Feature Stories
Morry's Liquor Morphs to Online
From Issue: Volume XX - Number 14
7/13/2012
Amelia Benavente
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Shown, from left, are Ellie Wienberg, Jim Montague, Johnny Cohen and Morry Rabin.
Courtesy of Ann Rabin
Morry’s of Naples used to be a small family business that transformed into a hip, new website called Morry’s that provides instructive wine articles, and promotes partner businesses and sellers to encourage a wine-savvy public.
Even though it no longer serves as a wine vendor, it does endorse companies like Wines on Wheels, which tours people around the world to wineries and events, and Organic Wine Exchange, the electronic ecommerce center that educates on natural wine.
“Most conventional wines have an exorbitant amount of unwanted pesticides and chemicals,” said Ann Rabin, Morry’s Brand Ambassador. “If people choose to consume healthy alternatives then they should have the right to know how to find wines that fit their lifestyle choice.”
The online website, Morry’s, is no longer linked to a specific location like was Morry’s of Naples.
“Since the retail business has closed, other family members have been given the rights to use Morry’s name and build their own unique brand that should not be confused with ‘Morry’s of Naples’,” Rabin said.
Before the neighborhood liquor and convenience store closed in February 2010, Morry’s was a successful little family business created in Belmont Shores by visionary Canadian immigrant Morry Rabin in 1938.
As the business grew, so did the family, which motivated young Harvey Rabin, Morry’s son, to become involved in the family business. Not long after, in 1951, Morry opened a second store a block down from the original and called it the popular Morry’s of Naples.
Morry was very dedicated to his shops and overworked himself most of the time. Therefore, it was imminent for Harvey to take over after Morry survived a heart attack in 1960 and was advised to take it easy.
Harvey and his wife, Cherie, created a wine bar that was first of its kind in Naples, and Cherie, who became very involved with the business, hosted wine tasting events.
It was not long after the business passed down to Harvey’s son, Ken Rabin, that it collapsed.
“Morry’s had been in business since 1938, and had a very good track record of making it through recessions, no one could have been prepared enough for this one,” Rabin said.
It was modernizing the stores right before the depression and bad timing that brought Morry’s to an end, she said.
“To be honest, the business was not as successful as many people may have thought during the past 15-20+ years,” Rabin said. “We noticed the decline when shops like Trader Joes, Whole Foods and later BevMo! opened up just over the bridge from us. And of course Costco was starting to carry some great wines at amazing prices.”
Even though Morry’s of Naples passed away to a better life, the online resource center still remains very much alive. In May 2012 the website was brought up to the 21st century.
Although it is still fresh from the oven, Morry’s has big plans to grow and include an even greater directory of businesses and nationwide events on its web page.
To visit the website, go to www.morrys.com and immerse yourself into the world of wine.
amelia@longbeachcomber.com
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