Hy-Vee’s Wall Wine & Spirits liquor store opens in West Des Moines Leave a comment
Cigars, a $3,600 bottle of cognac and vegan and organic wines are just some of the items on the shelves at what Hy-Vee officials say is the largest liquor retailer in Iowa.
Wall to Wall Wine & Spirits opened Thursday at 375 S. Jordan Creek Pkwy. in West Des Moines, taking over a space that was formerly a Hy-Vee HealthMarket. At 15,700 square feet, the Wall to Wall location is larger than Hy-Vee’s other liquor departments and standalone wine and spirit locations in the state.
And it shows.
The liquor store is packed with more than 1,500 beers, more than 3,500 wines and another 2,000-plus spirits, according to Chris Carrow, chief operating officer for Wall to Wall Wine & Spirits and vice president of Wine & Spirits at Hy-Vee.
Along with the thousands of boozy drinks, Wall to Wall offers select products such as specialty meats, cheeses, crackers, chips and olives and drink accessories from shakers to strainers to fill out charcuterie boards or bar carts.
Also built into the store is a humidor, a large storage-like container for cigar displays that maintains humidity levels to preserve tobacco leaves. At Wall to Wall, cigars range from around $8 to $40 per stogie.
“We see cigar category sales as complementary to the spirits category, especially with growing segments like whiskey and cognac,” Carrow said in an email to the Register. “Having a wide variety of cigars and accessories makes Wall to Wall Wine & Spirits a destination for cigar connoisseurs, as well as those new to the experience.”
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Hy-Vee announced Wall to Wall Wine & Spirits as a new division of the company in August, expecting to expand in cities without Hy-Vee supermarkets as the liquor brand sheds the chain’s name.
Hy-Vee plans to open three additional Wall to Wall locations in Papillion, Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska and the company announced Thursday a grocery store in Kansas City will transition to a Wall to Wall in 2022.
The West Des Moines location, Carrow said, includes a large tasting bar that will host sampling opportunities and a small event space for classes.
The priciest bottle among its thousands, according to Carrow, is the Remy Martin Louis XIII cognac at $3,599.99. A close second is Taylor’s Kingsman tawny port wine retailing at Wall to Wall at $3,399.99 a bottle.
“We have a wide selection,” Carrow said in an email to the Register. “Some of our items are limited releases or single-barrel selections. One of those single barrels is [a bourbon whiskey] from Savage & Cooke by Dave Phinney, maker of Orin Swift Wines.”
At the store, wine specialists can guide customers through the thousands of labels. A section of the store is devoted local Iowa wines including bottles from Madison County Wintery, Jasper Winery and Covered Bridges winery.
Wall to Wall carries several wines with green-designations for eco-conscious drinkers:
When it comes to beer, shoppers can expect to find national brands among dozens of Iowa, regional and national craft beers. Carrow said the Wall to Wall notably includes a large build-your-own six-pack section, where shoppers can select favorites from Confluence Brewing Co. and Big Grove Brewery to Kinship Brewing Co. and Lion Bridge Brewing Co.
To view upcoming events at Wall to Wall Wine and Spirits or for more information, visit walltowallwine.com.
Hannah Rodriguez covers retail for the Register. Reach her at herodriguez@registermedia.com or on Twitter @byherodriguez.
