The Amherst Street Wine & Liquor shop has opened. I’m still not sure exactly how I feel about the super sized wine and liquor store. On one hand, it’s great to see so vast selections in the city of Buffalo, all under one roof. On the other hand, I’m still opting toward supporting my own go-to wine shop that I have come to frequent – City Wine Merchant (I don’t usually purchase hard liquor).
In years past, I always hoped that Premier Wine & Spirits would open in the city, but instead of moving closer to the city they moved further away from it. So to a certain degree, Amherst Street Wine & Liquor store is a concept that I always thought would benefit the city, as it does have the market feel to it (opened and owned by Nicole Wegman).
If you’re into wine and liquor, it’s kind of like being a kid in a candy shop. But there’s a guilt factor as well, as you can plainly see – there are signs Amherst Street Wine & Liquor that broadcast the competitive prices, as they relate to Premier and Gates Circle Wine and Liquor. Most people want to save a few bucks on their purchases, no matter how loyal they are to the small corner store.
Yes, the prices appear to be lower. Plus the location is conveniently situated for Wegmans’ shoppers. There is no way that Amherst Street Wine & Liquor won’t do a killer business, due to its offerings and its prices. I’m sure that there will be plenty of people who will frequent this new enterprise.
This is not the first supermarket to offer wine and spirits, but it is the first local supermarket to do so (under a different name, and not actually attached to the Wegmans market). It’s a smart move by Wegmans, though I am sure that the smaller wine/liquor stores will feel the hurt soon enough.
One can only hope that there will be enough loyal and dedicated consumers living in neighborhoods where smaller wine/liquor stores reside, who feel the need to support these businesses (Gates Circle, Hodge “oldest in the country” Liquor, City Wine Merchant, etc).
Only time will tell.