Stan Komen has been selling wine and spirits longer than I’ve been drinking them and that’s quite a long time! I used to buy beer at Stan’s original place of business at Sheridan Village back when I was sixteen and had a fake I.D. way back in 1974.
The last six pack of Budweiser I bought before I moved to New York in July of 1993 was at Stan’s Wine & Spirits store which is located in the Metro Centre on Glen Avenue. I remember going in and telling Stan I was moving to New York and he told me he had heard that I was leaving town. We had a nice chat and I told him I’d stop in when I’d come back to Peoria to visit. Well, since I couldn’t drive for 19 years when I came back, I never made that visit. A couple weeks ago, I drove in to Stan’s parking lot and thought he’d never remember me. I was wrong. I walked in and he stood up and sang out, “Marty Wombacher...welcome back!”
I couldn’t believe it, but that’s what makes Stan and his store unique in this day of impersonal Big Box bullshit retail stores. He remembers customers and he’s a personable, smart and fun guy to chat with. I thought I’d start a new semi-regular series called, “Shop Local Because Chain Stores Suck Monkey Lungs and Often Smell of Stale Ass,” which will focus on locally-owned businesses around town. And I couldn’t think of a better place to start at than Stan’s Wine & Spirits store, so it’s off we go!
Here we are at Stan's Wines and Spirits. Stan's been in business here in Peoria for over five decades.
Let's go inside and say hello.
Irony unfolds as I take this picture.
Here's the front counter...but where's Stan?
Whoomp, there he is! Stan the man, in the flesh!
Here's Stan with Evan, who's the stockman of the store. Evan goes to Bradley and as you can see, he survived Senior Lock-In, so he's got that going for him!
I was able to get Joyce, the bookeeper to look up from her work for a second to pose for the MBIP camera...
And three seconds later she's back to work. Stan really cracks the whip in here!
Okay, let's take a look around at the store. Stan's minding the front of the store which features pints and collectibles.
As you can see, there's a big selection to be had in the long aisles of Stan's Wine & Spirits.
I like the "Stan Sez" signs that are placed methodically around the store.
If you're a wine enthusiast, there's a big selection to be had at Stan's.
And there's even handy-dandy serving suggestions for your perusal.
Here's a nice Heineken display complete with specialty mugs and glasses.
Micro brews and craft beers are all the rage now and as you can see, Stan has quite the selection in his beer coolers.
Well now, this is the perfect item to pour shots from! (Rimshot.)
A shot from the back of the store.
I thought I'd do an interview with the business owner in each one of these series, so I waited for a lull in the action and coming up is a lively question and answer from Stan and I. Oh, Stan...
MBIP: When did you open your first store and how old were you?
Stan: I opened the first store in 1969 when I purchased Sheridan Villiage Liquors in Sheridan Village. I was 30 years old. I was married to a former Peoria girl and came back to her hometown.
What do you remember from your first day open and what have you learned from your years of owning your own store?
From owning my own store I have learned that people make the difference. Technology may change, people don't.
Locally owned stores are being killed by big box stores and the internet. Why should people shop at Stan's as opposed to a place like Wal-Mart?
When you want to know the difference between a Beaujolais and a Burgandy or a blended scotch and a malt scotch, you will always require the small, informed retailer to help you. Service and knowledge will keep the small guy alive! I am living proof!
Have you ever been robbed?
I was robbed once in Sheridan Village by a small man with a large shotgun. As is our policy, we provided him with excellent service and unfortunately all our cash. He was never caught. I am happy to report we never met again.
You have a background in journalism, what's the story there...no pun intended!
I have a journalism degree from the University of Missouri. I met my wife while at college and my motto was "I never let my schooling interfere with my education.”
Who's some of your favorite writers?
I am an avid reader. My favorite author is Somerset Maugham. To this day I don't feel any writer is as equal for character and emotional impact.
One of my favorite writers is Hunter Thompson. What do you think he would've bought had he visited Stan's Liquors?
The late Hunter Thompson is considered one of America's writers. If he had visited my liquor store I would have made a fortune....he was an alcoholic!
Do you have a favorite Peoria restaurant?
Steak and Shake is among my favorites. I love food, Sara Lee is mentioned in my will.
I don't know if you know this, but there's been a bit of a boom in local stores on and around Main Street. Any advice for these young entrepreneurs/store owners?
Relative to the boom in local stores, my advice to young business owners is to kiss their wives or husbands in the morning because if you want to be successful you won't see them until you close at night....you are going to miss a lot of your kids softball games.
What's your favorite drink?
When working my favorite drink is water. Out socially, it depends on who's buying...I can be very social!
This is a little off the beaten track, but what was the first record you ever bought and what was your first concert you ever went to?
Truthfully I can't remember my first record purchase or concert, however, I do recall The Showboat comin' to town and we would go down to beat our feet in the Mississippi mud....I'm from St. Louis.
Do you plan on retiring?
I’m not excited about it. However retirement is not the end world, but you sure can see it from there.
I've been buying beer from you since I was about sixteen years old with a fake I.D. Do you have any other customers that have been buying beer from you this long?
Has the statute of limitations expired on your crime...you should be flogged for jeapordizing my license! I've had two generations of customers who I have watched grow up. Loyalty is a great thing.
How many people through the years do you estimate you've employed? Do you keep in touch with many of them?
I have employed hundreds of full and part-time associates. Many of my stockboys were hired from Bergan and Notre Dame. Most of them went to college and successfullly graduated and one went to jail. I frequently hear from the former but not the latter.
What was the average cost of a six pack of beer in 1969 and what is the price these days?
I can't remember the price in 1969, however, when I started in business my waist was 30 inches and today it is closer to 40. My zipper looks like it is part of Amtrak.
Craft beer seems to be all the rage now. What kind of craft beers do you stock?
Craft beers are making inroads into traditional Bud, Miller and Coors purchases. Twenty-one to twenty-nine years olds are now your volume buyers. They seek new tastes and drinking experiences. Consequently, we stock scores of craft beers and imports to meet any tastes.
What's something that people would be surprised to know about you?
People would be surprised to know that I am 50% deaf. Consequently, when greeted by: "How are you Stan?" I usually reply: "It's about a quarter of three.” People usually do seem understanding of my reply.
If you could change something in Peoria, what would it be?
If I could change anything in Peoria...I wish Interstate 55 was constructed through our community instead of Bloomington. It would have made Peoria a major trading area in downstate Illinois. It was a missed opportunity.
And finally, to get all James Lipton on your ass...what's your favorite curse word?
Gee whiz, golly. I had an Ozzie and Harriet upbringing!
Stan’s Wine & Spirits
1108 W Glen Avenue
Peoria
309-693-9463
Further reading: Metro Centre, Foursquare and Wine and Winery.
Bonus Linkage To Steve Tarter’s “Minding Business” Blog
MBIP got a shoutout from Steve Tarter over at the Journal Star from his blog, “Minding Business.” Check it out here, thanks, Steve!
