Bella Vista Wine and Spirits brings convenience and value for the community

Bella Vista Wine and Spirits opened in January 2016 with Lee Deaton as the initial manager. Deaton had many years of liquor store experience in the Fayetteville market and got the store up-and-running. Lee was endeared by customers and continued to support the direction of the store during transition. In January of 2017 Mike Landers started as General Manager after Deaton announced career change intentions in December and Lee continued to work full-time until the end of June. After a 25 year insurance career with Landers Insurance Agency in Bentonville he retired the agency in 2004. “About a year after I retired the insurance business, I started with Macadoodles,” stated Landers, “and was the office manager there until 2009.”

With Landers as General Manager, Bella Vista Wine and Spirits has continued to introduce new programs and services to the ever-growing customer base. “The store has grown steadily in the last 7 months and we are encouraged by sales and customer response,” added Landers. After being silently open for more than a year, Landers decided to have a “Grand Opening” which he described as more of an open house to “thank our existing customers and announce to prospective new customers who and where we are. Our current goal is to try to have something new in the store every week, so it’s a new and unique shopping experience every time you come in,” noted Landers. “Customer service is our number one focus — we try to make sure everybody has a friendly shopping experience worthy of sharing with friends and family.”

A large beer cooler was added to the interior of the location, at inception, to accommodate more than 100 different beers, ales and malt beverages and are kept at a very cool 45 degrees year-round. The liquor store also has two smaller coolers for wine and various liquor items that customers sometimes prefer chilled. The store is laid out in categories that make shopping simple and there’s always staff available to help you find exactly what you need. The location used to be a bank, so Bella Vista Wine and Spirits decided to utilize the drive-thru window that was already there. In addition, the store is unique in the fact that it is the only full-service liquor store in Bella Vista. This combination, along with the high traffic location, brings convenience and great value to customers.

Having acquired a tasting permit and launching a new website in the spring, the store hosts tasting events from 3:30-7 p.m., on Thursdays and Fridays. “People can come in and try something new without having to buy a whole bottle or package,” explained Landers. Along with the tasting events, the store has some great upcoming promotions. “We’re going to have Saturday game-day specials for Razorback fans,” added Landers. “They will be able to go on our website every week and get the details about our tasting menus and all special events. We’ll have weekend game-day specials every weekend there is a game — it doesn’t have to be a home game, just every time they play.”

The BVWS website has several interactive links included on the site that redirect you to pages with information on liquor, wine, and beer to help you learn more about types, varietals and processes that make wine and spirits an exciting and interesting industry to explore. You also have the option to leave a message on the website if you have any questions. For more information, call (479) 402-3016, or you may visit the store’s website at www.bvwsonline.com