Demolition has begun on the former College Park Auto Parts store at 7131 Baltimore Ave. in College Park to make way for a new upscale coffeehouse and wine bar.

Tony Akaras, who previously ran Plato’s Diner across the street, is the owner of the property and the prospective business, tentatively named District 3 Social House.

Akaras has said the restaurant will serve young professionals and families in the area. Originally slated to open in 2017, the project was delayed to the end of this year after Akaras made some changes to the site design and ran into some permitting issues.

One reason for the delay: Akaras wanted to add a sidewalk in front of the building so that customers can walk right in. That walkability will be key once the university begins work on a $110 million apartment, retail and entertainment development across the street.

In a write-up by The Diamondback, “College Park Reimagined,” it refers to the new restaurant as a “coffeehouse, wine bar and craft beer shop with a performance space upstairs and locally sourced food.”

The project is one of 30 taking place under the Greater College Park, a cooperative initiative between College Park, Prince George’s County, private developers and the University of Maryland.

The wine bar will fill a much-needed space in the Route 1 corridor: adult-oriented places suitable for date night that aren’t just restaurants. It’s also another sign of how important alcohol has been to the redevelopment of the area.