”

The bar does serve beer and other cocktails and Mr. Dougherty said he’s always willing to make suggestions to those who are unsure what they may like.

“We have something for everyone’s palate,” he said, adding that his signature cocktail is “huge,” as in successful.

“We make a Champagne cocktail that is out of this world, but I can’t tell you my secret.”

Kind gesture

Once a month, Mr. Dougherty hosts a charity event and he also provides a portion of his proceeds to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. “We should all give back and this is one of the ways in which I try and give back,” he said.

Having once worked at a bar in Ireland, Mr. Dougherty said he knows the characteristics of each wine are different and they can change with every person, he said. “Your tongue and your palate and what you are eating changes,” he said.

Now that he’s experienced the nightlife in various parts of the world, Mr. Dougherty said, it is unlikely he would leave the area again. “In Scranton, word of mouth is everything,” he said. “If you are good, consistent and positive, people are going to tell their friends about you.”