Business Spotlight: Cowboys Liquor offers service and selection
Submitted by Brett Fisher on Fri, 05/06/2016 - 8:22am
When the ownership of the new Cowboys Liquor store took over the retail space formerly occupied by Ben's Fine Wines and Spirits, it wanted a name that befit the area.
Staff Sommelier Greg Psilopoulos said there are a lot of cowboys and ranch folks in Northwestern Nevada, and they carry the spirit of the West with them.
"It feels like we're still in the Old West here," he said.
Even the store's best-selling liquor, whiskey, harkens back to the saloons of Nevada's mining boom towns and the watering holes of rural communities where ranching was -- and still is -- king.
"Whiskey seems to be what's popular, and a great seller in Carson City," Psilopoulos said.
From imported Scotch to domestic Bourbons, there is already a broad selection of whiskey to choose from, he said.
Cowboys Liquor, located at 444 E. William Street behind The Cracker Box, is its ownership's first foray into specialty retail, Psilopoulos said.
Brand Dosanjh, LLC, owns convenience stores around Lake Tahoe and Northeastern California, he said. The company is based in Yuba City.
Expanding into Nevada is a first this year for Dosanjh, Psilopoulos said, and the company is hoping it is the start of more to come for the area.
He said the company is currently looking in Reno for retail expansion opportunities, and there are even talks about possibly relocating corporate operations to Nevada.
Cowboys Liquor opened its 2,500 square-foot retail space on March 15 with an initial inventory of 1,500 different items. With room to grow, the store has space for more than 2,500 different products when full, Psilopoulos said.
"We're shooting for the best selection and variety in the area," he said, "coupled with service and staff to be able to sell it."
He said filling the space with more product is a work in progress, but it is coming along nicely.
"We're asking customers to be patient with us," Psilopoulos said. "We like to taste our products before we buy them to be sure we are offering something we feel comfortable standing behind."
Besides whiskeys, Cowboys Liquor also carries many other spirits, including beers, brews, domestic wines from California vintners.
There is even a tasting room at the back of the store with wine tasting events held Fridays from 5-7 p.m.
But selection is only part of the formula that will make Cowboys Liquor stand out in the community, Psilopoulos said.
Another key ingredient is service, he said.
The staff of four is not only friendly and helpful, he said, but they are product knowledgeable, too.
Psilopoulos himself has 33 years of experience in the beverage industry. Two other employees, including store manager Michelle Hill, have 10+ years in the business.
In short, these folks know what they are talking about when it comes to product.
And that perhaps is something that may set Cowboys Liquor apart from other spirit retailers in the area, Psilopoulos said.
He said the staff is there for both the casual customer as well as the afficionado.
"We're here to help you," he said. "We're always going to save you money."
Psilopoulos said the store's products are competitively priced for the area. But if the staff can help customers find a more affordable product in the store to meet their needs, then that's just what they do.
"We're not always in it for the upsell," he said. "We're proud of taking care of the customer first before we are the bottom line."
Cowboys Liquor is open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays.
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