Could there be a new Morry’s of Naples in the offing?

Maybe.

Folks from Morry’s of Naples were downtown on Sunday, leading beer and wine education classes as part of this year’s University by the Sea.

And the establishment’s Managing Buyer Annie Rabin confirmed that, when Morry’s folk held a U-Sea planning session with event mastermind Ryan Smolar late last month, they were indeed weighing the possibility of opening some kind of a Morry’s in downtown Long Beach.

Possibly. Some day. Because right now, the economy is–how to say?–unstable.

“Well yeah, we’re always considering those options and Ryan really loves downtown and wants to see it doing well,” Rabin said in a telephone conversation earlier this week. “He could see a Morry’s down there for sure.”

But–everyone on Naples Island can see a Morry’s there too, and they like that. As do the Rabins, and Annie Rabin said the Naples store isn’t going anywhere. It’s just that the success of the Morry’s of Naples back room–its expanded wine bar–has store owners wondering how that concept might play downtown.

“Definitely, the awareness of wine is helping wine bars succeed,” Rabin said. “I also think a lot of the wine bars that are succeeding have good food because it’s a way that you can have a luxurious time with your friends and not break the bank, because you’re not buying these huge plates of food.” And so?

“That’s probably what we would duplicate,” Rabin said. “But basically focusing a lot more on the back room downtown, and a very small storefront.”

It’s mainly in the thinking stages, she cautinoned–but who knows? Maybe some day you’ll be able to sample a nice Malbec from one of Naples Island’s oldest businesses–in the heart of the city.

Tags: Annie Rabin, California, Long Beach, morry's of naples, Naples Island, Ryan Smolar, Southern California, The District Weekly, Theo Douglas, U-Sea, university by the sea