Just 95 days after closing its doors for the foreseeable future, the Grey Mule Wine Saloon is reopening under new ownership.

The historic wine tasting room in Fort Stockton will hold a reopening event on Thursday, April 21 from 3:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the business’ newly revamped building. The event will feature live music by Al Haney from 6-8 p.m., as well their regular menu that features food (cheese and meat boards/pizza) and a variety of beverages.

New owner of the Grey Mule Wine Saloon and longtime Fort Stockton resident Michel Duforat said that his business will begin their normal hours – Tuesday through Saturday, 3:30 p.m. -10 p.m. (stop serving at 9:15 p.m.)– Starting on April 26.

The native of France has made a few additions to the menu and a few more he plans to incorporate in the coming months. Duforat intends to infuse the saloon’s food menu with some French dishes and a twist to what day people relate to tacos.

“Additions will come in increments. This Thursday will be serving the same menu as when it last closed,” he said. “Starting Tuesday (April 26) the extra dish that will be available is a quiche lorraine and on Wednesday we’ll have a croque-monsieur. On Thursday it’ll be a little different from the other (restaurants), it’ll be Taco Thursday. It’ll be shrimp tacos.”

In the coming months, Duforat will have themed dinners that he will require reservations in advance.

“It could be a little appetizer and then it could be ribeye or t-bone with sides and desert. It could be American dinner, French dinner, or Italian dinner.”

Further down the road, the new owner of the Grey Mule Wine Saloon will have a gourmet dinner that is intended for groups.

As for wine, Duforat was able to buy a year supply of Mesa Vineyards wines – the longtime supplier of wine for the saloon – during the bankruptcy process to keep serving the local wine.

Duforat, who was a hired contractor by Mesa Vineyards dating back to the ‘80s,  explained that he will begin a slow transition of serving wines from outside the county, including ones from instate, out of state, and out of the country.

“Through the bankruptcy process I was able to buy for one year of inventory (Mesa Vineyards wine),“ he said. “Starting this week, I’m going to do the slow transition on it. This Thursday I’m going to present three new Texas wines from the Hill Country and one from France. Next Tuesday our menu will be even bigger. I will post the new menu that will feature two wines from Washington and three more French wines.”

The new wines that will be served on Thursday, April 21 (2017 Texas High Plains Alluve, 2017 Texas High Plains Marl, 2016 Texas High Plains Reserve Merlot, 2018 Cotes Du Rhone) will be sold by the bottle.

Since closing in January, The Grey Mule Wine Saloon underwent major renovations while the bankruptcy process took place.

The Fort Stockton City Council approved a $138,600 renovation to the exterior and interior on Feb. 7 and work was completed over the next 60 days.

Renovations included the removal of the planters outside the building, which retains moisture, the replacement of gutters, fixture of the stucco inside and outside the building, new paint inside and outside, a slanting of the property’s parking area/sidewalks, and a 16-inch retention wall on the corner of Callaghan Street and Main Street.