Today we’d like to introduce you to Andy Doyle.
Andy, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I grew up in Northern California and in 1988 entered the “wine business” working a hospitality position at a sparkling wine house in Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley. I assumed a sales role there, and then onto management, and represented several Californian, South American and European wineries during stints in several U.S. markets. In 2008 my wife and I settled outside of McKinney and, seeing the renaissance occurring in the downtown district, leapt at the chance to open a store that was an amalgam of some of the best wine shops I’d visited in my travels and work. McKinney Wine Merchant was founded in 2011.
Has it been a smooth road?
I opened in April of 2011 and you may recall that year saw 72 days over 100 degrees – 43 in a row at one point. It was a furnace. People stayed inside and drank lots of water. Visitor exploration of Downtown McKinney, likewise discovery of the store that first six months was suppressed to say the least but eventually the business lifted off the runway. Since that first-year growth has been steady. Major competitive challenges present themselves regularly (direct shipping to Texas, “wettening” of neighboring cities, establishment of chain liquor stores and upscale grocers). Though I have two reserved spaces to the rear of the shop, parking in the district is not plentiful and the lack thereof a hindrance. The city has been addressing it, but slowly.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I stock an evolving selection of wines from around the world ranging in price from $9.00 to ‘collectibles’ and am very active in locating and sourcing hard-to-find wines for customers as special orders (regardless of price). The wines are hand-picked, mostly via an assessment process that begins with blind tasting. My ability to taste is critical – if my olfactory failed, so would the business. There are about 250 wines in the store. I figure if I had a larger place with 750 wines it would mean I’d have 500 wines that weren’t as good.
McKinney Wine Merchant is a small shop and I’m there virtually all hours (54 per week). I present the store as a place for people who are interested in ‘wine’, as opposed to those drawn to brands. I’m familiar with each label and able to describe them to customers aptly and convey points that help them become more ‘fluent’ in wine. Many regular customers remark that they are no longer afraid to ‘grab the wine list’ during a business dinner. The store layout and my approach to customers is founded in a respect for their intellect and tranquility. There are no iridescent signs or obnoxious shelf-talkers. There is a story to most wines – oftentimes legit; but often contrived or just vapid – McKinney Wine Merchant places in value wine quality (fruit, complexity, intensity and balance) as well as rarity. I’ll never mislead a customer to make a sale and never partake in a “distress closeout” to make a quick buck.
Matt Hamilton of Local Yocal and I have been partnering on a unique Steak-and-Wine-of-the-Month Club called “Cab & Slab” for five years. For $100 per month members get a couple of killer steaks and a bottle of red that, if purchased outside of membership, would run about $120. It keeps growing and retention is magnificent. I also offer a more traditional, periodic wine club that gets members a few bottles of great wine monthly or bi-monthly. There is a choice of six programs ranging from $59.99 to $249.99, each suited to various tastes and desired spend.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
People who value great food tend to value great wine and in as much as Downtown McKinney is home to a half dozens of Collin County’s best chefs and draws from Fairview, Allen, Frisco and Prosper, the location is fun.
The City of McKinney and associated agencies worked to redevelop the area over the last decade but the key attribute to the district is that so many businesses are staffed by owners who really care about what they do and care about customers’ experience. I don’t think there’s another spot in North Texas quite like it. Persons thinking to set up shop in Downtown McKinney should expect that their character will be critical to success.
Contact Info:
- Address: 120 W. Virginia St. (corner of Wood)
McKinney, TX 75069 - Website: www.mckinneywine.com
- Phone: 972-542-4636
- Email: andyd@mckinneywine.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mckinneywinemerchant/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mckinneywinemerchant/?ref=bookmarks
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/mckinneywine
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
