Co-Owners Paul Bussard and Paul Fox talk about the upcoming opening of their new wine bar, P Squared. The wine bar is located in downtown Lansing, 107 S. Washington Square, and will be the only traditional wine bar in downtown Lansing.
When creating a wine bar, the name might be the most important decision an owner has to make, but for P Squared co-owners Paul Bussard and Paul Fox, the name was a no-brainer.
“I don’t think there was any debate actually,” Fox said. “It was harder coming up with a logo than with the name.”
Playing on the similarity of their first names, Bussard and Fox are bringing a new taste to downtown Lansing, and it’s in the form of wine. P Squared, 107 S. Washington Square, is scheduled to open next week.
The interior features leather lounge chairs and wooden casks as coffee tables, along with a few bar-height tables and pictures of corkscrews on the deep red walls.
Unlike other bars in downtown Lansing, P Squared will be the only primary wine bar. The goal, they say, is to offer a wide selection and relaxed atmosphere without the snooty attitude.
“We wanted to create a place where we would go, because we’re jeans-and-sweaters wine drinkers,” Fox said. “Wine is meant to be enjoyed by everybody, and there really was a void for something like that here (in Greater Lansing).”
P Squared will specialize in wine, but also will offer 18 craft beers and a few signature cocktails.
Beggars Banquet Tom Branson, who offers half off wine bottles Wednesday nights, said P Squared will give students more nightlife options.
“I’m not worried at all (about the competition); we’re thrilled that they’re coming to town,” Branson said. “We love a diverse nightlife entertainment community and can’t wait for them to open.”
With P Squared located in downtown Lansing, Fox and Bussard are focusing on attracting a more adult crowd, but haven’t ruled out the possibility that some MSU students might make the trip down Michigan Avenue.
“It’s certainly not off the table; for us, it’s really about starting here in downtown and branching out from there,” Fox said. “It’s certainly not something we have ruled out.”
Some MSU students said P Squared could attract a younger crowd during concert nights or other entertainment events.
“Lansing is kind of a far trip for an MSU student to make, so I probably would not (go) unless there was an appeal, like a concert down there,” packaging senior Michael Jessup said. “Most Lansing bars that attract students are party bars.”
The addition of a traditional wine bar in East Lansing has been something that has been explored but is not in the works, East Lansing Mayor Diane Goddeeris said. The topic has come up several times during city council discussions about East Lansing’s 50/50 rule.
“If Lansing was successful with their addition of a wine bar, then that might be something we would use as a model,” Goddeeris said.
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