The Great Cocktail Shakeup

It started in a little corner of Cedar Terrace Shopping Center as a "business where people needed your product whether times were good, or whether times were bad." In South Carolina, liquor can only be sold in a separate store front, and only liquor can be sold in that storefront. So, you can't buy liquor in the grocery store, or in a convenience store, or in a gas station, or in the church vestibule.
So Frank and I decided it would be a good business for us to try - I was working full time as Store Team Leader (General Manager) in Landmark Square at JoAnn Fabrics and Crafts, and Frank would work full time at launching our business, Frank Richards Beverage, in Cedar Terrace.
Our target clientele was the neighborhood of Cedar Terrace - we weren't trying to compete with places like Green's and Total Wine. Initially, we didn't offer beer or wine, because, of course, that would have required a separate store front.

Several good things came out of that little corner store. One major one was Buddy, a cat that wandered in the store one day, and never left. One of the most charming alley cats you've ever met, and hungry for attention... and just plain hungry. Well, to say he never left is not quite accurate - after making sure he had a clean bill of health, we took him home, and he has made it his own.
Another good thing was the support and help we received from our friends - in helping us run the store, and in buying from us instead of that other place, even though they were no doubt cheaper.
Our plan worked, our neighborhood customers found us, and gave it an honest effort. We did well enough, and we were able to take vacations like normal people, come and go as we pleased, and we didn't have to answer to any "corporate types." It was OUR business!
We, of course, gave back to our community by offering special pricing to GLBT organizations such as the Aids Benefit Foundation of South Carolina and the SCGLBG, and donating what we could afford to their fundraising events. We also helped build the Garden of Grace UCC on Atlas Rd, an Open-And-Affirming church that is a spiritual home to many GLBT folks. We still volunteered at the local community theatres too (community theatre and art in general always struggle for support!), such as Town Theatre and Workshop Theatre.
We always were on the lookout for ways to expand and grow, and when a space opened up in the front building, closest to the road, with more visibility and two front doors, we decided to take it.

Our Frank Richards Beverage Universe was born. Being able to divide the space and utilize the two front doors meant we had the equivalent of two storefronts - and now could offer beer and wine and other convenience items. A group of our theatre friends helped us move, literally overnight! We had fun, and managed to be ready for business by our next business day.

I left JoAnn's at the end of 2009 and made Frank Richards Beverage my full time focus.
We installed refrigeration, and our friend Andrew helped create a fun atmosphere with creative logos, decor and signage. We were able to offer wine tastings, and bar essentials, and we were getting more traffic into the store due to our increased visibility from the road.

The liquor business can be very enjoyable. I got to sample new products before they ever hit the shelves, I made a variety of new friends, and was able to hone my website skills, too! I launched Frank's idea for a website, The Cocktail Shaker - a website that featured drink recipes, tips, ideas and fun.
There were several factors that led to our decision to sell the business after more than four years - the loss of our major anchor in Cedar Terrace (Fred's), the overall economy, and a need for more income than the shop was generating.

Owning our own business was a lot of fun, but also a lot of work! We appreciated the support we received from our friends and customers, as well as from other businesses which referred customers to us, such as the Winestyles in the Shoppes at Woodhill.
What better way to conclude this practice-writing than with a drink recipe? How about something from The Cocktail Shaker? (Click on the image below for an easier to read version)