Wine-forward restaurant and bar Flight to open in Elizabeth this summer

Flight is Dwight and Vicki Bailey's love letter to Charlotte's Elizabeth neighborhood.

That wine-forward restaurant and bar is targeting a mid-summer opening at 1949 E. Seventh St. The 2,700-square-foot space got its start in 1932 as Stanley Drug Store, which remained a community mainstay until 1997. It was most recently occupied by Dollar General.

The Baileys — medical professionals by day — have tapped into their love of travel, wine and food for the concept.

"The more and more we traveled, the more we wished we had something like this in Charlotte," Vicki Bailey says. "This is a culmination of our travels, experiences and passions for wine and food."

The husband-and-wife team aim to create an intimate space with a homegrown and neighborhood feel.

The menu will focus on European-inspired small plates, charcuterie boards and artisanal pizzas. They'll be making dough from scratch and focaccia bread in house. Ingredients will be locally sourced when possible.

Food will be cooked in a custom Italian wood-burning oven that imparts a feel and flavor to food that's unmatched, Vicki Bailey says.

Plans call for 150 bottles of wine from around the world with as many as 50 by- the-glass options. Wine flights will be available.

"The goal is to have the majority of wines be ones that you wouldn't know and expose people to new wines they wouldn't necessarily try otherwise," she says.

Sangria will be made in house. Craft cocktails — including nonalcoholic options — will also be available in addition to local and travel-inspired beers.

Kayte Morton has been tapped as general manager.

The design will include industrial-meets-refined touches. Expect a dark color palate with gold accents. There's a black-on-black quartz bar with white marble veining and flecks of gold. Velvet material will be a star, featured in the prime corner booth and on barstools. Tables are being hand made by Vicki Bailey's father, an experienced woodworker, to add to that personal feel.

"This is truly our love letter to Elizabeth, to Charlotte. It is our passion project. It is completely built on family and love. We want people to come in and feel super comfortable," Vicki Bailey says.

The restaurant will have about 60 indoor seats and 25 outdoor seats.

Southwick Architecture & Interior is behind the design. Balfour Beatty is the general contractor. Josh Beaver with The Nichols Co. represented Flight.