The Urban Grape, a celebrated South End wine retailer, has permanently closed after unsuccessful negotiations with its lender.

Owners TJ and Hadley Douglas announced the closure on Instagram, revealing that their Columbus Avenue shop was forced to shut down following a breakdown in discussions with Cambridge Savings Bank, their SBA lender. The couple disclosed that they had spent more than a year working with family members and investors to reach an agreement that would preserve the business and restore its inventory to previous levels.

"For over 12 months, TJ and I, along with our family and a group of wonderful investors, have worked tirelessly to reach an agreement with our local SBA lender, Cambridge Savings Bank, with the hope of saving and rebuilding the store to its former inventory and success," the owners stated. They noted that negotiations fell apart in recent days, forcing an immediate closure.

Despite the setback, the Douglas couple indicated they aren't giving up on their business entirely. In their announcement, they suggested plans to reinvent The Urban Grape in some capacity, inviting customers to follow their journey through their Substack newsletter, The Second Bottle, and Instagram.

The wine shop had been operating for 13 years at 303 Columbus Avenue, building a reputation for its curated wine selection alongside beer and spirits offerings. The store became known for hosting numerous wine tasting events and earned significant recognition, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Small Business of the Year award in 2021.