There was a bit of serendipity in the creation of Five Points Wine &  Bar.

Poland CPA Robert Bindas had been considering doing something like this for a while, when he went to Michigan to pick up a motorcycle he bought on E-Bay. “There was this place in this little strip mall, just like this one (just off Western Reserve Road at Five Points), and it was almost exactly like what I wanted to do. I knew then it could work,” he says.

He opened the shop in February. “It’s a unique concept in this area,” he explains.

A wine enthusiast, Bindas offers a wide selection of domestic and international wines, a two-page beer list, and imported cheeses in a comfortable lounge setting, with a full service bar including appetizers, soups, salads and sandwiches.

An interesting feature is the wine flights, in which three similar wines from different vintners are offered in two ounce servings to compare their subtle differences. All selections can be purchased to go or to consume on site.

Bindas also uses music to create ambience, with a jazz combo performing live occasionally and music DVDs playing on the TVs.

From the looks of the crowd on a recent Wednesday night, Five Points Wine & Bar is a good idea come to fruition.