Forty years after it opened for business in Countryside, Main Street Wines & Spirits is still going strong.
The co-owners credit good customer service and a diverse selection of libations as reasons for the family-owned business succeeding.
Current co-owner John Walano, 61, of Willow Springs, was there the opening day in 1985 as the deli manager at Main Street, 5424 S. La Grange Road.
He and John Fotopoulos, 58, of Munster, IN, have owned the store together for several years. Walano had previously partnered with James Fotopoulos, John’s father.
James Fotopoulos opened the store with his brother George and John Karfias. All three have passed away.
Walano being there all 40 years is the secret to success, his partner said.
“He is extremely dedicated, devoted to this business. It’s not just a job for John. It’s his life’s passion,” John Fotopoulos said. “He wants the customers to have a great experience here in the store.”
Walano, who had worked for James Fotopoulos at a grocery store, was put in charge of the deli at Main Street when he was just 21 years of age.
“A big deli,” Walano said. “Back in the ‘80s, when we had Electro-Motive (in McCook) producing a locomotive every week, they had 15,000 workers.
“We had a huge lunch rush, lines out the door for three hours. Then, it went down to 400 workers. (The deli) wasn’t worth the space,” he said.
Main Street had replaced Armanetti’s, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. When it started, the shelves didn’t offer much, Walano said. That has changed.
According to the website, Main Street now offers more than 2,500 bottles of wine, more than 300 vodkas, more than 300 box and jug wines, almost 250 different bourbons and more than 150 single malt scotch.
Do you prefer beer? They have almost 200 imported beers and more than 650 domestic beers. Selling more than 120 seltzers and you’ll see why they need 10,000 square feet of space.
Main Street Wines & Spirits endured those first couple “tough” years by focusing on customer service.
Simple things like saying “hello” when customers come in and “thank you” when they leave go a long way, Walano said.
“The first and last face they see is the cashier,” Walano said. “I appreciate people coming in here. There’s a lot of competition out there.”
Battling with heavy hitters like Binny’s and Kenwood “is not easy and takes a lot of work,” he said.
But Main Street and other family-owned stores do survive, often by teaming together in a co-op. Several stores buy in bulk together, enabling them to compete with the larger chains’ sales prices.
Being on busy street La Grange Road has helped.
“I love our location. Countryside is fantastic to work with. No complaints at all,” Walano said. “A clean store is No.1. Keep it updated as much as you can.”
They hope to one day buy the building they’ve rented for decades. Basement storage “is really important,” especially for wine, he said.
Walano and Fotopoulos pride themselves on offering a wide selection of alcoholic beverages.
“Everything’s changing constantly. It’s important to keep up with it,” Walano said.
The explosion in popularity for whiskey and bourbon has seen a former half-aisle blossom to fill two full aisles.
“The big trend now are the THC-infused drinks. There’s going to be a lot of different things. Beers,” he said.
Non-alcoholic beers are also gaining in popularity, he said.
Main Street Wines & Spirits sells beer made by area craft brewers like Buckle Down on 47th Street in Lyons.
Wine takes up about 40 percent of the floor space. Wine director Jeff Sukowski makes sure the selection fits all budgets.
“There’s so much good wine out there,” Walano said, adding, “I like all wines.”
Wine tastings are held each Saturday from 2 to 6 p.m. with various themes.
Fotopoulos said tastings are more than just about wine: “It’s a great avenue to meet others and make new friends,” he said. “They go out together for dinner after tastings.”
Gaming machines were a new addition in 2018.
“It’s a good clientele that comes in. It’s relaxing. And, we get some big winners sometimes,” Walano said.
You can find Walano there six days a week. He takes off on Sunday.
“I love it. I still enjoy it. It’s fun dealing with customers. The business is constantly changing. You take pride in ownership. I’m outside sweeping the parking lot,” he said.
One recent Saturday, Greg McElvogue, 62, a 35-year resident of La Grange, was searching for Sun Cruiser Iced Tea Vodka. Walano found a couple packs for him.
“These guys help me out on a regular basis. I don’t go anywhere else,” McElvogue said. “When I need some wine and champagne, I come in. I do their tastings. I’m learning and it always helps me out.”
And, yes, a family-owned store does hire family. Walano’s daughter Brittany, one of his four children, is the beer buyer and a manager.
Looking ahead, plans include replacing a three-car garage on the east side of the building with a 24-space parking lot. A rear entrance will be added on the east side, too. Both should be ready for 2026.
But before that, a 40th anniversary party is planned from 2 to 6 p.m. Oct. 18.
There will be several wine, liquor and beer vendors, a cigar station and raffle prizes. Uncle Bub’s BBQ from Westmont is catering the event.
Main Street Wines & Spirits
Address: 5425 S. La Grange Road, Countryside
Phone/website: 708-354-0355;
www.mainstreetwine.us
Hours: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Saturday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.