By Patricia Measer
A commonly cited statistic says that less than 30 percent of family-run businesses last into the second generation, and less than 12 percent operate under a third generation or more. According to Harvard Business Review, that is misleading. Family-run businesses tend to last longer than even publicly traded companies, and provide local jobs and economic growth. This is very evident in Western New York, where we have a number of family businesses that are thriving and growing. We begin our series of articles on these great gems with a spotlight on Evans Wines & Liquor in Jamestown, NY.
The story behind this business is one of serendipity. The owner, Dan Evans, is a local, through and through. He was born in Jamestown and grew up in Lakewood. Dan’s first paying job was delivering newspapers on Fairmount Avenue. “I remember when it was a quiet, two-lane street,” Dan said. As an adult, he wanted to stay and work in the area. So, he and his father, Bud, went into the restaurant business together, opening Alfie’s on Fairmount in 1971.
By the mid 80’s, the restaurant was doing well, and Dan wanted to try something new. He purchased an old Victorian home across the street with the idea of opening a gift shop in it. The house came with a separate building that wasn’t being used. Not one to waste an opportunity, Dan and Bud brainstormed what to do with it, and decided on opening a liquor store in that space as a side business.
What started in 1987 as a happy accident became a growing concern. Dan realized he would need more space for the liquor store. Dan’s wife, Connie, was still running the gift shop but wanted to retire from that. So, they closed it in 1995 and used the space to expand the liquor business.
Now fast-forward to 2019. The restaurant is still going, and the liquor store is continuing to grow by leaps and bounds. Dan was at the threshold of a big decision: Keep working, or retire? “I really wanted to keep working, but I also wanted a work-life balance,” explains Dan. He said that restaurant work can be really stressful, but he found that working in the liquor store was fun and enjoyable. “I get to talk to customers, walk around with them and help them find something special for a happy occasion.”
It seemed an easy decision to close the restaurant and keep the other business open. “But I knew that if I wanted to keep the liquor store, I had to make some changes, including finding a bigger space. I still had the property that the restaurant sat on, and needed to do something with it, so it worked out.” Dan tore down Alfie’s and had a more modern building erected on the site.
Evans Wines & Liquor moved into the new building this past Spring. It was a few years in the making, but Dan wanted to ensure he approached it with a mind towards both customer and employee needs. “You have to take care of those who take care of you,” says Dan.
He also wanted to ensure that he could source the construction work locally. He started with the architect, Chris Cook, who is from Cassadaga. Then he found a general contractor in the area, Empire Development. Steel and concrete came from local vendors, as well as the glass.
Dan now has a building that has much wider aisles, for starters. He says he always had lots of shelf space and a variety of products, but “now the products are more visible and easier to find.” The checkout lanes have much more room, too. And, they have a space for weekly tastings. Out front, there is ample parking, which was tight in the old location. For the employees, he built a locker room and a kitchen just for their use.
The building is all on one level. Modern décor, display cases, and shelves dot the space. “I want it to be comfortable to shop here, by offering convenient shopping in a great environment,” Dan adds.
The third generation is now joining the business. Dan’s daughter, Madeline Boutelle, has worked at the liquor store for four years, learning from the ground up. She currently takes care of administrative tasks such as scheduling the employees and managing inventory. She also brings a technology focus to store, by creating a presence on Facebook and Instagram and by working to make their business paperless.
Toddler toys can be found in the office, for when Madeline’s 10-month-old son, Jaxon, joins them. Dan installed a Jolly Jumper for the baby, too. This is all part of the life-work balance that Dan has learned is necessary. But, the key to success, he says, is “to be passionate about and like what you do.” It’s obvious that Dan is very passionate about what he does, and isn’t retiring any time soon.
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