July 17, 2024

This paid piece is sponsored by JJ’s Wine, Spirits & Cigars.

Cheers to this: Sioux Falls family-owned JJ’s Wine, Spirits & Cigars is ranked among the very top adult-beverage retailers in the nation.

JJ’s climbed the ranks of the annual Top 100 Retailers list from trade publication Beverage Dynamics even more this year, reaching No. 14 after two consecutive years at No. 16. Winners on the list range from single-store urban locations to regional chains with more than 100 locations.

“We rank our winners based on their adherence to business best practices and continued innovation,” said Jeremy Nedelka, Beverage Dynamics vice president.

“Getting into and staying in the top 20 takes continuous improvement, which JJ’s has shown over the past few years as they’ve moved up our rankings.”

For JJ’s owners Tom and Jean Slattery, the recognition is meaningful for multiple reasons.

“It’s an application process that looks at the strength of your business, community involvement, customer engagement — a set of metrics that put us in the company of some of the highest-volume retailers in the country,” Tom Slattery said. “So it’s cool our little spot in the Upper Midwest is ranked among the best in the industry.”

As Beverage Dynamics evaluates applicants, JJ’s consistently stands out, Nedelka said.

“Every year when I receive JJ’s Top 100 entry, there’s a new project or program they’ve undertaken during the prior 12 months,” he said. “The owners continue to seek out new revenue sources and ways to engage their local community. That’s the formula for building a strong business in this industry.”

Nedelka visited Sioux Falls several years ago, “and I was immediately impressed by the store and all the different services it provided,” he said.

“At that time, there were very few businesses that combined on-premise and off-premise sales and even fewer that also offered a bakery, The Boozy Bakery, and event space under one roof. That type of unique positioning is exactly what we look for in our Top 100 Retailers.”

In recognition of JJ’s placement, the Slatterys were part of the recent Beverage Alcohol Retailers Conference, an educational event bringing together leading liquor retailers from more than 30 states.

“This was our first time going, and we were able to tell our story and found people were really thrilled with what we do and how we do it,” Slattery said. “It was really interesting listening to people nationwide talk about how sales are trending and how the customer base is changing, with people seeking alternative beverages or abstaining from alcohol altogether.”

The Slatterys also acknowledge that they can’t do it alone and give credit where credit is due.

“Our team is amazing, likely the best in the industry in our market. We certainly don’t get to where we are without any of them,” Slattery said.

Store operations manager Joe Schroepfer and assistant store operations manager Ted Slattery also attended the conference.

“As part of our core management team, we wanted to give them an opportunity to hear from other retailers around the country about their operations,” Slattery said. “And to provide them with a perspective of how unique we are in how we do things and how important they, and the rest of our team, are to achieving our collective goals.”

As a mom-and-pop independent retailer, life isn’t easy, he acknowledged.

“Much like our colleagues in other markets, we endured a sharp downturn in retail activity in the months following the end of the pandemic and into this year in retail activity. And now, while we’re seeing optimistic signs of growth, it’s not what it was prior to the pandemic and during,” Slattery said.

“Multiple big-box options, online sales and changes in consumer behavior have been a real challenge. But we’re grateful that our community values and supports us, and we left the conference with some confidence and good ideas for how to continue to engage the community as a whole.”

Attendees at the conference benefit from sharing information, networking and learning from fellow store owners, “some of whom may be competitors, because they know it will make the entire industry better,” Nedelka said, “JJ’s has embraced that spirit of collaboration, which is one of many reasons they’re a perennial Top 100 winner.”

Where to go

Stop in JJ’s at 3000 W. 57th St. for exceptional adult-beverage service, a drink or meal at The Bar, a tasty treat from The Boozy Bakery or some fun at JJ’s Axes & Ales across the parking lot, with the newly opened Loki’s Tavern inside.

And, find JJ’s outstanding service and beverage options at Levitt at the Falls during concert season, where the bar opens at 6 p.m. with happy hour and $2 off drinks until the music starts.