Today we’d like to introduce you to Jiaqi Tang
Hi Jiaqi, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Honest Bottle Shop is the result of an ever-lasting passion, a project born out of love and dedication. I spent 25 years of rubbing elbows with the posh crowd in luxury hotels, mingling with wine distributors, and dedicating over a decade to wine education. And yet, here I am, feeling like I know so little about this mesmerizing realm.
We moved to Eagle Rock 3 years ago during Covid, into a space with a tiny retail store and a living loft upstairs. The goal has always been to start a small wine store, initially hoping to be able to offer tasting and seatings by the sidewalk. After 3 years, we finally got the approval from city… A long long process.
Yet, honest bottle shop (might as well be the tiny wine shop of Eagle Rock) truly caters to our neighbors. We focus on 100% organic if not not sustainably grown grapes, responsible farming, unadulterated cool wines that represents its terroir, people, heritage and culture. Mostly European selections in store, with a very large selection of champagne, under-the-radar value burgundies, Italian, German/Austrian selections. We love old school wine making, we love small productions, we love wine with great concentration and texture, we love every different varietals as the way they intended to be made originally…..
Now, we are here. My day job funds the dream, my dream is to keep the Honest Bottle Shop going, with hopefully expansion in the future 🙂
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?
My biggest struggle has been the costly process of obtaining a liquor license. We initially had to go through an 18-month long process to get city’s approval, allowing us to sell wine out of our location. Some older residents in the neighborhood could be anti-gentrification. So I am still operating on a temporary license for the past year, waiting for the court hearing to happen….bureaucracy… Also the reason why we couldn’t get tasting license or side walk permit, all due to protestors. It was my first experience having a small business in LA. That was a little frustrating.
A tiny wine store without tasting permit is harder to generate buzz or revenue. Our revenue year to date is definitely not life-changing; However, I am really grateful to see so many neighbors who supports us. Our average order per visit is 3-4 bottles. I always try to keep the price as reasonable as possible, just to cover some expenses for the store. Wine should be necessity not novelty 🙂
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I was in luxury hotel industry for over 25 years. I used to be Director of Food and Beverage for a few large 5 star resorts on the East Coast and here in LA. Covid wiped out a generation of hotel workers sadly….I now am a hospitality recruiter by day trade, and wine store clerk in the afternoon :). I live right above the store, which is helpful. At least there is no commute 🙂
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love the diversity of the city, culture, people, cuisine. There is just so much to explore in LA. Weather is super nice compared to the East Coast, so I can’t complain (because I currently do not commute)
What do I like least about the city? It’s too big, too liberal, a bit too corrupt. Too many homeless people. Also impossible to survive as a small business owner with brick and mortar store if involves rent!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.honestbottleshop.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honestbottleshop/?igsh=NGVhN2U2NjQ0Yg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-honest-bottle-shop-los-angeles-2
