The old Sam’s Wine Warehouse in Chicago was where many of us learned about fine wine back in the ‘70s and 80’s. It was an amazing store. You had to go down to basement, inching past a threatening conveyer belt, to discover the Disneyland for wine geeks.
I worked there while in grad school for $5/hour as a schlepper and budding wine salesman. I never took a penny home. I got a 20% discount. I loaded up.
Freddie was always kind to me. I remember my shock when he handed me a $100 bill at holiday time. I only worked weekends there so that was quite generous back then.
My wedding reception had cases and cases
of Domaine Chandon at Freddie’s wholesale price.
Years later, he hired my son who was in college at the time. He was also very kind to him.
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Bummer. Fred was terrific and I loved the basement at the North Avenue Sam’s. Shot hoops with him a couple of times at the Marcey St store.
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Today’s obit in the Tribune
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I remember when ‘Sam’s Club’ from the Walmart group was entering Chicago, and Fred Rosen sent them a letter, very nicely asking them to put “Not affiliated with Sam’s Wines & Spirits” at the bottom of every ad they ran in the newspapers. Of course the Walton group refused, and Fred sent another letter explaining to them that he had some connections in town (every judge and politician in Chicago bought wine from him) and it would be wise to comply (and filed a lawsuit). Lets just say when ‘Sam’s Club’ started advertising in the Chicago area, their ads carried the disclaimer for Sam’s Wine & Spirits.
RIP
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