Ya Know Free Rangers,
We’ve experimented with extended opening and closing hours a number of times, going deep back into the Before Times, and our new home on this bright visible corner on historic Atlantic Ave (with our sad temporary vinyl signage) has sparked these ponderances once again. But let’s be real, this major metropolis corridor becomes a sleepy backwater by 9pm (though at any random hour some derelict may blaze down it doing 70mph), even on weekends. The only dates people are generally trying to get into the shop later than we’d prefer to receive them are major holidays on which we stay open a bit late anyway. On the other end, whatever time any of us opens (usually not before noon), the jingling of the keys seems to entice someone to follow us in nearly every time for the first sale of the day, as early as 10am. Having opened just shy of an hour before posted time today (this past Saturday to you now), I was asked if we were open and had some creme de cassis to sell. And it does seem that there is a solid swath of the neighborhood who purchase their dinner wine on the same run as their morning groceries. As such, we’ll very likely be opening earlier at least a few days per week, and we’ll certainly keep you posted (and update on Google) as developments unfold.
So, now I’m playing one of my favorite games for solo time in the shop: listening to profoundly sad songs and then trying to pull myself together as a customer approaches. Invariably, I won’t quite get there every time and someone will ask if I’m okay. Yeah, I’m fine. And you’re great. Most of our people are really sweet. While adding some tunes in the voice of my old pal, Jeff, to the shop playlist, a live Keller Williams album comes up and my guy is belting out the Stones’ No Expectations over his signature mandolin chop (and some mighty fine pickin’ and a-fiddlin’) and I can almost taste the last meal we shared. Never in your sweet short life indeed, my friend. Keller never liked me, but he was always good to Jeff, especially when the phone stopped ringing from almost everybody else, and I’m forever grateful to him for that. And I’ve got no expectation to pass that way again.
Not as many as expected have yet taken advantage of our new and improved Super Sale Page (dry schmanuary), though a handful of you have gone deep (cheers to that!). This is not a “get this crap out of our store” situation. You’ll find some fairly significant recently released spirits there, as well as some old and rare wine, and now large format. Latest additions include Journeyman Pit Spitter Cherry Whiskey, Jefferson Tropical Bourbon, Suntory AO World Whisky, and handful of Ken Wright Pinot(s) in Mag and 3L at original release price!
(!) Click here for Super Sale Page (!)
This week’s FREE in-store tasting is with Regal Wine Imports from which we acquire our latest single serving canned wines by Nomadica as well as a strangely named and branded (though delicious and food friendly) bone dry skin contact white, Bel A Ciao. This Thursday, February 1st. (5-7pm), please join us to taste Nomadica White, Red, and Sparkling White as well as Bel A Ciao! All four are 10% Off, tasting day only!
Cheers,
Jack
Proprietor
Free Range Wine & Spirits
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