A gentle clink of wine glasses and warm murmur of familiar conversation fills the air at It’s All About Wine. Located in Springfield, this intimate shop serves as a retail store by day, and when the sun sets, it becomes more of a wine bar that also serves beers and spirits. Store co-owner Zach Sweet believes It’s All About Wine embodies a sense of community that is much like a beloved sitcom of the ‘80s.

“The vibe here at It’s All About Wine is very community like. It’s very much like Cheers,” explained Zach, referencing the fictional Boston bar where everybody knew your name. “We have a lot of regular clientele. We do a lot of events here. We do fundraising. It’s just a really nice place to hang out.”

From customer to owners

It’s All About Wine opened its doors in 2006, establishing itself as a cornerstone of wine culture in Springfield long before Zach ever imagined becoming its owner. The path to ownership began in a very natural way, according to Zach, who along with his wife Nancy, was a devoted customer who fell in love with the store’s unique atmosphere.

“My wife and I got into wine by coming here before we owned it,” explained Zach. “This was a place we really enjoyed. We met a lot of our friends here in Springfield, and then we decided to buy the business.”

The transition from customer to store owner happened with surprising serendipity.

“Actually, we randomly emailed the owner, who we knew very well, and just let him know if he ever thought about selling and that we would be interested in buying the business,” Zach recalled with a slight smile. “He literally responded within a couple of hours and said, ‘I’m actually going to be meeting with a broker next week. So, if you’re interested, I’d love to have a conversation.’”

The timing could not have been more perfect. Zach and Nancy completed the purchase in 2018, driven by a desire to preserve something special that they had discovered as customers.

“We didn’t want to see the place change,” Zach explained. “We didn’t want someone from the outside who didn’t know the clientele here to buy the business. We met many of our friends here in Springfield, at this establishment, and we really wanted to keep that same vibe.”

The magic of wine culture

Zach’s story captures the essence of what makes It’s All About Wine a unique treasure in Springfield.

“Wine is very shareable,” explained Zach sharing a special memory. “I can remember the first time I came in here as a customer, I sat down next to a stranger, and he started chatting with me and asked if I had ever tried the wine he was drinking, and I said no, and he poured me a glass. I want to say it was a Cabernet, because that’s pretty much all he drank when we first met. He’s one of my best friends now.”

That chance encounter blossomed into a friendship that extends far beyond the walls of Zach’s store.

“I’ve been to Ireland with him for his 60th birthday. I went on his wife’s 50th birthday party to Hawaii,” continued Zach. “They’re (the couple they met) very dear friends of ours.”

A leap of faith with expert guidance

Taking over a retail business represented a significant career shift for Zach, who started It’s All About Wine as a retail rookie.

“I worked in Illinois state government for almost 15 years. I had never worked in retail in my life,” Zach admitted. “So, it was a pretty big learning curve for me.”
Fortunately, Zach didn’t navigate this transition alone. “I’m co-owner, with my wife Nancy and my father-in-law Richard Scott, who owned a paint store for 20 plus years,” explained Zach. “So we definitely leaned on him a lot in the early going, for his retail knowledge.”

Despite the learning curve, Zach said he felt confident with his decision to take the leap.

“What made me think that I could do this? I have a business background. I have my MBA,” said Zach with pride in his voice. “I mean the numbers made sense. I’m very passionate about wine and about the people here. I felt very confident that this was something that we could take it to another level.”

While wanting to respect the legacy of the business, Zach does not want to be complacent either.

“It is a great place and a great business,” smiled Zach. “We had some ideas for just little changes that we thought could make it more our vision. And I feel like we’ve been able to do that.”

Building community across generations

When All About Wine transforms into a gathering space at night, it is filled with conversation, friends, and even music where local talent can shine.

“On Tuesdays, we do an open mic event with musicians, said Zach. “We have a host come in and, musicians wanting to learn their craft, come and play. They’ll enjoy a glass of wine or have a beer while they’re watching the other musicians.”

What sets It’s All About Wine apart in Springfield’s dining and entertainment landscape is its unique approach to wine service and the removal of barriers between retail and hospitality. Zach has created an environment where customers can tailor their experience to their exact preferences and comfort level.

“You can come in and open a bottle, and enjoy a glass of it. You can drink the whole bottle if you’d like,” noted Zach. “Or if you don’t finish it, you can cork it and take it with you.”

While the atmosphere at It’s All About Wine appears effortless and welcoming, Zach has learned that creating that experience requires constant work extending far beyond the shop’s operating hours.

“Something I wish someone told me before I got into retail, is that it’s not all fun and games,” Zach admitted. “When I’m not here, I am doing ordering. I’m doing the staff scheduling. I’m booking the bands we have on Sundays. So it’s just a lot more than I thought it would be, but it’s really enjoyable. I also get to hang out with my friends at work.”

Despite the demanding nature of retail ownership, Zach remains optimistic about the business’s future, particularly given recent developments in Springfield.

“I think we’re in a pretty good location. We’re excited because just south of here, there is a new sports complex that’s opening up. It’s the largest inflatable dome in the U.S.” said Zach with excitement in his voice. “We’re really hoping to see a boost from that. They’re going to be building hotels around there, so there’s going to be people coming in from all over the country to this sports complex. And I think we’re kind of in a prime location for that.”

Building community

Zach says he has placed great emphasis on connecting with Generation Z, recognizing the unique challenges presented by this demographic.

“Studies are showing that Generation Z does not drink much at all. They’re more homebodies,” Zach observed. “So, we’re really trying to target them and get them to come in and learn about wine. Like I said, wine is fun. It’s shareable. It’s just easy to engage with compared to some other spirits.”

The shop’s versatility as an event space reflects its deep community connections.

“You know, we have all types of events here,” Zach noted. “We have fundraisers for local organizations, including sororities fraternities. We have graduation parties. We’ve had some political fundraisers here. We get people from all walks of life that come in and hang out here.”

The heart of hospitality

At the core of It’s All About Wine’s success is the welcoming atmosphere that Zach and his team have cultivated.

“I think people feel comfortable here because of the staff,” said Zach. “We have very knowledgeable staff and a very diverse staff. When you walk in the door, you see that smile and you know you’re going to have a knowledgeable welcoming person.

“I’m very glad I took the leap,” Zach continued. “I can’t stress enough how important this place is to the community and to our customers. I know a lot of people. Some people are nervous to go to a bar by themselves. I don’t feel we have that here. We have a lot of people that just come here on their own because they feel comfortable here. It’s a very welcoming spot. I’m glad to be a part of that.”

Small business reality

Like many independent retailers across Illinois, Zach faces ongoing challenges of operating a small business in an increasingly complex economic landscape. He said his perspective on these challenges comes from the daily reality of managing thin profit margins while maintaining quality service.

“Something I’d like to tell the politicians of Illinois about retail is that it is hard work and the little guys matter,” explained Zach. “There are some things I wish they could see where they could help. One thing that comes to mind are the credit card processing fees. They’re quite expensive. Some places charge an extra fee when you pay with a card. We don’t do that here. I think that’s something they could look at and help the little guy.”

The daily demands of retail ownership pale in comparison to the personal rewards Zach gets come from the community connections he makes every day.

“Every day I get to meet a new person. Often they end up becoming a regular customer, and we become friends. It’s All About Wine helps build bridges here in the community.”