Popular Post Parsnip Totin Jack ★ Posted March 19, 2023 Popular Post Share #1 Posted March 19, 2023 Norm is a guys lot like @Dottleshead. He was in IT and one day decided he didn’t want that to be his future. Norm wanted to be an entrepreneur; make his own way. He decided to open a retail shop for beer and wine. His business strategy was to find a location close to a video store with no grocery chain that would have a no-compete clause. He found a location in Vienna, VA, two doors down from a Blockbuster. This was important because people went to Blockbuster for entertainment, same stop, pick up beer, wine or both. It’s a no frills shop, but Norm knew his stuff. He became popular and profitable. Then the fabric shop that occupied an anchor location left (was once an A&P store if you know what that is). A new tenant, Fresh Market, required a no-compete clause. Norm was told he had to vacate. The community backlash caused the NC headquarters of Fresh Market to remove the clause and allow Norm’s to stay. Today I learned that two local breweries, Dynasty and Old Ox, are releasing an American IPA (7.3%) for Norm’s 25th anniversary. Go Norm. Drink beer. 6 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bikeman564™ Posted March 19, 2023 Share #2 Posted March 19, 2023 Nice story. And there was an A&P my parents shopped at when I was a kid. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2Far ★ Posted March 19, 2023 Share #3 Posted March 19, 2023 A& P, Big M, IGA 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prophet Zacharia Posted March 19, 2023 Share #4 Posted March 19, 2023 I think my BIL goes to Vienna Vintners. But I know they’re also Fresh Market shoppers, so they probably go to Norm’s, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parsnip Totin Jack ★ Posted March 19, 2023 Author Share #5 Posted March 19, 2023 Vienna Vintners does good business. There are probably 10-12 wine shops in Vienna. It’s a booming market. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirby Posted March 20, 2023 Share #6 Posted March 20, 2023 I had an A&P as my local grocery until a few years ago when the space was taken over by Acme - which has to be the worst name for a grocery store. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dottleshead ★ Posted March 20, 2023 Share #7 Posted March 20, 2023 1 hour ago, Kirby said: I had an A&P as my local grocery until a few years ago when the space was taken over by Acme - which has to be the worst name for a grocery store. Wilde E Coyote on the store front?? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Razors Edge ★ Posted March 20, 2023 Share #8 Posted March 20, 2023 14 hours ago, Parsnip Totin Jack said: He decided to open a retail shop for beer and wine. His business strategy was to find a location close to a video store with no grocery chain that would have a no-compete clause. He found a location in Vienna, VA, two doors down from a Blockbuster. Never been to Norms, but I like that it's around. I generally end up getting beer from the "big guys" as all the places I get groceries (and Total Wine) have a relatively good variety of local stuff. I assume it scratches the tip of the iceberg of what is locally made, but it still is nice. I was able to drink a couple locals this weekend while camping: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kzoo Posted March 20, 2023 Share #9 Posted March 20, 2023 "The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, better known as A&P, was an American chain of grocery stores that operated from 1859 to 2015. Killed off by the internet... Or something like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parsnip Totin Jack ★ Posted March 20, 2023 Author Share #10 Posted March 20, 2023 42 minutes ago, Razors Edge said: Never been to Norms, but I like that it's around. I generally end up getting beer from the "big guys" as all the places I get groceries (and Total Wine) have a relatively good variety of local stuff. I assume it scratches the tip of the iceberg of what is locally made, but it still is nice. I was able to drink a couple locals this weekend while camping: Good choices. Old Bust Head is a stones throw away from Parsnip Manor. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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