De’Angelo Hall, DeAngelo’s Wine & Liquor.

DeAngelo’s Wine & Liquor

201 South Broad Street

Meriden, CT

Square footage: 1,200

Years in operation: 3 years

By Sara Capozzi

For DeAngelo’s Wine & Liquor De’Angelo Hall, a career in the package store industry was both a natural choice and a dream he began to fulfill when he brought his ideas to Coleen his partner.  They both decided to pool their financial resources and business knowledge together and purchased their first store in 2022. “It’s always been a passion of mine,” he said.

“Growing up in Jamaica, my mom had a bar, so I’ve always been around it,” Hall continued. “And when I came to America, I met my best friends, and their parents had liquor stores … I always wanted my own store, and I didn’t stop till I made it happen.”

Hall said he has learned a lot over the years and enjoys educating his clientele and helping them choose products. “I love everything about it,” he said of his profession. “The interaction with customers, the knowledge I’ve gained about liquor and giving people information about what they’re buying, learning so much about the different varieties of wine, beer, tequila—you name it.”

The shop serves a loyal customer base from Meriden and Wallingford that continues to grow, and Hall enjoys getting to know everyone who walks through its doors. “You meet people from all walks of life, and you learn so much about people,” he said. “I always tell people I’m a liquor store owner and therapist. It’s a beautiful thing. I love the industry.”

Hall prioritizes a positive shopping experience for his clientele. “Customer service is key in this industry,” he said. “It is No. 1 and my Google review speaks for itself. You have to love your customers, and you have to treat your customers with respect. Because at the end of the day, you have to remember that these customers are supporting you. It doesn’t cost a dollar to be nice to people. A customer will come to see you based on how you treat and talk to that person.”

Hall works to consistently give shoppers a comfortable, upbeat environment to do their shopping in. “It’s a great store, a great environment,” he said. “There’s always music playing. It’s always happy in here. It’s very welcoming.” DeAngelo’s offers a broad selection of SKUs, featuring “a little bit of everything,” and encourages customers to request items they’d like to see on its shelves. Popular categories in Meriden are tequila and beer.

The team recently expanded the business reach when they  purchased another shop, also named De’Angelo’s Wine & Liquor, in West Hartford’s Shield Street Plaza Shopping Center earlier this year. In the business’ first six months, the two-person operating team has tailored its selection to include a wide range of products, carrying Asian offerings such as sake and soju, to accommodate shoppers who frequent the plaza’s A Dong Supermarket.

Hall also expressed his appreciation for Coleen’s support through the years. “This is my dream,” he said. “She’s my partner that’s helped push me to accomplish this and she’s supported me through that dream. Coleen has played a vital role in making this dream come to fruition and has been very hands on and integral to our growth.” While he’s enjoying his current success, Hall already has plans to continue to expand DeAngelo’s and purchase more stores throughout Connecticut.