Making Better Use of...Union Square Wines & Spirits
Monday, March 26, 2007, by BL
Introducing Making Better Use Of... in which we explore ways to make better use of certain stores' sideshow features. All retail sideshows -- in-store book signings, your Barneys NY pool table, say, or the classic hipster boutique's cocktail hour -- are designed for the express purpose of increasing your cash output. At least with some of these sideshows you can have a good time getting gouged.
The newly relocated Union Square Wine & Spirits -- relocated from 33 Union Square West, by the way, one of the very choicest of Union Square and vicinity storefronts to be had -- boasts the city's only three Eno-machines, which are essentially wine by-the-taste vending machines, open for use to any and all customers. Though there is something to be said for the sideshow of people watching to be had at Sherry-Lehman, there is probably more to be said for the wine store with a machine that all at once: 1) gets you boozy; 2) allows you to sample the merchandise before buying; 3) remembers the wines you like and don't like; and 4) eliminates the need for you to confer with a sales rep who will inevatibly have you using words like "oaky" "crisp" and "nose".
The currency for these machines is a debit card loaded with points, and you get one with your first purchase at the store (5 points per dollar spent). But if you're up for a small bit of smooth-talking, all the cashiers have cards filled with thousands of points, which is the kind of balance you'll need to enjoy the more expensive eno-machine in the store, located in the Reserve Room up front.
Union Square Wines & Spirits Wine, Eno-machines
140 Fourth Avenue, Union Square; (212) 675-8100
Open M-Sa, 9am-10pm; Sun, 12pm-6pm; website
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