Planning a candlelit dinner for that special someone and need a bottle of bubbly to strike the perfect chord? Then perhaps you should take a stroll down Bedford Avenue to one of the premiere purveyor of spirits of all the Bellmores.
Bedford Wine and Liquors has been in business since 1940. Three years ago, it was taken over by its current owner, Nick Genovese, who has successfully continued to run it to this very day. Patch recently spoke to Genovese about owning a store amid the hustle and bustle of Bedford Avenue.
Tell us a little bit about Bedford Wine and Liquors.
We're basically just a general liquor store. We specialize in some wines, and we take special orders for specific products.
You purchased the business three years ago...going in, did you have any prior retail experience?
No experience at all... I was a sanitation supervisor beforehand, and I had retired and was looking for something new to do. I just wanted to get into a business, and I figured that a liquor store was the safest thing. Wine doesn’t spoil, after all.
Do you carry any unusual products?
Everyone carries the same things, the same names and brands of wines...there’s a million of them. So, you try and get some of the most unusual names that no one else carries. For example, a lot of wines from Chile and Argentina sell very well...they’re unusual, and they sell very well.
It must have been a big transition going from a normal job to being self-employed. Do you enjoy the difference?
I like that you work for yourself and you make money for yourself...you’re not beholden to somebody else.
What do you like about owning a business in the Bellmore area, especially on a busy street like Bedford Avenue?
I live in the area, and I know the people...I knew that the business would do well here. And so far, it’s been profitable...the business is doing very well.
