Archive: Business & Technology

Everyone was welcome to help celebrate Triphammer Wines and Spirits' 66th anniversary last Saturday.  And even on a sunny day with tempretures in the 70s, a lot of people packed into the store to taste wines and take advantage of an anniversary sale.  "It's been a great turnout," says owner Julie Crowley.  "It makes you nervous, because there are so many things people want to do in the nice weather, but we had a good turnout."


The shop was packed with customers tasting about 70 different wines at eight different tables.  Distributors manned the tables while Crowley's staff made sure they remained well stocked.  There was a brisk business at the checkout counter as well.

Crowley started the store's rewards program in December.  The program gives points for everything you buy, and you earn discounts on future purchases.  She offered double points for sales during the anniversary celebration.  Rewards customers could get sale prices on Thursday before the anniversary sale opened to the general public on Friday and Saturday.  The store offered 20% off the purchase of a case of wine.

The business has two wine tastings each year, one on the store's anniversary and another before the holidays in December.  Crowley says that this year's tasting was a little smaller than the 65th anniversary one.  "This year it's a little quieter," she says.  "Our 70th will be the next big one."


Crowley also owns the adjoining Ithaca Coffee Company store, and opened a downtown store at the Gateway II building on State Street last month.  The new shop features coffee roasted at the Triphammer location, gift baskets, cheeses, beers, and gourmet foods.  She says that road construction on the Aurora Street bridge and Green Street are making for a slow start, but Crowley says that gives her time to work out the foods she offers.  "It takes a while to get people to come in the first time," she says.  "And it's a different store.  It's about two thirds the size of the Triphammer store, but it's done differently.  There is an espresso bar, and a lot of the same products we have here."

Meanwhile the liquor store was jammed with constant activity, cheese and crackers, and balloons.  "It's fun.  We forget how much work it is," Crowley says.  "Our staff is scurrying around like mice to try to keep up with the stock and the displays.  It's tough to have a sale and a big sale at the same time, but it brings people out, so it's worth it."

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