HIGHLANDER WINES & SPIRITS IN EXPANSION MODE
New location in Eighth Avenue Place will allow for tastings and events
The economic disruption over the last couple of years has seen the closing of a few of our fine restaurants and a decline in business for many others, particularly in the downtown.
That has had an effect on staff positions and several other businesses, including food and beverage suppliers.
Elliot Porozni, managing partner of Highlander Wines & Spirits, says there has been a marked decline in his hospitality deliveries, but he is showing big increases in the corporate market thanks to the service he provides through wine clubs.
Highlander has long been providing weekly specials to employees in Eighth Avenue Place through a concierge program, and in the New Year it is opening a 1,500-square-foot store on the second level.
Small by comparison to his other stores, but Porozni says the space is primarily to better serve the several thousand tenants of the two-tower complex who have the opportunity to select wines from their online portal and pick them up at the store or have them delivered.
The new location, tastefully designed by Sarah Ward Interiors, will also allow for tastings and events.
Highlander has spread its weekly club offerings to corporations and professional companies into the Watermark Tower and Millennium Tower.
Passionate about his wine, Porozni got his start in the liquor business with one of this city’s fine merchants, Janet Webb at J. Webb Wine Merchant in her Glenmore Landing store.
He studied to pass Wine & Spirit Education Trust exams and joined Highlander in its third location in trendy Marda Loop.
He soon put his stamp on the company by emphasizing a large variety of boutique items and hiring a team as passionate as he is on being able to help customers with their choices.
Online has been a huge success and the opening of a new store in Seton in 2013 provided convenient pickup for customers and delivery by Highlander that had been sending trucks all the way from the northwest location.
Porozni continues to expand his business with the recent purchase of the former Merlo Vinoteca in Aspen and currently a new store is being built in Airdrie.
Expected to be open next month, it is being built in the Ronmor Development shopping centre in the Cooper’s Crossing district in the southwest area of the city. An entirely new look for Highlander, the interior of the 5,200-square-foot store was designed by Riddell Kurczaba Architecture with a heavy industrial look.
Porozni is also building his first foray into the Edmonton market with a 5,500-square-foot store under construction adjacent to the very popular Spinelli’s Italian Centre Shop in that city’s west end.
Highlander currently has 73 educated staff in Calgary and expansion has seen the promotion of Maria Serpas as corporate sales director and Kristine Demers as the company’s operations director.
They are all involved in choosing local charities that receive half the profits from monthly sales events; six regular over the last couple of years and six new ones that have a special meaning for Highlander employees.
NEWS AND NOTES
Royop Development Corp. has announced new appointments to help in the expansion of its business in the Calgary area. Jeremy Thal has been appointed to the position of executive vice-president and two new positions have been filled by Ryan Rutherford, previously with Avison Young, who has been named Royop’s director of leasing, and Jacob Weber joins Royop from Qualico as director of development.
Mark’s has opened the first pop-up store in Market Mall to introduce its new brand of Well Worn. Until May 2018, the popup store will be promoting its “authentic and real” Well Worn brand that celebrates hardworking Canadians who — like Mark’s — persevere with grit and determination.