Sherry-Lehmann Opens Shops on Park Avenue

Blue-chip wine collectors rejoice! Sherry-Lehmann Wines and Spirits, Manhattan's most august booze shop, has finally reopened at its new location on Park and 59th. The first day of business was Aug. 28 and it was a soft opening indeed. Barely any trumpets were sounded. The outfit had planned to open in late August all along, but, based on the progress of the construction at the Park Avenue spot, observers were understandably doubtful.

The new shop is a lot like the old one, with the same short of shelving and many of the fusty old wine antiques hanging from the ceiling. At the same time, the vibe is more sleek and polished; more Wall Street parvenu than Upper East Side aristocracy. Business was brisk the day I stopped by. It's a great location, it can't be denied, just a block from the Lexington line.

So, if you're in desperate need of an imperial of Chateau d'Yquem, don't panic. Your source is alive and well.

Sherry-Lehmann's Purple Plywood

The Sherry-Lehmann wine store's move from its longtime location at 679 Madison Avenue to the northeast corner of 59th and Park is coming along. Workers are busy inside the space and shelving is going up. The store maintains that the transition will be complete by mid-to-late August.

The shop could teach the development-crazy city a little something about stylish construction. Sherry-Lehmann has painted its plywood a fetching shade of plum on both the Park Avenue and 59th Street sides. The paint job brightens up the area and adds a spark of color to the sedate intersection.

Sherry-Lehmann Wines on the Move

Sherry-Lehmann, one of the oldest wine stores in Manhattan, and certainly one of the most high-falutin', is moving from its longtime location at 679 Madison Avenue to the northeast corner of 59th and Park. Same tony neighborhood, same ritzy clientele.

I looked at the new location. The Art Deco storefront has been empty for some time. Last thing I remember being in there was a high end shoe store. Work is underway, but much more work needs to be done if they're to meet their move deadline of August 2007. The new space will apparently have a 4,000 square foot cellar that will provide 2,000 square feet of wine storage, allowing the company to bring in some of its vino thats in storage in (!) Greenpoint. $1.5 million worth of wine will be on the move. (Will it get a police escort?)