The spirits industry expert brought more than 35 years of experience to the table when he founded his own liquor store in December 2010. Johnson wanted to create a local hotspot for his Colleyville neighbors to make liquor more accessible.
“I just had a good gut feeling about this area being prime for a liquor store,” Johnson said.
The entrepreneur said opening a successful liquor shop in Colleyville required him to overcome preconceived biases the general public holds toward liquor stores.
Shops in the industry are often perceived as intimidating, according to Johnson. Knowing this, he said, his goal was to create a welcoming venue with carefully crafted design to evoke comfort.
“When people think about a liquor store, they mostly think of a rundown, shoddy building,” Johnson said. “We wanted to change that and offer a warm, inviting shopping experience.”
Guests are offered custom gift baskets, gourmet cheese from an in-house shop and tasting events. Special programming is on the rise again at the shop after being temporarily slowed down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Johnson said he and his staff aim to foster friendly, ongoing relationships with customers.
“My employees feel like they know their customers by name, and they can probably tell you what they want before they walk in the door,” Johnson said.
Bear Creek Spirits & Wine, 7101 Colleyville Blvd., Colleyville. 817-251-8789 www.bearcreekspirits.com Hours: Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
