Quarantine Check In: Cork Vault
The pandemic has taken a great toll on our local businesses, and today we check in with the owner of Cork Vault, to see how his wine storage facility has weathered during our nation’s biggest storm.
Cork Vault offers convenient and secure wine storage close to the heart of Charlotte. You can find this gem off of Monroe Road but look carefully as there isn’t much signage. Off of a small road, you will find a discreet gated facility with black boxes containing biometric security at the doors. The inside is absolutely nothing like the outside. Upon entering you will find an inviting lounge, wine bar, a pool table, and a massive “Cork Vault” painted sign on a wall that screams “take a photo here”. At the wine bar, the back wall is covered with bottles of wine that were opened and shared during their member gatherings. This place is more than a wine storage facility with commercial-grade redundant refrigeration to keep the wine at not a degree above or below 55, Cork Vault is a community.
Talking with Bill Bounds, the owner of Cork Vault, you can immediately tell that this is an owner who hasn’t lost his passion since day one. He literally built this business with his own hands. When Bill first started he built the wine storage units himself, but then demand began to explode, and he had to hire a carpenter to finish the rest. Each wine storage unit is a module that can adapt to the demand of the business. If more wine collectors need walk-ins, the layout can easily change. If small units surge in demand, the modules can change again.
With the pandemic, the business itself hasn’t hit many roadblocks. In fact, Cork Vault can see ups and downs depending on the real estate market and how many people are moving to the city. Owner Bill Bounds has had to alter his daily life to accommodate remote learning, family life, and the demand of his business. Luckily no layoffs have occurred at Cork Vault due to the pandemic because it’s still a one-man show with hopes to grow in employees and markets in the future.
A common theme with Cork Vault is the personal level of customer service you will receive. Upon signing up for a vault, Bill will pick up your wine collection for you and store it. If you have a wine club membership, they can even receive your packages and store them for you. Cork Vault can even run inventory for you!
You can find more information about pricing information on their website. What’s next for Cork Vault? Most likely expansion to multiple cities.
