Young’s Fine Wines & Spirits on Plandome Road in Manhasset has a new owner. Xuetuan Huang bought the business from Manhasset Merchants Inc. on April 1. Many of the employees are continuing on at the store. Huang is from Queens. Huang’s nephew, Hevin Huang, is working at the store with his uncle.
“Young’s has a wine tasting every Saturday, but, on May 16, the store is hosting a grand wine tasting of over 60 types of wines,” said Hevin Huang. Sia Zarisfi, wine associate at the store, is very excited about the new beginning.
“The previous owner[s] had the store for about 10 years, but they decided to move on,” Zarisfi said. “The new owners are having an understated transition. The big event will be the wine tasting on May 16. Many wine vendors will have their own station at the tasting, with samples of their wines. The wines will be $25 and up. The event will start at noon.”
Zarisfi stressed that the store has a huge selection of wines.
“We are focusing on having a big range of wines available,” said Zarisfi. “We will have 220 labels of California Cabernet, for example. We are also stressing seasonal themes to our customers and encouraging changing tastes with the seasons.”
Zarisfi pointed out the spring wines on display. “For spring, customers are looking to leave the broody winter palette and looking for a lighter, livelier experience,” said Zarisfi. “We have the variety people want.”
Huang is updating the displays and signs and arranging the store intuitively. Zarisfi said, “There is positive energy in the store and we hope it will come across to the customers.”
Young’s has been a staple of the Manhasset community since it first opened in 1933 in the days of Prohibition. According to a Manhasset Press article from Sept. 21, 2013, Young was a pharmacist, and pharmacists were the only ones licensed then to dispense spirits for medicinal purposes. When the 21st Amendment repealed Prohibition in 1933, Young’s was one of the first applicants in
New York State for a liquor license.
In the 82 years Young’s has been in Manhasset, the store has changed hands five times and has grown to one of the largest in square footage and selection on Long Island.