Anam Bokhari, owner of Elmhurst’s Pinot’s Palette, is all smiles in her studio while customers work on creating chunky knit blankets. The “paint and sip” studio offers art classes, parties and virtual tutorials.
By Julia Locanto
For The Elmhurst Independent
Pinot’s Palette of Elmhurst celebrated its two-year anniversary a month before COVID -19 hit. The art studio’s success was quickly halted when it had to close in early stages of the pandemic.
Located at 214 N York St., the ‘paint and sip’ studio became popular in the Elmhurst community, owner Anam Bokhari said.
Bokhari and her mother decided to open an Elmhurst location of the franchise in 2018. The studio offers a variety of painting experiences for all ages, and serves beer, wine and cocktails.
Bokhari started Elmhurst’s location because art has always been important in her life, she said.
“Art opened up so many things for me,” she said. “But there is a huge disconnect of arts with people. I decided to open because I wanted to see people happy.”
Opening a business at 26 was difficult, Bokhari said, even with the help of her mother. But the studio’s wide variety of options drew in customers.
Pinot’s Palette offers studio events and classes, children’s classes, private parties, corporate events and freestyle days. All art supplies are included and local artists teach classes. Customers can bring in outside food and purchase drinks at the studio. Pinot’s Palette also offers crafts, such as chunky knit blankets and wood stenciling.
Bokhari said she thinks of the studio as art entertainment.
“It’s solely for your soul,” she said. “We play music, and it can be a party or therapy.”
Art instructor and artist Aleksandra Zdun said she feels the same way about her job at Pinot’s Palette.
“Classes can be two hours of dancing, talking and getting to know people,” Zdun. “I’m very passionate about what I do every day.”
The studio also makes an effort to give back to the community by hosting fundraisers and donating any extra supplies.
Customers appreciate the inclusive and comforting atmosphere, especially Raffaella Caputi.
“The staff makes you feel at home,” she said. “The experience isn’t just a night out. The service they provide is far greater than one would think.”
Virus threatens to derail business
However, the fun came to an abrupt stop when COVID-19 hit. The studio shut down immediately.
The staff was stumped at first about what to do, Zdun said. But after their first idea came, the creativity kept flowing.
The Pinot’s Palette team wasted no time. They began doing virtual art only four days later.
Customers registered online and came in during pick-up times to get a take-home paint kit, which were instantly popular, according to Bokhari.
“I think parents wanted to help their kids stay busy,” she said. “We were selling 120 kits a day.”
Owners of Pinot’s Palette locations across America began contributing ideas, including virtual classes. With take home supplies and live classes, customers could interact with artists.
The Elmhurst studio decided to host a virtual kids’ summer camp. The idea gained popularity and locations across the nation participated. Bokhari said they held a two-hour painting class online every other week. There were 50-90 kids in each class.
They then morphed the camp into an after-school program to keep customers involved. Bokhari said their most recently successful idea is online video tutorials. Customers can pick up their supplies at the studio, and they receive a link to the tutorial so that they can do it anytime.
“It’s been very successful,” Bokhari said. “People have hosted virtual parties at home and corporate parties nationwide.”
Caputi, who used to go to Pinot’s Palette two or three times a week, said she is just as involved during the pandemic.
“It’s truly amazing how supportive they’ve been,” she said, “and how much they’ve tried to reach out to the entire community to keep this going.”
Recently, Pinot’s Palette reopened its doors with a limited capacity. Bokhari said it has been difficult to transform the entire business.
“It has been straining,” she said. “I’ve been working 70-80 hours a week.”
However, she said she remains hopeful, as her customers are loyal and Pinot’s Palette locations across America are working together to create new ideas.
Amidst all this, the staff remains dedicated to giving back to the community. They donated paint kits to the local fire and police departments, and still work with not-for-profits.
Bokhari said she hopes to continue reaching new audiences at Pinot’s Palette.
“I just hope we are doing everything that we can for our surrounding communities,” she said. “I want to do this for as long as I can.”
