Behind the Cork & Stem concept is Jenna Martin Ernst, a passionate aficionado of both flowers and wine, whose professional background in the non-profit sector brings a unique touch to this venture. Jenna devoted the initial phase of her career to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of San Diego, where she orchestrated heartfelt wishes for local children facing critical illnesses. Her combination of creativity and logistical expertise uniquely qualifies her to interweave the realms of two highly creative industries.
"The idea for Cork & Stem was originally a retirement plan," explained company founder Jenna Martin Ernst. "I dreamed of opening a flower and wine bar as the second half of my career and when the pandemic hit, I started to think about what it might look like if that plan came to fruition a bit sooner."
"I had spent many nights at my kitchen table, glass of wine in hand, unwinding with a store-bouquet bouquet and kitchen scissors to assemble the stems in a vase," continued Martin Ernst. "It had become a form of therapy for me, but a lack of personalization and a small budget quickly became a frustrating combination. I decided to start putting together the pieces for what a wine bar + flower shop might look like and began hosting build-your-own bouquet workshops in partnership with local wineries in September 2020. The workshops were designed to be what I was looking for - a way to choose my own stems, make a beautiful bouquet and sip wine that was included in my ticket price. Those events evolved into custom bouquets, pop ups, memberships and more, positioning us perfectly to launch into the brick and mortar location we always dreamed of. "
Cork & Stem is scheduled for a full-fledged opening in the first quarter of 2024 at 1035 University Avenue in San Diego's Hillcrest. For more information, visit corkandstemsd.com.
Cork & Stem is scheduled for a full-fledged opening in the first quarter of 2024 at 1035 University Avenue in San Diego's Hillcrest. For more information, visit corkandstemsd.com.
