The news that an enormous wine store will open in the old Office Max location on N. 45th St. and 4th Ave. NE took the whole neighborhood by surprise. Many in Wallingford wondered, “Will this hurt City Cellars?”
City Cellars owner Michael Herndon was just as surprised as anyone to hear about Wine World moving into the neighborhood. “I first thought it might be bad for us,” he said. But when thinking about the shop’s loyal clientele, he said, “I started to feel better about it as the day went on.” Still, he acknowledges that he might see some fall-off in business.
Herndon calls Wine World proprietor David LeClaire “a good friend of the store,” and added, “I wish him the best.”
City Cellars has been open for 21 years in the center of Wallingford, at 1710 N. 45th St. It caters both to people getting a bottle or two and case and half-case purchasers (both are discounted). The shop will deliver cases to the Wallingford area for free.
Numerous readers commented on our Facebook page that they would remain loyal City Cellars customers. Oenophiles, do you think having a wine superstore in the neighborhood will change your shopping patterns?
Only if they can undersell Two Buck Chuck from Trader Joes 🙂