2 New Hot Spots in Downtown Napa

 PHOTOS and TEXT BY AL FRANCIS

Vermeil Wines of Calistoga is one of two new businesses in the process of opening on First Street near Main Street in Napa.

Vermeil Wines will officially open at 1018 First St. this coming week, said Andrew Curry, director of retail sales for Vermeil Wines.

Also debuting between Vermeil Wines and Starbucks is Lucero Olive tasting room. Lucero Olive tasting room is under construction in the former China Light Mandarin restaurant, which operated for decades.

At Vermeil Wines on Saturday, finishing touches were being applied onto the former cigar store site. The effect was a look of a sports bar with big TVs and large photos of professional football teams on the walls.

Not too many places have what appears to be a National League Football Super Bowl trophy standing on the bar next to the wine glasses -- but that is the case at Vermeil Wines. That is due to its namesake, Dick Vermeil, the sensational, inspirational former NFL couch who lead his teams to the playoffs and Super Bowl.

He was the head coach of the Philadephia Eagles (1976-1982), the St Louis Rams (1997-1999) and the Kansas City Chiefs (2001-2005).

Ironically, both new stores are across the street from the Tuscany restaurant,  which closed a few weekends ago