Jerry says it pretty well. I like McGinn’s, and will miss them.
An Open Missive from McGinn’s
To all of McGinn’s valued patrons and pals,
It is with deep regret and a great sadness that I must inform everyone that McGinn’s Russell Street Wine
Merchants will be closing our doors come mid-February. Throughout our five plus year tenure on Russell St. we
have remained committed to service, integrity, information, mayhaps small doses of intelligence, and a sense of
whimsical fun. We’ve tried our damnedest not to be remotely about ego or arrogance. Those factors were
simply not allowed. Through character(s), camaraderie, conversation and commentary, and, yes, some low-brow comedy, I feel McGinn’s has risen to the status of a truly special place. It has become a place of wonder and magic to me. It has taken the planet’s economical and financial morass, and a perfect storm to finally bring us to our own fiscal knees. It was a tenuous scenario, and a phenomenon that we just weren’t able to outrun.
For this I am sorry.
In my life, and I believe that I speak for all of the “Russell Street Irregulars”, failure has always been defined as an event. It has never defined a man(fem) who has dreamed a dream and toiled to pursue that dream.
Never.
That being said, I will not ever apologize for setting out on the course that I have.
That also being said, I give notice that, in time, we will be back.
Hopefully, it shall be with a smarter and stronger business model that will allow me to ultimately retire on my own terms, and not on the whims of an outer world.
In closing, thank you, thank you, thank you, all.
Respectfully and with all love,
Jerry McGinn
Well, that’s a pisser. Of the shops in town, Jerry’s had a look and feel that I thought was unique. It felt like a great place to spend the day – which, in the world of wine shops, is especially important. Jerry’s a very cool guy; I hope whatever’s next is laid-back, mellow, and profitable.
Jerry’s shop will be missed. He brings a casualness and approachability to the wine scene, and carries some great labels that I haven’t seen around town much (like Erin Glenn out of the Dalles, OR). His tastings are fun and friendly, and he doesn’t get grouchy when I bring my kid there. I hope to see him open another place someday.