New Opening: Upholstery Store

july 21, 2009 for julib.com

new york | up and at 'em.

making the most of every square inch, kurt gutenbrunner has expanded his resto empire and opened the upholstery store. 

next door to gutenbrunner's notable wallsé, the upholstery store sits in what was once the resto's storage room. but now it's ready to store you. the snug wine bar, which got its name from the sign above the 30-year-old shop (kurt couldn't bear to take it down), features a narrow bar with steel stools and an exposed brick wall where wine bottles are displayed on carved out shelves. make your way to the back and round the corner to find more seating in the form of a small communal table surrounded by a wooden banquette. the only addition to the sparse room is a set of photos from clifford ross, a longtime friend of gutenbrunner. for the moment, gutenbrunner is serving wine-friendly bites including meats, cheeses and olives to complement his 35-plus list of pours from around the world. miss some of wallsé's slow-cooked lobster and spaetzle? be nice and you might just get a plate from next door. but note: no credit cards, no ressies here. but regular customers have the option to open a house account. 

what you waiting for? you know the drill. the upholstery store. 713 washington street. at west 11th. no phone. now open. www.wallserestaurant.com