Today we’d like to introduce you to Graham Bond.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’m the owner of I Want That One, a wine, art, and gift store in East Dallas that was built from a lifelong love of travel, discovery, storytelling, and creating experiences that bring people together.
My background is actually in big box retail, global wholesale and merchandising, where I spent years learning how people connect emotionally with products, spaces, and experiences. Over time, I realized I wanted to create something more personal. Not just another retail shop, but a place where someone could walk in for a bottle of wine and leave having discovered a new artist, a conversation, a memory, or something unexpected they genuinely wanted. I want people who walk into the store to feel as if they have had an experience vs just another retailer.
That idea became “I Want That One.”
I combined my passion for global wines, design, art, hospitality, and community into a space that feels approachable, a little playful, and very curated. We host tastings, pairing events, collaborations with local makers, and experiences that encourage people to slow down, connect, and explore.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The journey definitely hasn’t been linear. It’s involved risk, reinvention, learning an entirely new industry, and building a small business from the ground up. Struggles included: pivoting with design and concept based on city regulations, learning what is legally required when it comes to wine sales and inventory. But today, seeing people gather around the bar, discover wines from places they’ve never heard of, and support local artists and small businesses together… that’s exactly why I did it
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
What I really specialize in is creating discovery-driven experiences that feel personal, approachable, and memorable.
Wine is obviously a huge part of what we do, but I’ve never wanted the store to feel intimidating or overly traditional. I focus heavily on hand-selected wines from smaller producers and unexpected regions, especially places like South Africa, Argentina, Mexico, Spain, and the Rhône Valley. I love introducing people to wines they may never have picked up on their own and helping them connect to the stories and people behind them.
At the same time, the store is also about atmosphere and community. We host intimate tastings, blind tasting competitions, pairing events, visiting wine makers and wineries, collaborations with local artists and makers, and experiences designed to bring people together in a way that feels relaxed and fun rather than formal.
What I’m probably most proud of is building something that feels genuinely different in today’s retail environment. In a world where so much shopping has become transactional and online, I wanted to create a place people actually experience. Somewhere guests walk in curious and leave inspired, entertained, or having discovered something unexpected.
What sets us apart is that nothing is generic. The wines, the events, the merchandising, the playlists, the artwork, even the conversations around the bar are intentionally curated to create a feeling. It’s equal parts wine shop, gallery, gathering space, and neighborhood hangout.
I’m also proud that we’ve been able to grow through authenticity and community support. We’re still a young small business, but seeing people return again and again, bring friends, celebrate milestones with us, and genuinely feel connected to the space tells me we created something meaningful.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
One thing that surprises people is that I’m actually quite introverted.
When I’m behind the counter at I Want That One, I’m completely at ease. That space feels like an extension of me, and I genuinely love making people feel welcome, comfortable, and safe the moment they walk through the door. Hospitality and connection come very naturally there because you’re stepping into a space I’ve carefully created and curated.
But put me in a completely unfamiliar environment, and I tend to become much more of a wallflower. I’m usually the person quietly observing the room before jumping into conversations.
I think that contrast is actually part of what shaped the business. My husband and I both know what it feels like to walk into an environment and feel uneasy, out of place, or unsure if you belong there. Because of that, creating a welcoming, approachable, and inclusive space became incredibly important to me.
I never wanted the store to feel intimidating or pretentious. I want everyone, whether they know everything about wine or absolutely nothing, to feel comfortable the second they walk in the door.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.iwantthatone.net
- Instagram: iwantthatone_dallas
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557128605128
