Something that has left me at a bit of a loss recently is the news that Norm’s Beer and Wine of Vienna, VA may be forced out of its current home at 136 Branch Road.
Last year when I moved from my basement apartment in Arlington– a short walk to Clarendon Whole Foods or a brisk jaunt to Westover Market—I was naturally worried about where I’d go to stock up on better beer. When I told Brandon Skall, DC Brau CEO, the news of my move to Vienna, the first place he told me to go was Norm’s Beer and Wine. So it was through word-of-mouth that I first heard about Norm’s, not DCBeer.com or the #dcbrews hashtag.
The Fresh Market, a Greensboro-based North Carolina grocery chain has plans to move into the same strip where Norm’s operates. Norm Yow, owner of Norm’s has run his business out of the mall since 1998 and has no plans to call it quits. Still, a non-competition clause in a lease offered by their landlord, Bethesda-based Finmarc Management Inc., would mandate a move-out for Norm’s. While business is good at the store, a move would be detrimental to all those who frequently travel along 123/Maple Avenue in Vienna in search of better beer. Where else can you go on a Friday night for a free tasting of Tupper’s ale & lager and talk to Bob Tupper himself?
It should be noted, by the way, that Norm’s lease extends until the end of 2013. According to the Vienna Patch, “‘My lease ends at the end of 2013, but I was told that the agreement that was made with Fresh Market calls for me to be out of the shopping center by June 30, 2015,” Yow said.’” So there is still a bit of time here for a happy conclusion to this story to be reached.
You can find more here and here. You can also like the “Save Norm’s Beer and Wine” Page on Facebook, write to The Fresh Market here or stop at the store to sign the petition in-person. Are you/have you ever been a Norm’s customer? Let us know below.
