Stonington — The first restaurant has opened in the American Velvet Mill, continuing the mill’s 17-year-long transformation from a shuttered textile plant into a bustling center for arts, food and a wide variety of businesses and services.

The Velvet Vine, a wine bar and bistro that boasts an assortment of paninis, sandwiches, soups and salads from ingredients made on site, opened Dec. 20 and held its grand opening Friday night.

The name of the eatery, owned by Michelle and Evan Isted of North Stonington, may seem familiar to some. That’s because its sister restaurant, the popular Twisted Vine in downtown Westerly, is owned by Evan Isted’s mother.

“I’m excited to be part of the evolution of the mill,” Michelle Isted said as she sat at one of the restaurant’s tables Thursday afternoon. “We’re excited about the opportunity to serve people really good food and expose them to some wines they may have never tried.”

She said she previously had spent 10 years working in retail and had visited the mill for its winter farmers and craft markets and its annual Fusion event.

But she said for those visiting the markets, art galleries or other shops, there was nothing in the mill such as a restaurant to keep them there for an extended period of time and then go back for more shopping.

When she inquired about a space, she found out one was available directly off the main floor that hosts the farmers market.

Michelle Isted said she hopes her restaurant will not only keep people in the building to patronize other businesses, but attract people who will come to eat and then explore the mill.

The Isteds have spent the past year remodeling the space. A bar and kitchen were installed, a wall was built and an office created in a window-filled loft that overlooks the restaurant. Still remaining are the brick walls, overhead iron trusses and pipes and massive sliding doors, all part of the original mill.

Michelle Isted said ingredients such as the sandwich spreads and salad dressings are made on site. She said she also serves high-quality deli meats, opting for nitrate-free meat when possible. She also serves bread from Zest bakery and cheese from Cheese Boro Whey, both located in the mill.

A selection of 30 domestic and international wines are available. The restaurant also offers a wide variety of beers made in Connecticut and Rhode Island microbreweries such as Cottrell of Pawcatuck and Grey Sail in Westerly.

As Michelle Isted spoke on Thursday, Aaren Simoncini, the owner of Beer’d Brewing Co., which is located on the other side of the wall from Isted’s restaurant, delivered beer to her.

The 1,500-square-foot restaurant has 48 seats, is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays and from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekends.

j.wojtas@theday.com