Ellen’s Wines & Spirits Brings a New Business Model to the Wine and Spirits Retail Industry

Ellen’s Wines & Spirits is a new wine and spirits store from Sommelier Debbie Jones
Ellen's Wine & Spirits Brings a New Business Model to the Wine and Spirits Retail Industry
Photo: Official

Located in Ridgewood, Queens on the border of East Williamsburg and Bushwick, Ellen’s Wines & Spirits is a new wine and spirits store from Sommelier Debbie Jones.

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Highlighting selections from women and minority-owned producers, producers based in New York State, and organic and biodynamic wines, the globally curated selection of wines are approachably priced. Jones, who is the Head Sommelier at the two-Michelin-starred Jungsik and holds a diploma from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust, has reimagined the wine shop experience. She named the store Ellen’s as it is a family name.

Ellen’s Wines & Spirits eschews big name producers in favor of supporting those in the wine and spirits industry who are typically not well represented, including women and minority owned producers, who only make up roughly five percent of the industry. The wine is organized first by price then type of wine and broken down into categories of $14, $20, and $28 along the wall with wines priced over $30 occupying the center of the space. Each wine stocked in the store is displayed with a card labeling the tasting notes, grape variety, region of origin, whether it has been made by a women or minority-owned producer, and whether it is an organic or biodynamic wine, Kosher, or produced in New York. The wine shop features white, rosé, red, orange and sparkling wines along with selection of spirits, aperitifs, and dessert wines.

Due to her experience at New York City’s restaurants and relationships developed with wine producers and distributors, Debbie can conduct one-on-one consultations and acquire a specific wine a customer desires.

The store’s organization is geared to help consumers who know how much money they are willing to spend on their wine but are not as knowledgeable on the subject. To help further her goal of educating the customer, Debbie will be releasing videos on TikTok and Instagram explaining the history of and differences between wines as well as hosting complimentary in-store tasting every other Friday from 6 pm to 8 pm.

Ellen’s Wines & Spirits is located in a newly remodeled warehouse space that features exposed wooden beams on the ceiling, white bricks, and a green wall with a neon sign displaying the store’s name. Upon entering the store customers are met by the checkout counter, a selection of soju, sake, and canned wine, and the $14 wine selection. As customers move to the right, the price of wine increases. Opposite the checkout counter is the neatly organized orange and sparkling wines along with selection of spirits, aperitifs, and dessert wines.

Ellen’s Wines & Spirits is located at 50-05 Metropolitan Avenue, Queens, NY 11385 and is open Mon – Sat: 12 pm – 12 am and Sunday: 12 pm – 9 pm. Delivery hours are Mon – Sat: 4 pm – 11:30 pm and Sunday: 2 pm – 8:30 pm.

Lisa Hay

Lisa Hay

Lisa is a staff reporter for What Now Media Group. She covers new restaurant, retail, and real estate openings across all of our markets. A true foodie, this Air Force veteran has lived all over the world — from Aviano, Italy to Nairobi, Kenya — but her favorite spot is NOLA for its rich history, architecture, culture, and of course, its good eats.
Lisa Hay

Lisa Hay

Lisa is a staff reporter for What Now Media Group. She covers new restaurant, retail, and real estate openings across all of our markets. A true foodie, this Air Force veteran has lived all over the world — from Aviano, Italy to Nairobi, Kenya — but her favorite spot is NOLA for its rich history, architecture, culture, and of course, its good eats.

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