An Eccentric Version of a Party Store

His office is spotless; everything is in its clearly specified place, including the toothbrush and toothpaste lying atop the filing cabinet. There is only one chair in the office and he can not seem to find an extra, so we stand for the duration of our conversation. Eye contact is minimal and the dialogue is short. Habib Mandwee sits on the edge of his desk and explains that it was “just a coincidence” that his brother, Saad Mandwee, and he have been a part of the retail liquor industry for twenty-five years.

What began as a temporary business venture developed into not only one of the most well known liquor stores in Kalamazoo, but a premier destination for visitors of western Michigan. Tiffany’s Wine and Spirit Shoppe is highlighted on several websites where customers rave about their extensive product selection and their experiences, “I talked to the man who was working and he gave me the run down on what just came in, what sells like wildfire and some of his favorites for this season. He was a great help and a beer fan himself.” Customers would never know that Habib Mandwee claims his product selection is modestly due to “common sense” while attending trade shows and that he “doesn’t even know what they all taste like.”

The pickled asparagus selection and the jar of Rosenburg Danish blue cheese in oil are not typical products of your average college-town booze store, nor expected products of a manager with such a cavalier attitude.

The $14,090.98 Courvoisier bottle sits indistinctly in a glass case with a hand-written sign “Sorry… not for sale.” Mandwee nonchalantly admits that this bottle is part of an eight piece collection that sells for over $150,000, sold more as a “piece of artwork than as liquor.”

Smells of alcohol, hummus and falafel blend together. The small deli seems out of place in the midst of the large liquor store, as if Tiffany’s had mastered the art of alcohol retail and were attempting to capitalize on their opportunity to sell authentic middle-eastern delicacies. An unexpected and somewhat awkward blend of savory gourmet foods, fresh coffee beans ready to be ground and hundreds of liquor bottles. An $80 bottle of Le Collection Elite Vodka takes the form of a sassy, strappy, glass sandal and is gawkily juxtaposed next to an assortment of $400 cognac bottles. The endless amount of liquor brands, mixers and international beers overwhelms before the wine selection is even visible.

A two part staircase leads shoppers downstairs to a low-ceilinged open space filled with wine bottles. The door to the lower floor is not clearly marked and any hesitant consumer may be intimidated to make their way to the wine cellar and humidor. It is unclear whether or not the room is strictly for employees, or if the public is welcome.

The bottles rest on the floor, not prominently displayed on racks or shelves. The aroma of fresh wood crates wafts in the air. A room so daunting any non-wine connoisseur would feel as if they did not deserve to be surrounded by so many wine bottles that lay unmarked and unorganized in a glaringly obvious manner. Lids of wooden crates line a portion of the walls displaying names of foreign lands such as Napa, California and Yacochuya, Argentina. Assorted maps of France randomly interrupt the wood crates, flaunting the wines from the various regions notorious for their vineyards.

At the end of the room a “Limited Access” sign hangs on a glass door that separates the already vast wine selection with the even more overwhelming wine selection that deserves its own temperature controlled space. The room sits hidden from those meanderers who are not distinctly searching for the ______________ (specific description/year/location of a certain one) bottle of wine.

Tiffany’s sits unassumingly amidst several other shops in a plaza off of a busy commercial road. The recent 1200 sq. foot addition extended the store to the corner of West Main and N. Arlington Street, making the shop more visible from the road. Several small tables, reminiscent of European cafés, invite customers to enjoy their edible purchases in front of the shop. Tiffany’s walks the line of fostering an atmosphere uncommon to most liquor stores, taking pride in the role they play in the Kalamazoo community.

Although Tiffany’s is a popular destination among college students, the store succeeds in balancing their college clientele as well as serving the greater neighborhood, a task many smaller spirit shops have not yet accomplished. Habib Mandwee lights up when he relays his enjoyment on the fact that his “business gets people excited!” His customers are his “guests” and they come to him when they are happy and ready to celebrate.

Most party stores are looked down upon by citizens of an upstanding community and are commonly associated with poverty and debauchery. Habib and Saad Mandwee’s commitment to the Kalamazoo community and their dedication to provide their “guests” with a “diverse variety” of products have given western Michigan a haven for over 100,000 choices of wine alone, along with an extensive international beer and liquor selection, and gourmet foods both packaged and fresh. A haphazard collection of products all available in one location, all brought together to ensure an exciting celebration for the customers of Tiffany’s Wine and Spirit Shoppe.



**Note: The profile about 100 words under 1,000 words because I found several places where I want more specific details, but need to go back to Tiffany's to do more reportage.