Springfield wine shop celebrates 30 years by popping corks for a cause
There’s a place in Springfield serving drinks and laid back, French bistro vibes just a walk from Washington Park on the south side of town. The large emporium of spirits and wines is The Corkscrew on Chatham Road, a quiet and quaint spot for a drink after work.
Their latest pairing? Three dozen flights of wine and fundraising for a good cause.
To celebrate the store’s 30th anniversary, husband-wife owners David and Danielle Anderson held an event Aug. 31 to celebrate the milestone with food from Maldaners and over 35 wines for tasting in the back lounge of the store.
All of the proceeds of the event went toward Autism Support of Central Illinois, a charity close to David Anderson’s heart.
“We have a granddaughter who is autistic, and that is why we chose the Autism Support Center of Illinois as our beneficiary this year," Anderson said.
The Autism Program of Illinois helps serve and support people with autism and their families through a coordinated network of providers.
While the duo bought the business in 2016 from original owner Geoffrey Bland, both Andersons have been part of the store since 1994.
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It’s a lucrative business the couple has managed for three decades now, and Anderson says the key to it is the mix of customer care and wine knowledge their employees have picked up over the years.
“We are built on customer service and that is what we set apart from big box stores,” Anderson said. “Our people have gained wine knowledge over a period of years working here so yeah, I’d say our customers like the service. What we hear a lot is people appreciate the ownership presence and that makes a big difference.”
Anderson was able to walk around the store and point out one by one the most popular wine by continent in the store: from North American chardonnay to South American carmenere.
Along with gaining knowledge over the years, Anderson said the other big change has been the rise of mobile t-go orders, especially during the pandemic.
“Nobody could go out to drink at a bar or at a restaurant because the restaurants weren’t open,” Anderson said. “We were an essential business, and we were open the whole time. We did an awful lot of delivery and curbside – for three months it was just Danielle and I. … I hate to say it, but it was good.”
Claire Grant writes about business, growth and development and other news topics for The State Journal-Register. She can be reached at [email protected]; and on X (Formerly known as Twitter): @Claire_Granted
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: The Corkscrew in Springfield celebrates 30 years in business