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All told, there are likely two reasons for the closing: the trend of "trading down" for wine purchases (consumers have largely abandoned the over-$30 wine market, opting instead for alternatives at $20 and under), and the likes of Spec's and Costco pushing aggressively into Austin's wine retail market with better pricing (Costco) and deeper selection (Spec's) than what was available at Grapevine. While we were always in awe of their beer selection and their generous selection of Pacific Northwest wines, we can't claim to be surprised about the store's struggle given some of the price points seen there in recent months. That said, nearby workers and residents will surely miss the lunch counter, and beer nerds will likely now have to brave the frightening Arbor Walk parking lot for their weekend selections. The Grapevine Market employee we spoke to recommended signing up for Grapevine's e-mail list for further information on closeout discounts.
For those readers attempting to stay local with their beer and wine purchases, we suggest both The Austin Wine Merchant and Whip-In as ideal spots for your future patronage.
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NOOOOOOOOO!
As a founder of Grape Vine Market this is difficult to hear. I remember pulling nails out of the salvaged dance floor one by one so we could lay it in front of the fireplace. Our friends hanging price tags the night before we opened. Stacks of invoices at the register opening day while Chuck, Greg and I rifled through and played "lets make deal". Retailer of the Year 4 months later by Food and Wine magazine. What a time we had. The tech boom, 9/11, Bob's death, being forced to sell. Things change. In a few years people will forget. The signs will be down, it will be something else. Even though it will be gone its impact on retail wine and spirit sales will be felt. We did something special so before people pile on as to why and how just remember where Austin was in 1999. Our dream came true if only for brief moment, our dream came true.
Good stuff, Wine Man Steve. Grape Vine Market certainly outlasted a lot of other area businesses established around 1999 (Anyone remember Garden.com and DrKoop.com?).
Dear Wine Man Steve, I'm a little teary eyed over here. Thanks for the paninis and chocolates and bottles of vino. They will be missed.
Thanks for the Humane Society volunteer parties and fundraisers, Grapevine. You'll be missed.
Having seen the likes of likable upscale concepts like Taste Select, Starlite, and Castle Hill Cafe disappear in the past year, it's not hugely surprising to see the recession hit the retail end of the wine business.
Are these really related in some way to the economy?
I don't know about Taste Select, but my impression was that Castle Hill closed because they were ready to try to do something different after ~20 years of the same concept.
As for Starlite, even when the economy was 'good' a couple of years ago, that downtown location was always empty. Crimson failed there in ~1 year and it came as no shock to me that what made Starlite cool at their old location was completely lost in the new, larger, downtown location. (Similar to what happened when Mars moved, in my opinion)
I guess all I'm asking is: Did Starlite and Castle Hill really close because business dried up due to the economy? Or did other factor mitigate business shifting and/or the owners closing the doors? (Ie, like when Room 710 blames the smoking ban and it's obvious it's not the smoking ban exclusively since every other club has stayed in business on Red River)
@wattage: From what was reported in the Statesman and (I believe) on Chowhound, business at Castle Hill had slipped significantly before the closure, which was why they installed the wine bar, etc. There was also a partial change of ownership due to a divorce. As for Starlite, the space could have been part of the problem, but they were also experimenting a lot - they revamped their menu a few months before closing to more reasonable price points, but the word never seemed to get out about the more affordable pricing. So while I suppose it's debatable, I'd go with yes, though I'm sure the economy wasn't the only reason.
Thanks for the heads up and info! I don't really pay attention to the 'food buzz' around town enough to know what's going on.
Sad, sad news. Our office has been just down the street from Grapevine for 2 years. I've really been spoiled by ready access to an awesome wine and beer selection, and of course the cafe was great too.
I just joined your mailing list, so hopefully I can help you unload some of those obscure belgian ales :)
Thanks for the personal note Steve. Twin Liquors is also a good local alternative for displaced patrons.
It may be based in Houston but Specs is the best liquor/party store in town. Anyone who shops elsewhere because Specs isn't locally owned is missing out.
