Top 100 Retailer: Conti’s Returns to its Roots

Editor’s Note: We’re recognizing our Top 100 Retailers in the beverage alcohol retail industry from the past year, including Conti’s in Connecticut, and our 2025 Retailer of the Year, Garfield’s Beverage.

Nick Conti has owned and operated successful beverage alcohol retail stores throughout Connecticut, but until recently, never before in his hometown of Southington. Three years ago, he bought an existing shop in the town — which is 20 minutes northwest of Hartford — and rebranded and renovated the business as Conti’s Wines & Spirits. This has become his company’s flagship, a destination spot for whiskey hunters, complete with a floor-to-ceiling whiskey barrel that serves as a walk-in vault for allocated bourbons and rare store picks.

Appropriately for this hometown family business, Nick is now joined at Conti’s by his son, Nick Jr.

“This is our roots,” Nick says. “My family is from here. This is where I raised my kids. It’s great to see so many familiar faces, people I grew up with, walking in the door.”

Nick is known throughout Connecticut as a pioneer in single barrel whiskey picks and running a world-class whiskey program in general. A devoted following frequents his stores, building up points in a loyalty program that grants access to rare spirits, while other customers drive from hours away to Conti’s, which has rapidly emerged as a must-visit for bourbon lovers.

Given this big profile that Nick has built through decades in the Connecticut alcohol industry, it’s impressive how quickly his young son has already made a name for himself as well.

“The biggest tip of the hat that I give to him is that now, when people come into the store and ask for Nick, unless I went to high school with them, they’re actually here looking for my son,” Nick says.

Learning on the job has been critical for Nick Jr. “I’ve given nearly a quarter of my life to this industry,” he says. “I’ve learned so much about reading people, sales, adapting to people by being able to adapt to people’s needs.”

“I’ve learned a lot about the work ethic needed, and the back end of the business,” he adds. “I’ve learned a lot about product knowledge, expanding into tequila, wine, gin and now I’m working on vodka.”

When Nick purchased the store that would become Conti’s, he updated the retail floor. “We changed the feel of the store quite a bit,” he says. “We made it welcoming and warm, considering the store,” which was once a grocery shop, noticeable by the tall ceilings that remain.

“The product and category selection is now 20 times what it was in the past,” he adds. “We’re following the trends of the community. We’re now ingrained in the community. We’re always trying to show people what’s out there, encouraging them to try new products.”

What does the future hold for this business that has gone back to its roots? “We’ll continue growing our program,” says Nick Jr, “coming up with new ideas about ways that we can do in-store events, while introducing more items across different categories.”

His father agrees. “We’re excited to help people come out of their comfort zone and trust us enough to try new things,” Nick says. “We’ve built a real experience here with the presence and the personalities of our entire team.”

“There’s a real fun, family friendship atmosphere here,” Nick adds. “We’ve gone a long way to build the business that way.” 

Kyle Swartz is editor of Beverage Dynamics. Reach him at kswartz@epgacceleration.com. Read his recent pieces, 8 Beverage Alcohol Trends in 2025 and Our 2025 Spirits Growth Brands Awards Winners.

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