The Death of BevMo

Discussion in 'Pacific' started by Beer_Stan, Aug 12, 2019.

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  1. Beer_Stan

    Beer_Stan Initiate (0) Mar 15, 2014 California
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    Since 1994 Beverages and More has been a west coast industry leader when it came to wine, spirits and beer. A once fun place to shop with knowledgeable staff, friendly faces, and with selection and pricing not rivaled by anyone except the mom and pop liquor stores that started popping up more and more. Each location an entity unto itself, it's own local centric variety, and exotics from around the world.

    Nowadays BevMo, as its name has been shortened to over the years, has steadily become more and more of a joke. Their staff has become less and less trained, the stores less and less organized, and the selection less and less relevant. As craft beer has evolved, BevMo has remained steadfast in their approach to it, hardly ever keeping coveted beer that they received cold or properly stored, stacking boxes above shelf as high as they can go, and the employees knowing less and less about whats on the shelf.

    Any customer can walk into a BevMo now with cursory knowledge about a product, looking for more answers, and find the entirety of the staff completely stumped save for the more veteran employees (harder to find with such high turnover), with them turning to google and other sites to answer simple questions about the most mundane aspects of the products they sell. With more and more smaller liquor stores popping up being bought and converted into nicer establishments, properly training the staff on products or hiring those who already know, more and more people are leaving the corporate giant in search of greater knowledge and greener pastures.

    It doesn't help that another national giant has come to seal their fate. Total Wines are popping up more and more, and are being built at times right next to a BevMo or just up the street. They are a bit more knowledgeable, a bit larger, and have the money to under cut the market on pricing as far as direct competition.

    In light of this, BevMo's are testing smaller format stores and are going into survival mode. It is presumed that they will start closing some of their locations and trying to get back to where they started, competing with smaller stores. But is it too late? Can they survive under this current model? The current CEO Dimitri seems to be doubling down on the corporate script culture and less on letting each store in its market adjust to the needs of those in its vicinity.

    What do you think? Are you a fan of the long standing "big box" giant? Or are you happy to see them on their way out. I wont lie, I'm happy to see them go if they do.
     
    #1 Beer_Stan, Aug 12, 2019
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  2. SoCalBeerIdiot

    SoCalBeerIdiot Pooh-Bah (2,191) Mar 10, 2013 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    This won't affect my beer buying one bit.

    BevMo was where I went when I first started drinking crafty and then craft beers back in the day. Once I discovered actual bottle shops that knew what they were doing and knew to keep hoppy stuff cold at all times, I stopped going to BevMo.

    Too many IPAs sitting out warm to take them seriously as a craft beer vendor.
     
    #2 SoCalBeerIdiot, Aug 12, 2019
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  3. dcgunman

    dcgunman Pooh-Bah (2,682) Jul 1, 2009 California
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I’m with the SoCal Idiot. Doesn’t affect me one bit. But hate to see any stores close shop these days. They were once my place to go. At the very beginning for sure. Haven’t stepped into their stores in 4-5+ years. Once in awhile a stop in at TW&M. I think Total is more craft friendly than BevMo. If I see something that I’m looking for is in (and fresh) at Total I’ll make my way there. I can always check Total’s inventory on Untappd and their website. My mom and pops stores (if their on IG) is full of good stuff most of the times. I’ll support the Independent stores over the semi big Corp stores 95% of the times. RIP BevMo.
     
    #3 dcgunman, Aug 12, 2019
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  4. annakarina

    annakarina Savant (1,003) Jul 29, 2016 California

    I don't think I've been inside a BevMo in probably eight years. When I lived in Northridge I was right by a Total Wine, and nowadays I pretty much just buy beer directly from the breweries I like. Occasionally I'll stop by somewhere like Vendome, Southland, or Sunset Beer, but very seldom these days.
     
    #4 annakarina, Aug 12, 2019
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  5. fbt

    fbt Initiate (0) Jun 16, 2015 California

    Living in Sonora there are few places to find anything new, not that Bev Mo was much better, but when I was in Modesto I'd stop in and check it out. Comparing it to Spec's in Texas it's beer selection was about the same, but the deli section at Spec's offered more. The staff at Spec's was better as well.
     
    #5 fbt, Aug 12, 2019
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  6. thetastywort

    thetastywort Zealot (555) Jun 2, 2011 California
    Trader

    Thought it funny to see this thread after I just noticed that the Brea location closed recently. It's going to be a Gap. I just noticed within the last week since I had not stepped in one in over 2 years. Sad to see, but wish them well with the new format as long as it doesn't start to cramp the small business liquor stores more.
     
    #6 thetastywort, Aug 12, 2019
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  7. FrogOut69

    FrogOut69 Initiate (0) Sep 24, 2013 California
    Trader

    Oh no. What will happen to craft beer when BevMo closes? Truly the end.
     
