Bruce Bogad has opened a new wine and beer shop called Sonny’s. Photos by Michael Thompson.
Using his two decades of experience in the retail wine industry, Bruce Bogad has launched a shop of his own in the West End.
Sonny’s Fine Wine & Beer opened in recent months at 11232 Patterson Ave. in the Tuckahoe Village Shopping Center. Bogad has leased the 1,300-square-foot space formerly home to a hobby shop.
True to its name, Sonny’s has more than 300 wines and nearly 200 beers for sale at its shop. The store also sells prepackaged snacks like crackers and cheeses.
At Sonny’s, the emphasis is on wine. Craft beer fans will have to go elsewhere to get their growlers filled or pick up a keg, a market that has given rise to other new startups.
Sonny’s has some 300 types of wine in stock.
“I think that wine is just one of those stable things that will always be around,” Bogad said. “The beer fads come and go.”
Bogad, 54, said he has worked for more than 20 years on different aspects of the retail wine trade. He has managed shops and been a buyer. Most recently he worked for five years at Once Upon a Vine, an established wine shop in Northside.
He said the time was ripe for launching a venture of his own.
“I really got a good feel and handle on how to run a wine shop,” Bogad said. “I know the business very well.”
His knowledge of the industry, in addition to the wines themselves, has proven a draw for Bogad’s shop. He has one employee helping run Sonny’s.
“The beauty of a shop like ours is it takes the intimidation factor out of buying wine and beer,” Bogad said. “We can help you.”
Wines at the shop range in price from $7 bottles to go with a pizza picked up at nearby Frank’s West Pizzeria, up to $50 bottles for special occasions.
Bogad said it cost about $60,000 to launch the venture, and he financed it himself.
He said he doesn’t think nearby wine sellers like Food Lion and an ABC Store will hurt his sales.
“(Food Lion is) not quite as aggressive as the Krogers of the world,” Bogad said. “We can just carry different things.”
Bruce Bogad has opened a new wine and beer shop called Sonny’s. Photos by Michael Thompson.
Using his two decades of experience in the retail wine industry, Bruce Bogad has launched a shop of his own in the West End.
Sonny’s Fine Wine & Beer opened in recent months at 11232 Patterson Ave. in the Tuckahoe Village Shopping Center. Bogad has leased the 1,300-square-foot space formerly home to a hobby shop.
True to its name, Sonny’s has more than 300 wines and nearly 200 beers for sale at its shop. The store also sells prepackaged snacks like crackers and cheeses.
At Sonny’s, the emphasis is on wine. Craft beer fans will have to go elsewhere to get their growlers filled or pick up a keg, a market that has given rise to other new startups.
Sonny’s has some 300 types of wine in stock.
“I think that wine is just one of those stable things that will always be around,” Bogad said. “The beer fads come and go.”
Bogad, 54, said he has worked for more than 20 years on different aspects of the retail wine trade. He has managed shops and been a buyer. Most recently he worked for five years at Once Upon a Vine, an established wine shop in Northside.
He said the time was ripe for launching a venture of his own.
“I really got a good feel and handle on how to run a wine shop,” Bogad said. “I know the business very well.”
His knowledge of the industry, in addition to the wines themselves, has proven a draw for Bogad’s shop. He has one employee helping run Sonny’s.
“The beauty of a shop like ours is it takes the intimidation factor out of buying wine and beer,” Bogad said. “We can help you.”
Wines at the shop range in price from $7 bottles to go with a pizza picked up at nearby Frank’s West Pizzeria, up to $50 bottles for special occasions.
Bogad said it cost about $60,000 to launch the venture, and he financed it himself.
He said he doesn’t think nearby wine sellers like Food Lion and an ABC Store will hurt his sales.
“(Food Lion is) not quite as aggressive as the Krogers of the world,” Bogad said. “We can just carry different things.”
The wine racks/shelves look to be from WestPark Wine & Beer, which closed a few years ago. Stopped in on Thursdays to do their wine tasting and visit with Matt and Spencer.
I’d like to check out this new wine shop. There’s a lot to be said about getting customer service and knowledge from a wine shop rather than a supermarket.