After a taste, shop opens big
| Wednesday, Oct 21 2009 05:07 PM
Last Updated Wednesday, Oct 21 2009 05:07 PM
Imbibe grand opening
What: Fundraiser to benefit Kern CASA chapter
Where: Imbibe, 4140 Truxtun Ave.
When: 4-7 p.m. Sunday
Admission: $50 per person, $90 per couple; all proceeds benefit CASA (note: only 50 tickets were available at noon Wednesday)
Information: Imbibe, 633-9463; or CASA, 631-2272
Bakersfield natives David and Tamera Dobbs have spent the last seven months adding finishing touches to their Truxtun Avenue wine store, Imbibe, while operating under what is known as a "soft opening." Now the two are ready to make it official with a grand opening and fundraiser on Sunday afternoon.
"There's nothing left to do except sell wine," David Dobbs said.
The Dobbses returned to Bakersfield in 2006 after 20 years in Glendale, where they ran Red Carpet Wine. Dobbs said they wanted to be near their parents, and they didn't want to raise their children in the Los Angeles area anymore.
"It was getting kind of crazy," Dobbs said.
Dobbs was also attracted by a good business opportunity.
"I thought the town needed a good wine merchant," Dobbs said.
Since operations started on March 10, Dobbs said he has been surprised by the response, so much so that he had to add and train more staff to meet the demand. A 1,200-square-foot wine bar and a 400-case capacity storage facility were also completed during the trial period.
Dobbs said despite economic pressures, people are buying wine, just not spending as much as they used to.
"I'm selling the same number of bottles of wine, but instead of the $20 bottles, people are buying the $15 bottles," Dobbs said.
"People are downgrading, but it's a great time to consume wine, because there's a glut of wine on the market," Dobbs said.
Dobbs said California cabernets are the top sellers, but people are trying a lot imports as well. Dobbs said labor costs make California wines twice as expensive.
"You're getting what you'd spend $20 on (for a California wine) for $10," Dobbs said.
Dobbs said customers are also responding to Imbibe's wine storage service, as the store is one of only a handful offering the service in the southern half of the state. He charges $2 per case per month for the capacity of the locker, which can range from 12 to 36 cases. Dobbs said he has rented 100 lockers so far.
"They're like safety deposit boxes for wine," Dobbs said.
Dobbs said the store's customers have been coming from word-of-mouth and the store's website. Rather than advertise, Dobbs said he will sponsor community events, such as the grand opening fundraiser, which will benefit the Kern County chapter of CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocates.
