Indiana Fever Erica Wheeler's new side job? Chic restaurant owner

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Fever guard Erica Wheeler’s latest off-field project, a three-story swanky restaurant minutes from the Atlanta airport serving octopus carpaccio with piquillo pepper sauce, grilled artichokes with lemon aioli, wine and signature cocktails, is the biggest financial investment she’s ever made.

Wheeler did not elaborate on Thursday on how much of her salary as a professional basketball player she has invested in Cliche Tapas & Wine during her 11-year career.

“It’s awful, man,” Wheeler said, “when you have to spend a lot of money and you don’t see an immediate return. Things take time and I’ve been patient and I’m happy with the result.”

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Cliche opened last month in College Park, Georgia, and Wheeler greeted her guests with a drink in hand. Friends and family had come to see what she gets up to when she’s not playing basketball on the team that (because of Caitlin Clark) has received more attention than any other WNBA team in the league’s 25-year history.

“Top-notch wine, top-notch liquor, a three-level restaurant where you get the elegant, you get the atmosphere of a patio and then the atmosphere of the day, roof, the roof reclines, so it’s pretty nice,” Wheeler described to Cliche after practice Thursday. “(It’s) one of my biggest investments, I’m super proud of it because it comes together nicely.”

The restaurant’s website states that Cliche Tapas & Wine was “inspired by the bustling streets of Atlanta, where tapas culture is a way of life. We wanted to bring this vibrant energy to our local community by creating a place where people can come together, share small plates and enjoy each other’s company.”

Tapas are snacks, appetizers and small dishes that have their origins in Spanish cuisine. They can be served cold or warm. Cliche describes his menu as a “fusion of traditional flavors and modern cooking techniques.”

The restaurant also offers an extensive selection of Spanish wines, craft beers, signature cocktails, homemade sangria and gin and tonic with various botanicals.

Wheeler, who played for the Atlanta Dream in 2015 and 2022, said she has friends in the restaurant industry and thanked them for helping her realize her entrepreneurial dream.

The Fever will travel to Atlanta next month to face the Dream, and according to Ryan Stevens, the Fever’s public relations director, the team will definitely make a stop to check out Wheeler’s place.

Follow IndyStar sports reporter Dana Benbow on X: @DanaBenbow. You can reach her via email: [email protected]

Indiana Fever Erica Wheeler’s new side job? Chic restaurant owner

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