Merchant Milestone by Renee Leininger


Bremer Wine & Liquor 

The Bremer name has been linked to the retail trade dating back to 1876. In those early days, C.H. Bremer owned and operated a successful market and liquor store in downtown Utica, until the advent of Prohibition. Undaunted by the new regulations, C.H. changed his marketing plan and cultivated his store into an upscale market, selling the finest meats and produce, as well as homemade candies and spreads. When Prohibition was lifted, Bremer was granted the first liquor license in Oneida County, issued June 30, 1933. From that day forward, Bremer’s has grown to become the premier wine and liquor store in Central New York.
 
Taking over the store after his father Merritt’s untimely death in 1959, Bud Bremer grew the store to become what it is today. He merged Bremer’s Liquors with Casey & Keefe, owned by Art Bullock. This created Bremer & Bullock Liquor Store, which was located on Oneida Square in Utica, N.Y., where it remained until 1999. Upon Art Bullock’s retirement, Bud and his son Tim purchased the Heritage Wine & Liquor store located on Commercial Drive in New Hartford, N.Y., and Tim became the fourth generation in the Bremer legacy. Tim had an extensive background in the wine industry in Napa, Calif., where he had worked for several wineries as well as a French wine barrel manufacturing company.
 
With the business continuing to grow, in order to provide first-class service and selection to their customers, Bud and Tim made yet another move – purchasing a 20,000 square-ft. facility on Commercial Drive in New Hartford in 2003. This move allowed the Bremer’s to create the largest wine and spirit selection from Albany to Rochester, N.Y.
 
When Bud decided to semi-retire in 2006, his youngest son Eric returned to the area from New England and took over at the helm of Bremer’s with Tim. Today, the business continues to grow, making way for the next generation and the continuation of the Bremer retail legacy.

Courtesy of The Bremer Family
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