La Luna Gallery & Wine Bar opens

Steve and Jennifer Donnelly have worked hard for a year to make their dream a reality. Living and working in the Washington area, but also owning a home off Rockford Road in Great Cacapon, the couple has spent many long weekends trying to get La Luna Gallery and Wine Bar ready for business.

"I wanted to open some kind of art gallery and Jennifer suggested making it a gallery and wine bar. We wanted a place where people could sit, sip wine and talk," Donnelly said.

La Luna is located above the Nature Niche store. The Donnelly's, along with two other partners, own the building at 50 North Washington Street.

A staircase leads up to the bar which is nicely furnished with tables and chairs, some of which look out on Washington Street below.

The oak and granite bar takes up one wall of the room, with honeycomb-like shelves behind to hold wine bottles. Stools line the front of the bar. A living room setting is along the back wall. On the south side of the building is an outdoor balcony open to patrons.

Abstract oil paintings and photographs by several area artists hang on the walls. Many of the paintings are the original artwork of Steve Donnelly.



The wine list features reds and whites of all varieties from California, France, Italy, New Zealand and Australia. A selection of champagnes, even Dom Perignon, is available.

"Jennifer and I spent a year and a half tasting all kinds of wine so we could stock the bar with the best selection," Donnelly said.

In addition, several light food dishes are served. These include cheese boards with Gouda, Fontina and Havarti cheeses and homemade artichoke and spinach dips with warm French bread. Also available is bread served with homemade dipping oil and a antipasto of Italian meats and olives.

Day jobs

Besides running La Luna on weekends and his work as an artist, Steve Donnelly is a Senior Fire Protection Engineer for Lourenco Consultants in Washington. The firm's owners, Armondo Lourenco and Mariana Lourenco, are also partners in La Luna.

"We review building plans and make necessary changes for fire safety," Donnelly said. "We are one of the companies that can approve plans before builders can get a building permit."

Jennifer Donnelly helps out at the bar on weekends, but is a Foreign Affairs Analyst for the U.S. State Department during the week. Her work involves trying to prevent human trafficking around the world. She is also the new mother of a baby girl named Payton.

La Luna is open every Friday and Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m.