In addition to wine, a selection of meads is also available at Belle River Winery made from honey raised on the property. Photo Courtesy of Belle River Winery
Rob and Hannah Cowan pose for a photo with their son Mikey in front of their business Belle River Winery's new location in Port Huron. Photo Courtesy of Rob and Hannah Cowan
Belle River Winery will soon have a second location in downtown Port Huron at 902 Military St. Photo Courtesy of Rob and Hannah Cowan
Belle River Winery is located at 2405 Arlington Rd. in Columbus, Michigan. Photo Courtesy of Belle River Winery
It’s another step forward for husband and wife team Rob and Hannah Cowan, who recently announced they’ll soon be opening a second location for their business, Belle River Winery.
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Belle River Winery is located at 2405 Arlington Rd. in Columbus, Michigan.Expanding upon the winery’s original location on Arlington Road in Columbus, the Cowans are in the process of renovating a new tasting room in downtown Port Huron located at 902 Military St., formerly Moe’s Corner Deli.
“We’re really excited to see this business grow,” Rob Cowan says. “It’s definitely hard work, but we’re getting the final touches together and should open the doors pretty soon.”
Cowan says the charm of the historic building drew them in right away, and while the Columbus location offers an intimate, rustic feel, its Port Huron counterpart will offer a 1920s atmosphere. As a commitment to that theme, the Cowans plan to host ‘20s nights to encourage people to get dressed up and have some fun.
“I picture people getting dressed up in suits, maybe flapper-style dresses, and just coming out for a night on the town,” Rob Cowan says. “And when these events are going on, people would have to be dressed up to get in.”
The potential to take a trip back in time is not the only change coming to the business. Cowan plans to have several pizza ovens at the new location, along with other locally sourced food and products.
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Among these new offerings is coffee provided by The Exquisite Corpse Coffee House, located next door to the winery’s new establishment.
“We want to be able to support them by buying some of their beans,” Rob Cowan says. “And when they close up for the day, people can come over and have some coffee from a local place.”
Owners of the coffee house, husband and wife Nathaniel and Maggie Bottenfield, say they are thrilled to have new neighbors.
“We always love to work with local businesses and cannot wait to see where this exciting new partnership will lead,” Nathaniel Bottenfield says. “We’re also excited to try the wine!”
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Rob and Hannah Cowan pose for a photo with their son Mikey in front of their business Belle River Winery's new location in Port Huron.Before the doors at the new Port Huron location even open, the Cowans are already making arrangements for a third location in Algonac. Another arm of the business that will continue the winery’s mission to raise money for an autism center in St. Clair County.
The Cowans opened their first location with the intention of funding therapy and support for their 5-year-old son Mikey, who has autism. But as the business grew, so did the Cowans’ goals, and they’re looking to give back to other families who know the struggle that comes with finding proper therapeutic and educational resources for children with autism.
“This all started because of [our son],” Rob Cowan says. “And at the end of the day, it’s all about getting to that autism center.”
Currently, there is no opening date for the new location, however, Cowan says they anticipate being up and running before Christmas so they can welcome the community into the swing of the holiday season.
Visit facebook.com/BelleRiverWine to learn more about the winery or follow along with updates.
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Riley Connell is a graduate of Central Michigan University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. She's a frequent visitor to the Metro Detroit area where she was raised and in addition to her work with The Keel, Riley is a full-time reporter with the Cadillac News as well as a contributor to The Keel’s sister publication,
Epicenter Mt. Pleasant. When she isn't writing, Riley enjoys spending time outdoors, painting, antiquing, and trying new foods.