    #7 FrogOut69, Aug 12, 2019
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  8. Frosty11161

    Frosty11161 Savant (1,076) May 2, 2016 California
    Trader

    Between craft beer memberships, Total Wine walk-in fridge, and far too many old cardboard beers, I am not surprised at all.
     
    #8 Frosty11161, Aug 12, 2019
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  9. gatornation

    gatornation Grand High Pooh-Bah (10,388) Apr 18, 2007 Arizona
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    Was not a fan of Club Bev ,few times while visiting CA ,noticed 2 prices on the shelf.
     
    #9 gatornation, Aug 12, 2019
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  10. SoCalBeerIdiot

    SoCalBeerIdiot Pooh-Bah (2,191) Mar 10, 2013 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I'm not a fan of Total Wine, either (for the same reasons), but at least they are marginally better than BevMo.
     
    #10 SoCalBeerIdiot, Aug 12, 2019
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  11. abecall98

    abecall98 Savant (1,234) Aug 11, 2007 California
    Trader

    I get a gift card to them every year from a friend. I just combine that with a $10 off a $50 coupon, once a year for that, and once a year for bourbon county variants. I refuse to buy IPA there, usually just KBS or BCBS.

    I have noticed the stores are typically empty when I go though, a lot more traffic in the total wines.
     
    #11 abecall98, Aug 12, 2019
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  12. dcgunman

    dcgunman Pooh-Bah (2,682) Jul 1, 2009 California
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Gap?
     
    #12 dcgunman, Aug 13, 2019
  13. Rick760Sd

    Rick760Sd Initiate (0) Jun 5, 2012 California
    Trader

    It’s a clothing store where only cool people shop.
     
    #13 Rick760Sd, Aug 13, 2019
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  14. dcgunman

    dcgunman Pooh-Bah (2,682) Jul 1, 2009 California
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Damn I guess I’m not cool. I only shop at Speedo’s.com. Too old, fat and lazy to shop at Pag. :stuck_out_tongue_closed_eyes:
     
    #14 dcgunman, Aug 13, 2019
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  15. Rick760Sd

    Rick760Sd Initiate (0) Jun 5, 2012 California
    Trader

    Trust me, you’re not missing much. Surprised gap is still in biz.
     
    #15 Rick760Sd, Aug 13, 2019
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  16. QuakeAttack

    QuakeAttack Pooh-Bah (2,353) Mar 19, 2012 California
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    I have been in BevMo twice this year (once while on travel to Modesto). Frankly, I don't find any difference with Total Wine.

    I used to go about once a month, but starting last year, distribution was better and better to smaller liquor stores.

    I think BevMo can be saved because there still is a market, but they are not competing well in the market.
     
    #16 QuakeAttack, Aug 13, 2019
  17. RaulMondesi

    RaulMondesi Grand Pooh-Bah (5,343) Dec 11, 2006 California
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I used to go to BevMo in my early twenties when I didn’t know much about craft beer. Then once I found out about the craft game, I switched to local bottle shops and breweries. Last year I went to a BevMo looking for a bottle of Rye and the selection was awful. Went to Total Wine instead. Both suck for beer though. Warm beer isn’t good.
     
    #17 RaulMondesi, Aug 13, 2019
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  18. Beer_Stan

    Beer_Stan Initiate (0) Mar 15, 2014 California
    Trader

    I would have to disagree with you there because Bevmo is being pinched on all sides by other stores doing everything they do better. The ONLY thing keeping them afloat is their 5cent Wine program because they literally get those wines for pennies and sell them for insane profit even with the second bottle only 5cents. Like a grocery store they base a lot of their margins on high end sellers and use the rest to cover the spread but even the average mom and pop consumer, who now knows more than say the average 90s consumer, in a large way is finding the selection and pricing better anywhere else. Ralphs has better prices on beer and all of the hipster/"health" conscious grocery stores which actually have great craft beer fridges like Sprouts, Lazy Acres, etc. do as well and ALL of them keep the majority of their beer stores and displayed cold. Small liquor stores are converting their refrigerated back storage areas into shoppable beer caves, better for cellaring those stouts and sours too. I just don't see how they can right the ship at this point. Total Wine is Best Buy and Bevmo is Circuit City and we all know that story.
     
    #18 Beer_Stan, Aug 13, 2019
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  19. pinballplayer

    pinballplayer Maven (1,487) Jul 2, 2014 California
    Trader

    Does BevMo still have their in-house critic Wilfred Wong rating wines (esp. 5 cent wines)? Always thought that was shady.
     
    #19 pinballplayer, Aug 13, 2019
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  20. dcgunman

    dcgunman Pooh-Bah (2,682) Jul 1, 2009 California
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    :no_mouth: I didn’t know it was a game. Unless your using Untappd back in the day. Trying to collect all those badges. Kinda like Boy Scouts. In the beginning it was fun trying to hunt down Pliny, CitraDIPA, Knuckle Sandwich, the Big 3 from ABC, etc.
     
    #20 dcgunman, Aug 13, 2019
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