I am very sorry to here this specially for the founders of this establishment, and also for the North Austin Community. Reading Wine man Steve comment helped me to understand why the workers at grapevine used to love it so much they were happy and excited when i would go in there. It was like a party with friends, what a great shopping exprience as if they cared that same passion .... but it was just a job, most would say? but NO it was someones vision, there dream and there passion. Wine and Food is about passion! However once again we see a big corporation come in and try to change a local business, BRING IN THERE OWN PEOPLE WHO "KNOW WHAT THERE DOING". What a joke!!! from my observation they got rid of the employees who gave a shit about there job and brought in workers, and in return thats what you've got a store that closes, CUSTOMER SERVICE AND CARING EMPLOYEES WILL TAKE A BUSINESS THROUGH THE HARD TIMES. Not re-creating the wheel especially not here in Austin.
I nearly had a heart attack when I was getting ready the other morning for work and heard the bad news on the radio... I live around the corner from GrapeVine and have loved it since moving there 6 years ago. BEER is what I go for, and Spec's just doesn't really cut it. Plus, the parking lot at Arbor Walk is a nightmare! I'd have to drive further to the Highland Mall location.
Twin Liquors is OK, but once again the beer selection isn't great, and the Burnet Rd location also has an awful parking lot, as does Central Market Whip in and the Austin Wine Merchants are across town.
It is quite important to me to stay local, as well, though Grape Vine was bought out by Majestic recently, which was also disappointing and resulted in unwanted changes.
DAMMIT!
I'm sure Spec's will have room to bring all of those caring employees on. I started going to Spec's when they came to town and everything I had heard was true. Friendly, knowledgeable, will help you get it if they don't have it, better prices, more variety and on top of that they have everything else you need for a party of any size. Spec's is local enough, it's as much of a chain as Twin Liquors. Its sad to see a local business close, but something has to be wrong with the product if they can't stay open. Adaption is the key to survival in any business.
"(Ie, like when Room 710 blames the smoking ban and it's obvious it's not the smoking ban exclusively since every other club has stayed in business on Red River)"
@Wattage: I think you've proven the point. Every other club on Red River could cater to smokers; and, yes, every one of them is still in business. Room 710 was an indoor only venue. We had no space to develop the front ala Beerland and Elysium. And there was no backyard like Red Eyed Fly or Headhunters.
Thanks for the shout out of being called a lout, though. That brought back some memories.
And good luck to the folks at Grapevine.
Uh dude, your next door neighbors Bull McCabes - a bar that was empty 93% of the time - actually cut holes in the front wall, built an internal wall, and created a smoking area. Whomever is in charge of the old 710 room now has cut holes in the front wall and installed windows, likely to create some sort of smoking area.
Anyway, I don't understand how the smoking ban could have killed Room 710, since every time I walked into the club, there were ashtrays and everyone was puffing away like lung cancer was a badge of honor.
If anything, I would have assumed if the beer was cheap and cold, the bands loud and awesome, and all other things were equal, Room 710 would outlast the other clubs on Red River since you didn't ever tell people to go outside to smoke.. which meant we could drink more and give you more of our money over the course of the night.
Clearly all other things weren't equal.
You're not worth talking to, Wattage. Especially when you lie about ashtrays being out on the bar or at the tables or even upstairs at Room 710. Obviously, you have a bone to pick with me and my former business, but alas, you're an anonymous message board poster. Telling me, apparently, that I must have been making hand over fist for not forcing people who buy a drink and then light up a cigarette out of my establishment. Because if you know anything, our beer was never cold, our music was always crappy, and you're the best and brightest that the Austinist has to offer.
Don't quit your day job. Something tells me this prissy-pansy thing you've got going won't pay your bills.
Oh, and why don't you re-read the first article by Austin Powell in June about Room 710's closing. It might help to know that the smoking ban was one of five reasons for 710 having to shut its doors.
Asher