Don’t let the swanky building fool you. Legacy Wine and Spirits is not in a larger, more cosmopolitan city. It’s right here in Little Rock, and it is locally owned and operated by Arkansas natives David Bevans and John Akins.
Though the store has only been open since 2015, Legacy has already racked up an impressive array of accolades, notably 2018 Retailers of the Year, and 2019 and 2020 Top 100 Retailers from Beverage Dynamics, the nation’s leading industry publication.
Bevans and Akins also previously teamed up with a terrific lobbyist team to help small businesses have a voice at the state capitol through UBRA (United Beverage Retailers of Arkansas), a liquor retailer’s association they founded earlier on.
“In order to stand out, one must stay abreast of industry standards and trends on the national and international level, as well as keeping a close ear to the ground at the local level,” Bevans says.
While the team plays close attention to detail and is always looking for ways to stay one step ahead, the pandemic has introduced many challenges.
Although tough times call for tough decisions, the team at Legacy just remembers why they’re in the business. Akins says working in the wine and spirits field is, in simple terms, fun. Getting to help Arkansas celebrate all of life’s enjoyable moments is something they love to do — even via online sales and curbside delivery.
Nonetheless, they’re taking the pandemic in stride and finding ways to use what they’ve learned to make Legacy even better.
“Though there were challenges in adjusting our business model ‘on the fly,’ we were able to make it happen and look forward to the continued evolution in our industry,” Bevans says.
