Ronnie, I believe that restaurateurs and bar owners have to buy through distributors, which ensures that they pay the correct tax, etc, and the prices that they pay through distributors for both wine and spirits are higher than regular retail. Which is why restaurateurs/bar owners are occasionally busted for buying retail--they take the risk in order to save some $$.

Which still doesn't excuse the amazingly high mark ups on the Saigon Sisters wine list!

geli wrote:Ronnie, I believe that restaurateurs and bar owners have to buy through distributors, which ensures that they pay the correct tax, etc, and the prices that they pay through distributors for both wine and spirits are higher than regular retail. Which is why restaurateurs/bar owners are occasionally busted for buying retail--they take the risk in order to save some $$.

Which still doesn't excuse the amazingly high mark ups on the Saigon Sisters wine list!

Sorry but this is NOT correct unless a lot has changed since I was in the business.

Distributors buy from producers, paying tax upon receipt of shipment. Pricing is wholesale to all--who then mark up accordingly--retail always marking up significantly less (20-30%) than on-premise (100-300% on wine is typical--annoying, but typical) who are factoring in service and other issues into their pricing.

The restaurant or bar buying retail is doing so because either:
a) they are on the "list" for not having paid their distributor or violating state law, barring shipment to them
b) they are buying such small quantities of something that the price they are quoted from the distributor is more than the retail markup of the deeply discounted price a large chain can buy something at or
c) they ran out and can't get a delivery in time to open.

A restaurateur pricing something like Gruet Rose at 500% mark-up is either a mistake or larceny.

. . . on a happier note. . .

Saigon Sisters are starting a pop-up next week at 66 E. Randolph, and it will run all summer!

sundevilpeg wrote:. . . on a happier note. . .

Saigon Sisters are starting a pop-up next week at 66 E. Randolph, and it will run all summer!

Glad you posted this, I meant to earlier this week, oops! I walked by and was surprised to see the Farm Stand re-opened, only to find SS, Bleeding Heart, Berrien Farms (I think), and a crepe shop set up within. SS is selling a limited menu - no pho, just some sandwiches, salads, spring rolls - but it's nice to have something back in that space.

Saigon Sisters Opens In Northwestern Memorial Hospital

http://chicagoist.com/2013/09/11/saigon ... estern.php

Was talking to the owners yesterday at the Lake St location and they are in the process of building out a Thai restaurant about a block west on Lake. Plans are to open in November.

Bang Chop Thai Kitchen, a fast-casual Thai eatery, opens for dinner service Thursday at 605 W. Lake St. in the West Loop. The restaurant is the fourth from the Saigon Sisters Restaurant Group, headed by Vietnamese-American sisters Mary Nguyen Aregoni and Theresa Nguyen.

http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20151209 ... p-thursday

Lunch service starts Dec 16th....reports to follow.