Norm’s and collaboration

[Parsnip Totin Jack ★]

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. 

[bikeman564™]

Nice story.

And there was an A&P my parents shopped at when I was a kid.

[2Far ★]

A& P, Big M, IGA

[Prophet Zacharia]

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.

[Parsnip Totin Jack ★]

Vienna Vintners does good business. There are probably 10-12 wine shops in Vienna. It’s a booming market. 

[Kirby]

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.

[Dottleshead ★]

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??

[Razors Edge ★]

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:

[Kzoo]

"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.

 

[Parsnip Totin Jack ★]

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.