Wine and Community in Inglewood, California

Sisters Leslie and LeAnn Jones were always fond of a night out with friends, but frustrated they had to leave their neighborhood to find good wine and food.

That’s how they established 1010 Wine and Events. Not only is it the first, upscale wine bar in Inglewood, CA, but, according to them, it’s the only operating wine bar in the City of Inglewood.

“It was so important for us to open in Inglewood because it’s the city where we were raised and still currently reside,” said LeAnn.

Before they opened the doors to 1010 Wine and Events, Leslie worked as a luxury wedding planner and LeAnn as an attorney. At the beginning of their journey in 2019, the pair were excited to pull from their backgrounds in hospitality and love of wine, respectively. But the process to open was long, and they weren’t able to open until August 2021.

“The process was slowed by obtaining permits, our construction team and then, eventually, the pandemic,” said Leslie.

The two admitted they wanted to give up many times, but that their north star was each other.

“Being in business as sisters really kept us motivated,” said LeAnn. “We knew we were building something special, and that by opening our doors, we were supporting so many other Black-owned businesses.”

“We couldn’t give up,” added Leslie. “When one of us wanted to give up, the other person kept us going.”

Now, a little over a year later, the two have found success. They currently employ 22 individuals, including servers, bartenders, hosts, cooks and dishwashers. Leslie is the President and CEO, while LeAnn is Chief of Wines and CFO.

Since 1010 Wine and Events is a Black-owned business, selling Black-owned wines has become the pillar of their company.

“Ninety-five percent of the wines we carry are from Black-owned wine companies, and at any given time, we have 90-100 wines on our menu,” explained Leslie.

Even if you don’t live locally in the Inglewood area, you can sample their wines via their wine club membership where, every month, they ship two bottles of wine from Black-owned wine companies. The wine club also comes with a free wine tasting monthly, as well as discounts on their merchandise.

The pair also have plans to expand their wine bar concept across the country and hope to open another location within a year or so. Mostly, though, they hope their love for their neighborhood shines through for every guest who walks through their doors.

“We are so grateful to introduce our community to the wines we love in a space that is elegant and fun,” said Leslie. “It brings us joy that our community finds value in our space and they love to come to 1010.”