Wayne and Laura Fawcett decided to take their love for wine and transform it into a cozy retreat for locals.
Their creation, UnWINEd Wine Bar in Barling, provides a relaxed atmosphere to enjoy fine wines, small bites, and warm company. Located at Chaffee Crossing in The Village at Heritage, the wine bar reflects the couple’s vision for a quiet, welcoming space to unwind.
For Wayne and Laura, the idea for UnWINEd was born from years of traveling together.
“We’ve always enjoyed visiting little wine bars in the cities we traveled to, whether it was Hot Springs, Little Rock, New Orleans, or Dallas,” Wayne shared. “It became a hobby of sorts—finding these small, intimate spots where we could just sit, relax, and try new wines. After I retired, we thought, why not create something similar here in Barling?”
The couple wanted something low-key, focusing on wine, a bit of beer, and light snacks rather than a full-service restaurant.
“We didn’t want the pressure of running a big operation with a full kitchen,” Wayne explained. “The idea was always to keep it simple—charcuterie boards, dips, desserts. A place for people to come in after work, before or after dinner, or just on a Saturday afternoon to relax.”
The name perfectly encapsulates that ethos, though Wayne notes with a smile, “We don’t spell it the usual way, but the meaning is still the same. We want people to come in, sit down, and let go of the day.”
Starting a New Venture in Retirement
Wayne’s motivation to open the business stemmed not only from his passion for wine but also from the desire to stay active in retirement.
After spending 39 year in education throughout Arkansas and the last 17 as the superintendent of the Paris School District, Wayne found himself searching for a project that would keep him engaged without being overwhelming.
“I’m not a big hunter or fisherman, and my golf game had suffered after shoulder surgery. I thought, ‘Surely, I can handle pouring a glass of wine or pulling a beer tap,'” he joked.
Since opening its doors in May of 2023, UnWINEd has steadily grown. “Like any new business, it takes time to build clientele,” Wayne acknowledged. “But we’re seeing more and more people every week, whether it’s after-work crowds, business meetings, or people bringing their laptops to work remotely from the bar. We’ve even hosted birthday parties, anniversaries, and even book clubs.”
Navigating the Challenges of Opening a Business
As with any new venture, there were challenges along the way. The Fawcetts quickly discovered that opening a wine bar in a dry county came with its own set of complications.
“Navigating the state-level bureaucracy was hard,” he said. “We’re technically a private club because of the county’s dry status, and that complicated things exponentially, but the local authorities were great.”
Thankfully, the “encore entrepreneurs,” or seniors who start businesses, had support along the way. The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center regional office in Fort Smith provided Wayne with invaluable resources to help get UnWINEd off the ground.
He began consulting with the former center director, Bill Sabo, in 2022.
“Bill gave us advice, sent us examples of forms for financials and business plans, and connected us with resources for things like market data,” Wayne recalled. “I attended a few of their workshops on starting a business, and those sessions, especially the one with a legal expert, really helped me understand the process of forming an LLC and navigating the legal side of things.”
The center’s assistance with market data helped Wayne better understand the demand in the region and solidify his plans. “That information was crucial,” he noted. “It gave us confidence that there was a real market for a wine bar in Chaffee Crossing.”
Building a Community Hub
Though UnWINEd is still new to the scene, Wayne and Laura are already seeing how the wine bar is becoming a gathering place for the Barling community.
“We’re getting more people from the surrounding areas every month,” Wayne said. “It’s great to see people discover us and keep coming back. We wanted to create a space where people feel comfortable, whether they’re coming in for a quick glass of wine after work or spending a few hours relaxing with friends.”
As the business continues to grow, Wayne is optimistic about the future.
“Every month, we’re seeing more new faces, and that’s really encouraging,” he said. “We’re excited to see how UnWINEd evolves and how it continues to serve the community.”
In the mean time, Wayne remains grateful for the support he’s received from both his customers and the ASBTDC.
“Starting a business isn’t easy, but having the ASBTDC in your corner makes all the difference,” Wayne said. “We’re just looking forward to seeing where this journey takes us.”
To learn more about UnWINEd, visit www.letsunwinedfortsmith.com.