Andrew “Gus” Clark, 40, is not your average wine connoisseur. In fact, he does not even consider himself a wine connoisseur.

“I’m more of a wine geek,” Clark said.

But, he owns Fine Wine and Beer by Gus, a wine and beer shop that opened Sept. 11, 2008, here in Auburn in Flint’s Crossing Shopping Center, across from Colonial Mall.

Decorated with deep oak paneling, artwork on the walls that changes continuously and countless bottles of wine, Clark’s store has quickly become a place well-frequented by college students, faculty, business professionals and tourists alike. But his journey to the store was a little more gradual.

It all started Sept. 5, 2001, when his daughter, Isabella, was born. Six days later, the world changed forever. At the time, Clark owned a coffee and cell-phone store in a high-rise in downtown Chicago. After he heard about the planes crashing into the World Trade Center, Clark decided not to go to work that day.
Business changed.

“Before Sept. 11, 20- to 30-year-olds were coming to socialize and enjoy coffee together,” Clark said. “After, they were using it (the store) for job placements. They were seeking jobs and helping each other find jobs.”

He said the customers started using the relationships they had made prior to Sept. 11 to their advantages. Many of them had begun to lose their jobs.

People also started changing their cell phone plans. They went from fancy phones with all the bells and whistles back to the basics.

“It was like our own recession.”

Clark decided to leave the coffee shop because his business partner wanted to continue expanding the coffee shop into a deli while Clark thought that the store should remain specialized in coffees.

Gus and his wife, Leigh Anne, decided to come to Auburn to take care of Leigh Anne’s aunt. Leigh Anne became the primary caretaker for her aunt; Gus went back to Chicago and to move his family to Alabama.

A year and a half later, Gus was promoted from the produce to the wine department at the Kroger on Dean Road. Gus’s hard-working nature was exactly what Kroger needed for its testing site in Auburn to see how a more upscale wine department would do.

During Clark’s first two months in the wine department, sales rose 33 percent. People from all over the Southeast began coming to Kroger for its wine. Clark was known for his purchasing. Under him, Kroger sold 33 percent of the top 100 wines meaning that Clark knew which wines would be big sellers before the list was even made.

Clark attributes it to his “natural trendiness.”

While he was in the wine department, Kroger had a 300 percent increase in sales than when he first started. Clark was also the one who advised Kroger to start selling gourmet foods, such as the cheeses and the olive bar.

After his success at Kroger, Clark was recruited by the city of Wetumpka to open a wine shop. Clark stayed in Auburn, though.

Leigh Anne made up a business plan, and the rest is history. Well, almost.

Clark says that there are many factors contributing to his success.

First, his family. While he is the one who handles the wine, Clark’s whole family plays an active role in his shop.

“My wife does everything from the Web site to advertising. She does IT and works with companies like Spa Auburn.”

Even Isabella, now 7, helps out.

“She is in charge of cleaning,” Clark said with a laugh. “And children have a way of giving a fresh perspective. They’re honest, so she helps out a lot with that.”

Second, his involvement in the community. When Clark first arrived in Auburn, he immediately embraced the community. Currently, he is involved with the Partnership for Children Charity and sits on the board for the Auburn Ballet.

Third, his competition. Clark’s main competition is grocers in the Auburn area.

“Grocers just don’t get it,” he says about how grocery stores generally stick to the seven most common types of wine.

Clark said that wine-lovers want diversity and to keep trying new wines in order to become more knowledgeable about wine. Clark differs in that he provides a wide variety and ever-changing list of wines that cannot be found anywhere else in the area. He also helps to promote wines at local restaurants and build wine lists for them.

Fourth, his natural trend-seeing skill.

“Wine changes continuously. Whatever was popular three months ago, isn’t any more.”

Clark said that the wine industry is very trendy and so it’s important to stay with or ahead of those crazes.

Lastly, Clark doesn’t just sell a product, he provides a service.

“This is why it works,” Clark said about his business. Clark does not just give his customer wine, he is able to customize a specific customer’s tastes to a wine.


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