There's More Than Beer @ VBM (though they've got that, too)
The shop is adorable, with one side of the store dedicated to wooden shelves stacked with unique items perfect for the home cook. The extensive selection of fine salts makes an attractive display; I was impressed to find a 3.4 ounce jar of truffle salt made by Sabatino for less than $12. Equally impressive is the selection of fine vinegars and olive oils by O displayed in a vertical unit that echoes traditional wine bottle storage. Shoppers will also find hot sauces and mustards, nuts and crackers, chocolate and tea. Books on the topics of food and entertaining are also on display as are a handful of kitchen tools including things like pepper mills, salt cellars, and stove top popcorn poppers.
In the center of the store stands a refrigerated unit stocked with trays of olives, peppers and cornichons. A fine array of salumi, cheeses and cheese accompaniments (like fruit pastes) line the bottom of the display. A good selection of Boar’s Head products including horseradish cheddar, soprasetta and pickles are also found here along with a varied selection of gourmet sodas from Dr. Brown’s, Boylan’s and Johnnie Ryan.
The sandwiches make use of Boar’s Head products as well, and I found my turkey “Rueben” made of thick slices of turkey, fresh, crunchy coleslaw and swiss on freshly slice marbled rye to be delicious, well-made and well, huge. I know I’ll be stopping in for sandwiches more often.
The store is still in set-up mode, the arrival of its beer stock will certainly fill the space up. I can’t wait to see what it looks like when every item is in place. Over the next few weeks YUM will introduce you to some of their more interesting products. If you stop by in the next few days and find something that you’re especially excited or curious about, let me know. Maybe we’ll feature it in an upcoming post. You can email me by clicking here.
Below, as a little enticement, I’ve listed an assortment of brand names savvy foodie shoppers can find at VBM.
Tropical Pepper Company
Big Tree Farms
Artisan Salt Company (pictured in lead photo)
Margaret’s Artisan Flatbreads
Fischer Weiser
Forbidden City
Newtree Belgian Chocolate
Village Beer Merchant
547 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, 14222
716.881.1080
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Comment Options
Martin
adorable?...lol. bet the guys love that one
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Dan
This is like, what, the 20th article on BR about Village Beer Merchant? For that kind of hype, that had damn better well be the only place east of Chicago where one can find Fat Tire, or I'll be extremely disappointed.
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queenseyes
Dan, I agree with you. And it's mostly my fault. I really got into this one because it was so needed in the city and was totally different... the anticipation was too much. Anyways, since Christa broke the news about the beer license I'll lay off the place for a while. Oh, and do you know of any place in the area that has Fat Tire? Cuz I'm lookin' too! That and Old Peculiar.
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JAramini
Newell, the nearest place I've seen Old Peculiar is Beers of the World in Rochester - I don't think I've seen it in Buffalo.
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bfitpilates
I'm so glad to see they are carrying Artisan salts. They carried them at Panhandler and I'm just about done with my last batch- well worth the price tag! And Newtree, too...I think I need to go for a bit more of a run now to justify going to VBM!
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RisingDamp666
Me and my rogue cohort will be in an unassuming white vehicle across the street lying in wait to snipe at the first patron to exit the store with a twelve pk. of Stella Artois...don't do it!
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Dan
QE: If you're looking for Old Peculiar, your best chance in Buffalo is Premier Liquors, but you probably know that. Otherwise, there's Beers of the World in Rochester; Warehouse Beverage in South Euclid, Ohio (deep selection of Real Ale from the UK); and Lina's Beverage in Painesville, Ohio (huge selection of everything, especially Belgians, but because it's in a depressed city where many can barely afford Natural Light, freshness is hit-or-miss.)
OTOH, you can't find anything from Flying Bison in Cleveland except for that really nasty Bard's Tale dreck. Flying Bison's distribution area is so limited, yet I can find Southern Tier's brews as far west as Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo, I don't know. :(
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ablejack
RISINGDAMP666 sez: "Me and my rogue cohort will be in an unassuming white vehicle across the street lying in wait to snipe at the first patron to exit the store with a twelve pk. of Stella Artois...don't do it!"
I say; Don't worry 'bout it. If anyone knows anything about Belgian beers, he wouldn't be interested in Stella.
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RisingDamp666
Thank you, ablejack! You may pass.
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mpowers
Course, if these folk get Sleemans Ales in stock, I'll be a happy campter
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vgallagher
I live in Las Vegas now, and it's kind of humorous watching Buffalo from afar and thinking about the differences in my life since I moved. Fat Tire is available at most gas stations out here. That said, I can't get Brooklyn Brewery ANYWHERE. Anyway, I'm so glad to see this finally opened. I know that the dreams for this place have been churning for a long time now, and I'm happy to see it come to fruition.
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vbm547
thanks for the kind words *cough* dan im joking i joke :) fat tire is illegal to sell in nys. but we have boulder single track way better. old p will be in soon.
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tpc374
I think anytime you start a business that offers a service you need to provide that service. I was excited to stop in recently on my way home from work. It looked great. I stopped at the Deli counter to order a sandwich. It was just before 4:00PM. The nice woman (owner?) told me that they only make sandwiches until 3:00PM but that the deli is open(huhhh?). I was slightly taken aback but just said that I would be back. I doubt I will be though.
A word of friendly advice to the business owners. If you don't put all you have into service and going out of your way for a potential customer you won't last long, no matter how beautiful your shop is or how enticing your menu sounds.
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