Four Firkins

I can't link from work, but looking on my phone, Four Firkins posted a thank you post on Facebook on Apr 26th at 12:07 PM. Comments on how they raised $41,560, and has some pictures of their original location. *shrug*

 

I must be blind because I still don't see that message but if it is on their facebook page I apologize.

 

Yeah, it's there. They've at least been good about thanking the donators the entire time.

 

I would certainly hope so after being given $41000.

 

I am in no way a supporter of for profit companies panhandling online(call it whatever you want) to raise capitol, but let's not claim things that aren't true. Btw, I agree with you.

 

For BAs in the east metro, Jason signed the lease for the Woodbury/Oakdale location yesterday: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10152591489452704&id=40686662703

 

i heard he set out a donation jar to help cover the gas required for him to drive over there.

 

There's also a mini donation jar next to the larger donation jar to help pay for the cost of the original jar.

 

Good ole Jokedale and Woodlessbury!!

 

Are you gonna tell us which store you work for?

 

I live in the Jokedale, Woodlessbury and Little Elmo area. Great people in the area but where they will be located it's blue collar city.

 

^^Sure hope the prices reflect this!!

 

I didn't ask if you live there, I asked which store you work for, especially in light of your baseless assertions against Total Wine in that thread.

 

Come on Holmes do possibly believe Total Wine doesn't do what I have said? Please. To each their own and if they want to come in here and push everybody around let them. I know the weiners at MLBA love fighting them.

 

More info on FF's expansion east: http://blogs.citypages.com/food/201...tion_in_oakdale_with_tastings_and_classes.php

"The primary purpose of the second store is twofold: to provide fresh craft beer options for the east metro and to increase the parent company's reach in competition with corporate liquor stores. News first spread of this expansion via Indiegogo, a crowdfunding site used by The Four Firkins to establish funds to secure an SBA loan and purchase some of the initial inventory.

"Either we had to come up the down payment by inviting in a private investor and giving up ownership," says Alvey, "or we could try this new crowdsourcing method. Crowdsourcing platforms allow your friends and customers to be involved in the growth of the business. We were honored that so many of them chose to be a part of this project."

 

Summary of the above:

"LOL I GOTZ ALL YER MONEY"

Oh...and thank you

Kinda

 

What is wrong with "blue collar city?" Forgive me if I misunderstood, but that statement comes across as elitist. I won't be shopping at the Firkins, but I am a proud blue collar worker. I spend a ton of money on good beer every year and I know plenty of other blue collar workers that do the same. Good beer is not a taste acquired only by white collar workers. Sounds to me like they might have made a good choice on their location.

 

I will shop there only if they are competing with other area liquor stores. If they choose to a different price point I will go somewhere else.

 

I get what you are saying now.

Unfortunately, many people get duped by a huge selection and, thereby, fail to realize that they are paying an inflated price.

Cheers!

 

Now that the initial fuss has died down, and I know I'm not making a knee jerk reaction to the situation here's my stance on the Four Firkin:

I used to shop at Four Firkins quite regularly when I lived in the West Calhoun neighborhood mostly out of convenience. I never understood the common complaints from people on here about their service. I always was treated extremely well by all of their staff. Also, I highly appreciate/respect Alvey's activism in regards to changing outdated liquor laws. It was one of the reasons why I shopped their. I also greatly respect Alvey's devotion to pay his employees a living wage. That's rare in the business world.

With that said, I haven't been there for well over a year. Initially it was due to it being a pain to get to from where I currently live downtown, but this whole money grab thing as I see it really rubs me the wrong way. It did initially, and it still does today. It tarnishes the Four Firkins' reputation (at least the reputation they had built in my mind) of being a local business that actually held its values above its desire to make an insane amount of profit. Asking costumers for money while giving them next to nothing I return makes the Four Firkins come across as being no different than any other average American business--greedily wanting something for nothing. I'm not going to go as far as boycotting Four Firkins forever. Maybe someday they will be able to rebuild their reputation, and regain my trust. However, as of now I have no desire to give them my business.

All in all, I still wish them the best as I do feel they are positive component of the Minnesota craft beer scene. I just wish they'd gone about funding their new store in what I consider more ethical ways--getting a low and paying it back, or taking on an investor and slowly buying back their shares of the company.