2 minute read
A community-centered gathering space
Find a community-centered gathering place at Social on the Square
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Derek and Michelle Woods. Photo courtesy Social.
By Bonnie Eissler
Three years ago, Derek and Michele Woods made the move from Austin, where Derek owned a landscape and design business, to Wimberley where they had family and friends and Michele had owned and operated a popular coffee shop, Sip on the Square, since 2010. After the disruptions and uncertainties in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, exploring new opportunities in Wimberley seemed like the right move. They opened Social on the Square, a wine bar and event center, a year ago last month on August 18, and the future looks bright for this communitycentered business.
The large courtyard and outdoor seating area has been redesigned and beautifully landscaped. “For the courtyard, they ripped up the asphalt for a total renovation,” Derek says. The two story building is a newer addition to the horseshoe cluster of shops and art gallery, with construction finished only a few months before Derek moved in. “We started with a nearly empty slate,” he says, “the owners put the floors in, but 95% of the wine bar’s design, the tile, the paint, furnishings and décor is a reflection of our vision.
Derek wanted a place that would appeal to the local community. He says, “Wimberley is such a tourist town that sometimes it seems like the locals get lost in the mix.” After all, for years the mantra has been “Wimberley is a great place to visit and an even better place to live.”
By paying a little more attention to the hometown folks, Social creates an inviting space for “regulars,” a place where, like the iconic bar featured in the ’80s television series Cheers, “everyone knows your name,” but even if they don’t, the atmosphere is familiar and welcoming. Open later than many spots in town, the environment is casual and friendly. This is a place to meet up regularly with friends for a beer or glass of wine. At the same time, Social feels upscale with its classy interior and champagne on the menu. There’s no other place in Wimberley quite like this.
Social offers an extensive selection of wines from all over the world. Derek says small towns in the Hill Country often focus primarily or even exclusively on Texas wines because Texas has many vineyards and wineries in this area. “We offer some Texas wines,” he says, “but we also bring in wines from other countries like Italy and France, Australia and South Africa.” (Beer on tap, sangria, mimosas, champagne and other drinks are also available)
Derek and Michele have an excellent wine representative who seeks out and brings them many different vintages to sample. They have their own wine tastings to personally select which ones to add to the menu, rotating in and out so there’s always something new to try. “I think it’s important to provide an interesting and diverse selection of of drinks,” Derek says, “we also get feedback from the public – that’s one of the best ways to know what people like.”
