Today we’d like to introduce you to Adam Silverstein.
Adam, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Bruce and David Garfield have been close with my family since I was in Diapers. After graduating high school I needed a summer job and Dave let me come on board. I started with the company stocking shelves and worked during my summers and breaks in college. After graduating I came on full time in a management role to open a new location in 2008. Since then, I have moved from managing my own store to my current role as our Chief Operating Officer.
Has it been a smooth road?
Let’s just say it has been a huge learning curve for our company. The company has been in business since 1951 starting with Bruce’s father Norman Garfield. Over the years they bought some stores sold some stores and sat idle with 2 stores for a long period of time. Fast forward to today we have grown to six locations in the last 9 years and continue to try and be different from every store out there. I am lucky in the fact that my ownership and counter parts are great to work with. The roughest patches in the road for us has been transitioning our management style to stay ahead of the trends in our industry. Innovation and the boom in the craft segment has made out product selection process a lot more difficult than the generations before.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
While some people feel that all liquor stores are the same, it is quite the contrary for our customers. Our stores are staffed with very knowledgeable employees that help exemplify the passion that we have for our business. Our goal is to always have a large selection and be able to offer a great price for every bottle that we sell. Our customers know that when we suggest a bottle to them, they can go home with the confidence knowing that it’s going to be their new favorite.
When people ask me why I choose the profession that I am in it is largely because of the company that I work for. While we are by no means small potatoes we still try and strive to maintain that we are family owned and operated. I am proud to say that as a company most of our employees have been with us for over 10+ years. We don’t want to be the biggest but we strive to make sure we are the best.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
This one is a very tricky question. In Chicago, there is more competition that most states. You can buy beer/wine/liquor at almost any bodega or grocery store as well as full service liquor stores. It is definitely something I would suggest for anyone to keep in mind before they get into this market. On the contrary I feel that Chicago is a front runner for the food and beverage industry. Our neighborhoods are so diverse that it you can find some of the best cuisine and cocktails in every corner of the city. This works hand in hand with my industry as people try new drinks at bars and restaurants they always want to find a place to replicate it.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1704 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL 60647 - Website: garfieldsbeverage.com
- Phone: 773-666-5747
- Email: adam@garfieldsbeverage.com
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/garfieldswickerpark/
- Twitter: twitter.com/garfieldsbev
- Yelp: www.yelp.com/biz/garfields-beverage-express-chicago
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