Market Watch November 2017

It’s quite a story. It all started back in 1991 with a single store in the town of Claymont, Delaware, which lies just north of Wilmington along the Delaware River. The store manager was David Trone, and he was also the owner. Today, David and his brother Robert sit atop a beverage alcohol retail empire whose annual revenue has reached nearly $3 billion. What’s truly remarkable is that as Total Wine continues to grow its national footprint, the pace of expansion is actually accelerating. This year, in fact, Total Wine will show the greatest growth in its entire history. In every market where it stakes a claim, Total Wine strikes fear into the hearts of smaller independent players and forces supermarkets and big box players to up their game. By…

Port Ellen, Brora and Rosebank To Reopen…. Three famous and long-shuttered Scotch distilleries are set to reopen. Diageo will invest £35 million ($46.1 million) to reopen Islay’s Port Ellen and Sutherland-based Brora, which have both been closed since 1983. The two distilleries are slated to restart production by 2020, with an estimated capacity of 800,000 liters each annually. Both distilleries will also feature cask filling and traditional warehousing on site, as well as tourism amenities. In addition, Ian Macleod Distillers will reopen Rosebank Distillery after acquiring the trademark from Diageo and agreeing to acquire the former distillery site from Scottish Canals. The project— which includes a visitor center, along with production and warehousing—will cost £10 to £12 million ($13.2 to $15.9 million). Construction is projected to take about two years,…

Craft Beer And Sake Shine At California Taproom Paying homage to their educational pursuits and cultural backgrounds, husband-andwife team Jake Freed and Hiroko Nakamura unveiled The Periodic Table in September in Emeryville, California’s Public Market. The duo, who both have doctorates in chemistry, aim to make the space a destination for beer and sake lovers, pouring a variety of Bay Area craft brews and offering nearly 30 sake labels, as well as shochubased cocktails and Japanese whiskies. The draft program includes labels from Southern California producers like Gilman Brewing Co. and Faction Brewing ($6.50 to $9.50 a draft pour), joined by a handful of packaged Japanese imports ($7 to $8.50 a can or bottle), including Yo-Ho Brewing’s Yona ale and Kiuchi Brewery’s Hitachino Red Rice Belgian Strong pale ale. The…

• Operated by Marriott Hotels, the Moxy Times Square hotel opened in September in Manhattan with a slew of venues operated by Tao Group. The property’s nightlife standout, Magic Hour Rooftop Bar & Lounge, evokes an urban amusement park. At 10,000 square feet, the venue houses a mini golf course and carousel seating, with high-end fair food and decadent cocktails. • The Darcy Hotel in Washington, D.C., unveiled the coffee bar and cocktail den Lil’ B Coffee & Eatery in September. The venue serves breakfast and lunch, transitioning later in the day into a drinks space that highlights innovative cocktails, Virginia wines, craft beers and mead. • A group of Southern California brewers-turned-businesspeople have created the Artisanal Brewers Collective, opening their first venue, The Stalking Horse, in September. The pub…

Chicago Chef Debuts Upscale American Eatery Chef Lee Wolen, in partnership with Windy City restaurant company Boka Restaurant Group, opened his second concept, Somerset, in September in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood. The American restaurant highlights familiar flavors and dishes prepared with seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. Somerset’s dinner menu includes starters like dry-aged beef tartare and charred broccoli ($11 to $18), while larger entrées range from duck leg gnocchetti pasta to seared halibut to grilled beef short ribs ($14 to $55). The venue boasts an expansive wine program with roughly 200 labels ($10 to $25 a glass; $40 to $1,900 a 750-ml.), including limited-production offerings like Liquid Farm’s White Hill Chardonnay and Ritme Celler’s Etern Priorat Tinto. In addition, Somerset’s bar program spans a variety of craft beers ($6 to $14…

• Celebrating progressive Brazilian cuisine, Ofa opened in September in Miami Beach. The restaurant serves seasonal meats, chicken and fish combined with greens and grains, as well as caipirinhas and the classic Rabo de Galo cocktail. Ofa has an indoor dining area and bar, a lush patio, and a garden lounge. • The modern Mexican restaurant Tintorera opened in September in Los Angeles’ Silver Lake neighborhood, offering a refined seafood-centric menu. Along with crudo and raw plates, the venue serves roasted fish and meats and boasts a wine list that includes Mexican labels and a bar program highlighting mezcal, Tequila and other agave distillates. • Located in a new 54-story skyscraper along the Chicago River in The Loop, Porter Kitchen & Deck serves classic American fare in an upscale yet…