Total Wine

I work at a Total Wine in Sarasota FL, I understand the support local bottle shops etc But aside from a handful of craft bars, I haven't seen or heard of any craft shops around here. I keep the beer isles in great shape and recommend whats good, not what they want me to recommend, I.E. Brewery Direct. They are the walmart of liquor stores, and walmarts are just no good for the mom and pop stores. Although they do pay decently and have great "incentives" I know what I have got myself into. I enjoy the hell out of work too.

 

Total Wine in Kennesaw, GA is selling Westy 12 now.
http://instagram.com/p/Ss4oE8tnH-/

 

Sadly, I'm sure you probably don't make what you should nor are you appreciated as such, either. My local TW had a young fella who is a huge fan of beer, and they worked him dang near to death and whenever he wanted to do something to improve his area, he was always getting nixxed.
I'm sure you know better than I do, but I don't think TW gives a damn about beer. They are a wine conglomerate who dabbles in beer. Beer is just a pain in the ass necessity, kind of like a 'loss leader'.
That said, I do visit TW occasionally, but usually because I'm stretched for time or I'm being particularly lazy. I much prefer going to CBX where they know me by name and can answer all my beer questions.
Oh yeah, as Roger mentioned above, I don't recall seeing TW doing a whole lot to further the beer culture here in Charleston.

 

If I had something as good as CBX, I wouldn't go to TW either.

 

North Hills TW still has some Event Horizon and Bolt Cutter as of last night around 7

 

I absolutely agree with you, they really haven't done much as of obtain many "Brewery Direct" Breweries. I keep pushing for this, so that they might be a potential "Beer Associate" like they have Wine Associates (Employees who are inclined in Wine etc). Unfortunately they don't have many Brewery Direct Items so the clause for a Beer Associate is minimal. The only reason why they have Wine Associates is to push their exclusive wine that comes directly from the winery, essentially cutting out the middle man (Distributors), and making more profit for the company. Like I said they have like 3-4 breweries on board, including but limited to Clown Shoes and Flying Fish Breweries. I would love to get my feet in the door and become a part of the industry, I might has well become a Bar Tender at a good bar...