8,000 bottles of wine on the wall? National chain Total Wine opens first Nebraska store
The nation's largest independent wine retailer, Total Wine & More, opened its first Nebraska store Friday, promising a huge selection and low prices.
The company, which says it stocks 8,000 different wines at its typical store, opened in Omaha's Shoppes at Aksarben Village. The store is in the building formerly occupied by Bed Bath & Beyond at 1220 S. 71st St.
The store sells wine, spirits, beer, cigars and accessories.
Robert Hammack Sr., who grew up in St. Paul, Nebraska, and attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in the early 1980s, works for the national chain as chief stores officer.
He oversees the day-to-day operations of all the Total Wine & More stores — 273 stores in 29 states, including Nebraska — and leads the team that builds the new stores.
"I've always said 'Hey, we need a store in Nebraska,' and thankfully enough we had a great location available right near 72nd Street," Hammack said.
He's been with the company seven years.
The store opened without fanfare, but a grand opening is slated for Nov. 7.
Across the country, the company's big stores have sometimes met with opposition when entering a new market as smaller retailers worry the competition will hurt their bottom line.
Nebraska, of course, already has some big stores selling wine and spirits, among them Costco and Hy-Vee's Wall-to-Wall Wine and Spirits stores in Omaha, Papillion and Lincoln.
Other big stores include Wine, Beer and Spirits , with stores in Omaha, Lincoln, Grand Island and Fremont, and Spirit World, at 67th and Center Streets.
A New York University professor told The World-Herald last week that competition from a big store can be good for consumers.
Karl Storchmann, whose fields of study include wine economics, said Total Wine & More is the largest wine retail chain in the nation.
"Their selection and their prices are second to none," Storchmann said. "That is, consumers will profit in two ways: low prices and the availability of hard-to-get wines will enhance consumer surplus."
Another positive aspect, he said, is that the arrival of a large store has the potential to break up any local monopolies that may have a grip on the market.
"They will have to be innovative, in price setting and wine selection, in order to be able to compete," he said. "All good things from an economist's perspective."
Winemakers from Nebraska see opportunity in the big store, according to Alyssa Brodersen, executive director of the Nebraska Winery & Grape Growers Association.
The association's mission includes promoting and developing the Nebraska wine and grape industry. Its members range from small vineyards to large winemaking operations.
"The company has shown great initiative in contacting Nebraska wineries and has already incorporated several Nebraska wines into its available stock," Brodersen said.
This relationship, she said, will provide wine enthusiasts with another convenient location to discover and purchase locally made Nebraska wines, she said.
With this new competitor in the market, existing stores may have to step up their game, said Matt Yaeger, who is a second-generation owner of a family-owned wine shop, Pinnacle Wine & Liquor, in Brighton, New York.
Last year, he said, local retailers there defeated a bill that would have allowed wine sales in New York grocery stores. Grocery sales are already allowed in Nebraska.
Because of their size and buying power, big wine stores can negotiate lower prices from suppliers, he said.
Yaeger said smaller retailers can survive, but they may have to adjust and work harder, he said.
"More than ever, you have to, as a retailer, take care of your customer," he said. "Pay attention to them, know what they like, and look after them. If you do that, you will be OK."
Some retailers may have to reduce their dependence on national brands and stock interesting, dynamic, delicious wines at different price points from around the world, he said.
And it would help, he said, to foster their connections with the community, through events, seminars, tastings and customer education.
Hammack said Total Wine & More stores focus on three things: price, service and selection.
He said the team members hired to work at the store undergo rigorous training to learn about wines and assist customers.
The size of the store, 32,279 square feet, and the vast selection mean that's no small task.
"We have over 8,000 wines, 5,000 spirits and really 2,500 beers," he said.
Along with that, he said, for a little local flair, the store will have over 400 items from local producers, such as wines, spirits, craft beers, chips and snacks.
Hammack, who now lives in Bethesda, Maryland, said he'll be back in Nebraska for the official grand opening.
"I'll spend two full days in the store," he said. "Hopefully, you won't be able to tell me from a team member, because I like that."
Store hours are Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
, 402-444-1077
