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Couple Realizes Dream To Own Business, Taking Over Grapevine Of Carmel

CARMEL, N.Y. -- During the long, round-trip commute to New York City, which he made daily for 25 years as a media executive, Danny Dougherty had plenty of time to think.

Longtime residents Jennifer and Danny Dougherty recently took over Grapevine of Carmel Wines & Spirits.

Longtime residents Jennifer and Danny Dougherty recently took over Grapevine of Carmel Wines & Spirits.

Photo Credit: Skip Pearlman
Jennifer and Danny Dougherty recently took over Grapevine of Carmel Wines and Spirits.

Jennifer and Danny Dougherty recently took over Grapevine of Carmel Wines and Spirits.

Photo Credit: Skip Pearlman
The Doughertys greet a customer at Grapevine of Carmel.

The Doughertys greet a customer at Grapevine of Carmel.

Photo Credit: Skip Pearlman
The store has a vast selection of fine wines.

The store has a vast selection of fine wines.

Photo Credit: Skip Pearlman
Jennifer and Danny Dougherty recently took over Grapevine of Carmel Wines and Spirits.

Jennifer and Danny Dougherty recently took over Grapevine of Carmel Wines and Spirits.

Photo Credit: Skip Pearlman

One thing Dougherty thought about - often - was getting out of the rat race.

Dougherty and his wife, Jennifer, a lifelong Carmel resident, and legal secretary, had been waiting for the right opportunity to come along.

"After all that time in the rat race, I wanted to be in the community," Danny Dougherty told Daily Voice recently. "I wanted to be my own boss."

When the couple came across Grapevine Wines and Spirits of Carmel, they knew the time - and the opportunity - was right.

The Doughertys took over the business, which has been in the Carmel ShopRite Plaza for 13 years, only two weeks ago, and are in the process of re-stocking customer favorites and giving the place a fresh, new, customer-friendly atmosphere.

They'll have regular wine & spirit tastings, a Cocktail of the Month highlighted each month, and are hoping to feature local artwork on the walls of their store.

With deep ties to the community (Jennifer was a longtime member of the Carmel Board of Education, and is a Carmel Civic Association board member), the couple seemed thrilled to be in their new business, and open for customers, when Daily Voice stopped in.

The Doughertys said they were feeling a mix of fear and euphoria.

"It's extremely scary - and extremely exciting," Jennifer Dougherty said. "It's a bit overwhelming... We have a lot to learn, and we're learning more every day."

"It's been a longtime dream to open our own business," Danny Dougherty added. "But then we got on that career track, and, suddenly it's 30 years later. And now... the opportunity presented itself, and we couldn't pass it up."

"The people have all been so nice," Jennifer Dougherty said of the regular customers the couple are still getting to know. "They see the potential in the store, and we're dedicated to customer service.

"We want to bring a more personal experience to the business," she added. "Most people are very friendly, and love that we're new owners. We want to make it more than a liquor store. We want to have local art work on our walls, have tastings, have a home-town feel."

The store is located in the ShopRite Plaza on Route 52 in Carmel.

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