When Bob Tisdell Jr. opened Liquor Town more than seven years ago, he opened it with full intent to focus on customer service.
Over time, the Brewerton store, which provides a variety of wines and spirits, has become well-known. Tisdell knows almost every customer by name and takes pride in meeting customers’ unique requests.
These unique requests can sometimes spawn from customers’ visits and tours of New York state’s many wineries and vineyards.
“People are going on these wine tours and grabbing a few bottles [while at the vineyard],” said Tisdell. “They can buy that next bottle at the store.”
Because Tisdell already had a well-stocked NYS wine section and some extra room in the space next door, he decided to marry the two for the best business potential.
“It’s all about the customers,” he said. “I know what they want, and this new tasting room will provide that.”
Tisdell visited many wineries all over the state, and not just in the Finger Lakes. While visiting these locations along with his parents, Anna and Bob Sr., he was inspired by the colors and décor of the vineyard’s tasting rooms, so much so he found the vision for his own store.
Liquor Town will soon unveil the newly renovated 1,400-square-foot space with a grand opening celebration showcasing many locally produced wines. The space also includes a tasting bar.
A hand-crafted slab of pine has been transformed into the one-of-a-kind bar along with some mini tasting stations, also hand-crafted. Shelves upon shelves in the store’s addition feature local favorites such as Hazlitt, Bully Hill, Thousand Islands Winery, Bagleys, Herron Hill, Atwater, Owera, Merritt, Lamoreaux Landing, Casa Larga and Lakewood, to a name a few.
Tisdell says this new space will allow customers to peruse what local wine producers have to offer. They can also try products during periodic tasting events, which will be listed on the store’s Facebook page.
“We’re bringing some wineries to your backyard,” Tisdell said of the tasting room. “There’s a good variety and the entire state is well represented.”
While there are already many wines to choose from, Tisdell says there’s no limit to the number of vineyards and wineries the room will feature.
The grand opening event will run from 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 23, at 5501 Bartell Road in Brewerton. The afternoon festivities will feature tastings by more than 10 local wineries and will be catered by DG’s Family Restaurant, Jake’s Grub & Grog and Koto Japanese Steakhouse. This is a free event, but attendees are encouraged to invite friends and family, and to RSVP on the Liquor Town Facebook page.
Grand opening visitors also can check out Tis Mart, a small one-stop shop located adjacent to Liquor Town. Tisdell says Tis Mart carries “everything people wish they could grab when they’re on the go” or if they just left Liquor Town.
Tis Mart carries a variety of snacks, coffee, pastries, soda, bottle openers, drink mixers, cigars, gift bags and much more.
For more information on Liquor Town, Tis Mart or the NYS Tasting Room grand opening, call 668-6986 or find the store on Facebook. Patrons also can visit liquor-town.com.
