As Tucker’s Wine & Whimseys approaches its second anniversary, owner Bridget Brady hopes that more business owners will consider joining the party on Main Street.
“We need more walkable retail in downtown Tucker,” Brady said. “I hope that our store being here for two years will show that businesses can thrive on Main Street.”
When the store opened in late November of 2022, almost 90% of sales were “wine” while the other 10% were “whimseys,” Brady said. That percentage is now about 75-25, as more people have discovered that the alcohol aspect is just one part of the store.
“I love that we have people who come in here just to buy cards or gifts,” Brady said. “We also have home goods, food items, candles, dish towels, notepads, and a lot of other unique items you might not find somewhere else.”
As a female business owner, Brady said she focuses on purchasing goods from other women-owned and minority women-owned businesses whenever possible.
“One of our vendors is Moonlight Makers, which is owned by two moms based out of Asheville,” Brady said. “We carry several Taylor Swift-themed items that we get from them, along with notepads and retro matchstick holders.”
And then there is the “wine” aspect of W&W, with thousands of bottles in stock. Brady said she thinks that wine stores get a bad rap for being overpriced, but it’s unfounded.
“Most of our bottle sales average between $21 and $25, but we sell a lot of $15 wine too,” she said. “And all the wines that we have for sale are because they are a step above the norm. You aren’t going to find these wines at the grocery store.”
Wine & Whimseys also has a whole host of specialty products, including champagne, sake, organic wines, non-alcohol options, and wine cocktails. But if you want a fancy limited production wine like Opus One, Wine & Whimseys has that too.
Brady, who is a member of the Tucker Downtown Development Authority, said she feels the city is doing its part to make the downtown area more accessible to the public with its Downtown Facade grant program, which provides matching funds for storefront improvements.
She said the city’s chronic problem, a lack of nearby downtown parking, has been somewhat relieved by the city’s partnership with nearby Main Street Church, which provides 101 designated parking spaces available free of charge Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Brady also hopes to draw more crowds to the downtown area by hosting a variety of after-hours events, including private parties, fundraisers, and a wine-tasting on the second Tuesday of each month.
She looks forward to the next month as far as sales, not only for Wine & Whimseys, but all of her Main Street neighbors.
“We are excited about the holidays and we are well-stocked and ready,” she said.
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