The founder and creator of Market Avenue Wine Bar (MAWB) returned to Cleveland in 1993 with a vision of opening a wine bar. His direction came from his Hungarian heritage and the interpretation of barrel maker as his namesake. His dream came true in the fall of 1994, and MAWB was born. MAWB was originally located across the street, where the Great Lakes Brewery retail store currently stands. In 2008, when his lease was expiring, Greg moved the Wine Bar across the street to its current location and expanded by opening a coffee shop named after the Dutch pronunciation, Koffie Cafe and his love of South Africa. For 29 years, this business was in his veins, and he enjoyed every minute of it.

As time passed, things changed, and in the Fall of 2021, Greg met Elizabeth, a longtime customer who had been frequenting Koffie Cafe and the Wine Bar since her college days. Over the course of 10+ years, Elizabeth visited the Wine Bar on her trips home and considered it her home away from home. In the fall of 2022, she approached Greg about her desire to purchase, and there was instant chemistry between the two. After many long conversations, in May 2023, the deal was sealed with a hug and handshake, and Elizabeth became the new owner of Cleveland’s First and Oldest Wine Bar.