Anthony and Carly D’Arpino’s investment in the old Washington Mutual Bank on Halstead Avenue in Harrison is paying off. In September, after a major transformation of the space, they opened Harrison Wine Vault. The attractive and expansive shop is filled with fine wine and spirits and has fast become the toast of the community.

 

By Janice Llanes Fabry

 

Anthony and Carly D’Arpino’s investment in the old Washington Mutual Bank on Halstead Avenue in Harrison is paying off. In September, after a major transformation of the space, they opened Harrison Wine Vault. The attractive and expansive shop is filled with fine wine and spirits and has fast become the toast of the community.

 

“We were drawn to the uniqueness of the space,” said Anthony about its wall-to-wall windows and prominent corner location. “It’s also right across from the train station and we have our own spaces in the parking lot behind us.”

 

The D’Arpinos were also familiar with the area. From 2005 to 2009, Anthony was Rye Country Day’s assistant hockey coach. Prior to coaching, he played for the minors after having played hockey for Boston College, which is where he met Carly. Once he was finished with life on the ice, he went on to work for a wine importer.

 

As an area manager responsible for 600 accounts throughout New York and Connecticut, Anthony learned the wine business inside and out.

 

“Throughout my travels, I got to see many stores with many different styles, the good, the bad, and the ugly,” he said. “The first step in the process was to make our store aesthetically pleasing.”

 

His goal was to open a visually exciting shop with custom mahogany shelving, flooring, and counters on different levels. After an extensive renovation, about the only remnant left of the old Washington Mutual is the safe. It was handsomely transformed into a temperature-controlled, state-of-the-art wine cellar for older and more obscure wines, ranging from $50 to $2,500.

 

It was also important to the D’Arpinos to offer more than just another liquor store. “It’s nice to build something that’s your own and we wanted to do more than sell wine,” he explained. Indeed, Harrison Wine Vault offers a tasting bar that is open every Friday from 5-8 p.m. and Saturdays, from 1-4 p.m. It also has a seminar room, where winemakers will hold workshops for beginners and aficionados. To be scheduled are seminars for single malts and bourbons, as well as wine.

 

Covering the gamut, from obscure vintages to top brands, some of the Wine Vault’s bestsellers include Gooseneck Vineyards Pinot Grigio from Italy; Valley of the Moon, a Cabernet blend from Sonoma County; Uppercut, a Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley; Moutard Brut Grande Cuvee champagne; Rowan’s Creek and Wathen’s bourbons.

 

While Anthony is the wine connoisseur, Carly takes care of the business and marketing end behind the scenes, as well as their 8-month-old son, Timothy. Grapes may be their business, but he’s definitely the apple of their eyes. “It’s great to be able to bring the baby to work, until he starts walking and breaking bottles, that is,” said Carly.

 

The Harrison Wine Vault is open Monday through Wednesday from 9:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m., Thursday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m.-9 p.m., and Sunday from 12-6 p.m. Call 835-0125. For seminar schedules or on-line purchases, log on to harrisonwinevault.com. Free local delivery is available.