Inspiring Conversations with Regina Mandell of Tonique Bottle Co.

Today we’d like to introduce you to Regina Mandell.

Hi Regina, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
We both have long histories working in the service industry. Most recently, Matt owned a cocktail bar for 10 years and Regina previously operated her own clothing boutique, so the idea for a bottle shop came about naturally from those two experiences. Once we landed on a concept, we were fortunate to find our current location relatively quickly and knew it would be perfect for what we wanted. With a little remodeling, it eventually became the open, airy, and bright space we enjoy today.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Starting your own business never goes smoothly! We’re just now approaching one year in business, so the struggle for us has been remaining patient while we grow our sales, trusting our instincts, and keeping mistakes to a minimum despite having to base the majority of our decisions on estimates rather than actual numbers. Even though we both have prior experience to lean on, this is very much a new business so we continue to learn as we go. We know there will always be challenges, but we wouldn’t have it any other way!

As you know, we’re big fans of Tonique Bottle Co.. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
At the end of the day, our goal is to be a go-to, neighborhood bottle shop. What sets us apart from the average package store is our modern layout and how we specialize in an array of responsibly-made wine and spirits alongside thoughtfully chosen selections of beer, non-alcoholic beverages, and barware. We aim to engage each customer and build relationships with our regulars.

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
Athens is a very welcoming, easy going, and comfortable place to live. As much as this town loves to hang onto its past, there’s a growing number of folks that seem very receptive to new concepts, especially when it comes to food and beverage. It feels good to be part of that change.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://shoptonique.com
• Instagram: shoptonique

Image Credits
Tonique Bottle Co.