The other day my daughter and I took a trip to Gainesville, Florida just to spend the day together and hang out. We had decided that we were going to go to a sushi restaurant named Rock N Roll Sushi but unfortunately it appeared that they went out of business. She quickly searched for another sushi restaurant and came across one that sounded interesting so off we went. I of course also had plans as I do every time I get to the Gainesville area to go to Total Wine & More. 
As soon as I pulled up to the sushi restaurant, I saw a wine shop a few doors down named The Good Pour and I told my daughter that we had to stop in to check it out after eating. In all reality, I really didn't expect much. What I did expect was your typical, everyday run of the mill liquor store with a couple of inexpensive wines on the shelves, lotto tickets, some common beers and flavored cigars, I think you know the kind of store I mean. To my surprise, what I found was more, much more...let's talk.
The Good Pour was started by a businessman named Ray Horal and its first location was located in Winter Park, FL back in 2022. Ray was in the wine and spirits industry for over twenty years but he along with his wife, Giuliana wanted " to create a retail space that could harness the sector’s economic power for social impact".
Ray says The Good Pour is dedicated to philanthropy, “We wanted to build the largest lever mankind has ever had to give back.” Ray also says “Our team is here because they believe in something bigger than themselves. This isn’t just a job; it’s a mission.” Aside from the charitable aspect of The Good Pour, the business model is certainly upscale and seems to cater to a younger (Gen Z) middle class type of clientele. As a matter of fact on the companies website (https://goodpour.com/) they say they are "...catering to the growing demand for ethical, experiential and personalized shopping experiences, especially among millennials and women". One cool aspect of The Good Pour is that the company allows you to choose one of over 140+ charity's to donate to at the time of purchase. It actually prides itself on this unique aspect and as you will see below, it proudly displays this feature.The company claims it has donated $275,000 to local charities in just two years.
Every price tag has a stated amount that the company will give towards a specific charity that you pick from a digital board which they call the "pour board". As the companies website says, they are not asking you to round up your money instead, this is money they take from the price you pay for an item, which would now be their money. The website also goes on to say concerning their charities "From animals and the arts to health and the environment, our nonprofit partners have been vetted and verified, so you can feel confident that donations are going to a good cause." All of this sounds great on paper but let's see how it worked out in reality.
Okay, so, there we were standing outside the store with a full stomach from some very tasty sushi and it was time to quickly head into the liquor store just to take a peak. As I already said, I was not really expecting anything special, let alone anything that was going to stop my trip to Total Wines. Immediately upon walking in we were greeted by Nicky employee who came from around the counter to greet us.
Nicky was on the younger side which disappointed me as honestly, I really didn't expect to get much help from her nor did I expect to receive the wealth of knowledge she offered up on both the company and wines in general. After interacting with here for just a bit I found her to be genuinely friendly, very knowledgeable about the company and wine, full of energy and willing to assist in any way she could. As I began to walk around the store, I was actually impressed with the wines they carried as well as the prices. The store is 2600 square feet and is laid out beautifully. You can shop wines by region such as California, France & South America as well as others which I found to be of assistance while deciding on a particular wine to purchase. Champagne, Sake as well as non-alcoholic wines were available as well. From brands on the lower end such as such Barefoot starting at $6.99 to Chateau Ste. Michelle and Josh Cellars, all the way to more prestigious wines such as Austin Hope, Cakebread, Nickel & Nickel and Chateau Trottevieille St. Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classe at $199 a bottle, the place had it all. 
I saw wine gadgets and accompaniment items as well such as coasters with wine sayings, cute wine glasses for parties or just sitting out back with friends. I also saw small napkins with little wine sayings as well as kitchen towels along the same lines. While the woman aspect of the business is evident judging by the designs and wording on the glassware and on the side products, the crowd in general was mostly made up of both men & women and mostly millennials. I will tell you though that being a guy who is a member of the last great generation (Generation X), I felt right at home. By the way, no folks, this was not some Stop & Go, that's for sure. On top of frilly glassware, there were the usual snacks that you would expect with keeping in line with alcohol in general. There were candles, books on cocktails including Wine Follys, The Master Guide Book. While these items didn't have what I would consider to be a large presentation, there was certainly enough of a diversification to fulfill the average need. I could go on with the wine and spirits items the store carried but it would be better if you checked out their website or even better, stopped in at their store. As far as the shelves themselves and the store itself, both were very clean and the store was very well lit with bottles faced perfectly. Aside from wine and the side ends, there were an equal amount of spirits sold as well such as Bourbon, Tequila, Brandy & Cognac plus other spirits as well. The shelves for these items was no less impressive looking than the wines shelves were and I think both types of drinkers were very well represented and would be very happy with the selection the store offered up. On top of all of this, beer, seltzers and mixers were available as well.
Well, there you have it guys, my impression of The Good Pour. Will I be going back? Absolutely I will as I was impressed. Okay so...competition...the future of the business. A few months ago, I was headed to Total Wines but on the way ended up passing an ABC Fine Wine & Spirits. For those who don't know, this is a pretty big liquor store out here in Florida that has a lot of locations. While a lot smaller in square footage and not going after quite the same customer as Total, ABC certainly is close enough. This store had closed and I would bet that closure wasn't long after Total opened in the area. This brings me to why. Why would Ray Horal go up against both Total and ABC, does he have a chance at success? First off, I don't believe that The Good Pour and the other two stores are meant to compete against one another. The Good Pour has an environment that really plays into the Generation Z thing. To me, this is a huge difference that has them standing on their own. I will also make this the last time I mention ABC as the only thing they have going for them is the fact that they are in a lot of areas such as mine where there is no Total. I do believe that yes, they will fall eventually as the number of The Good Pour locations expands. I believe that Mr. Horal has found a niche that is not currently being filled and for that reason his business will succeed. The Good Pour draws you in and says, "come in, hang out a bit, you are welcome here". The Good Pour has a more lively, more personal touch to it. The Good Pour livens things up a good bit and draws you back in to hang out for a bit with the employees who genuinely want to hang out with you a bit. Total on the other hand is more of a warehouse, an impersonal place that yes, does admittedly have a lot more to choose from and yes, does have employees that will help you but those employees always seem rushed and for whatever reason do not give off a bright and cheerful demeanor. In the end, the atmosphere is nowhere near the same as The Good Pour. Total to me is an in & out place, you go in, find what you want and go out. The Good Pour on the other hand means visiting a lively, energetic place where the cool people hang out.
The Desert Wine Guy
The Good Pour was started by a businessman named Ray Horal and its first location was located in Winter Park, FL back in 2022. Ray was in the wine and spirits industry for over twenty years but he along with his wife, Giuliana wanted " to create a retail space that could harness the sector’s economic power for social impact".
Okay, so, there we were standing outside the store with a full stomach from some very tasty sushi and it was time to quickly head into the liquor store just to take a peak. As I already said, I was not really expecting anything special, let alone anything that was going to stop my trip to Total Wines. Immediately upon walking in we were greeted by Nicky employee who came from around the counter to greet us.
The Desert Wine Guy
