Family-owned and operated for almost 25 years, Joe’s Wines & Liquor in Midtown is more of a destination than a bottle shop. Instantly recognizable by the Sputnik sculpture out front, Joe’s has managed to re-imagine the liquor store in a unique fashion. The store offers an immersive shopping experience with a retro vibe inspired by the Roto-Sphere. General Manager Sisco Larson and his family doubled the square footage of the shop twelve years ago to offer more products and services. The new space includes a state-of-the-art growler bar and “digital beverage dashboard” with 20 different craft beers on tap.
“We sell a crazy amount of craft beer,” Sisco says. The only growler bar in Memphis is overseen by Beer Manager Chris Shirmer, who tends the taps with precision and attention to detail.
But if beer is not your jam, the wine and spirits selection is expansive and exciting. Staying on top of trends in the industry, Joe’s creative and congenial staff, including Sisco’s sister, Ross Larson, hand-selects a wide variety of products to suit every taste.
One way to expose their loyal patrons to new products is through multiple club memberships. Joe’s Beer Nutz Club, Joe’s Winos Wine Club and the new Spiritual Awakening Club have hundreds of members trying new varieties each month. “Our clubs are the lifeblood of Joe’s,” Sisco says. “We treat our customers personally and encourage them to experiment.” Through the clubs, he adds, “customers begin to trust our recommendations.”
That’s the kind of service one does not get in the grocery store wine aisle. Offerings may be seasonal such as Pumpkin or Pickle beer or more adventurous like the newly expanded cordial section with a variety of aperitifs such as Aperol (even a non-alcoholic option) and Absinthe. Joe’s also stays engaged in the community at large, partnering with local restaurants and chefs and shops to produce wildly popular tasting events and wine dinners. While these events are designed to be on location, the pandemic forced them to go virtual, producing more than 60 online programs during the lockdown. They also host “Passport” events to introduce new products to the River City market. These are industry-level trade events where patrons can taste wines from specific regions. Sisco has even led loyal customers on wine tours in Europe and hopes to do more trips in the future.
Heading into the holiday season and beyond, Joe’s is an elevated, local choice for pairing your every meal and occasion with the proper spirit.
