LEWISTON — When Sonder & Dram closed last June, the city lost its only trendy nightspot focused on craft cocktails in a unique setting, serving elevated bar food with a regular clientele.

So when the owner of DaVinci’s Eatery applied for a liquor license at 12 Ash St., word quickly got around that it would soon reopen.

The exact date hasn’t been set for the reopening of Sonder & Dram, but the new owner, Craig Tribuno, hopes to have it ready by the end of July. The name will remain the same.

“The plan is to have DaVinci employees, staff go … Friday and Saturday from 4-11 (p.m.), when we’re ready,” Tribuno said.

Sonder & Dram is underneath the space where bon Vivant was set up as a restaurant in July 2023. The space underwent extensive renovations, including a brand new commercial kitchen. The spaces are connected via an internal staircase.

“The decor is going to be exactly the same, and the drinks will be very similar,” Tribuno said of Sonder & Dram.

Bon Vivant closed on Jan. 3, 2025, with co-owner Peter Flanders citing a prolonged downturn in the hospitality industry and the Oct. 25, 2023, Lewiston mass shooting as contributing factors.

On May 19, the Lewiston City Council approved the application for a liquor license. Tribuno signed the paperwork two days later to buy the businesses.

The businesses Sonder & Dram and bon Vivant, at 12 Ash St., and 133 Lisbon St., respectively, were sold as a package. The owner of the building, James Pittman, retains ownership.

Tribuno has no plans for the upstairs space at this point, calling it “phase 2,” indicating it will be 2027 before anything takes shape.

For now, he is focused on reopening Sonder & Dram.

“I’m asking people to give me a list of six things they’d like to eat in a bar,” Tribuno said, adding that could be anything from carpaccio to french fries. The plan is to go over to the kitchen and see what makes sense for them to serve, and still be “different.”

Tribuno is a strong supporter of downtown Lewiston and worked with two families to bring back Sonder & Dram, but both pulled out. He said he’d like to see younger entrepreneurs take on the business, but in the end he didn’t like seeing the location vacant.

Tribuno said he has worked with the owners of El Pochos and Mancini’s, citing their current success and popularity.

“I think the market opportunity in Lewiston is good for entrepreneurs that are ready to work,” he emphasized.

He doesn’t see finding enough staff as a problem. “Downtown Lewiston has competitive advantages when it comes to staffing,” Tribuno said, adding that staff at DaVinci’s have a short walk or drive to work.

“The workforce for this industry is here, and we can keep them out of Portland … because we’re able to pay the same wages.”

Tribuno said his only concern is that they stay focused and don’t overextend themselves with the new venture, keeping DaVinci’s on course.

The Buzz offers quick hits about trending area business happenings. Have a Buzzable tip? Contact business writer Christopher Wheelock at 689-2817 or [email protected]