A few days ago, I mentioned Calvert Liquors — a place that that just about everyone in the Washington, D.C. area knew about and frequented many years ago. Almost no one of the younger generation has even heard about it, let alone know anything about it.
Well, actually Calvert Liquors still exists — kind of. Calvert Liquors opened in 1946 on Wisconsin Avenue. The shop was started by Morris and Frances Stirman — they were later joined by their son, Marvin. When Marvin came along, he focused on turning the “liquor store” into a “wine shop.” In fact, it became the number one wine shop south of New York City. He also made Calvert the first wine and liquor store in the country with a full cheese shop inside.
As I mentioned in an earlier blog, Virginia was essentially a “dry” state until the very late 1960s or early 1970s. In those days, if your office was having a party, someone in the office was chosen to make a run to Calvert Liquors for “party supplies.” Over the years, the run across Key Bridge to Calvert became a risky proposition. The police routinely stopped cars crossing the Key Bridge and searched them for “contraband” (booze.) The driver was issued a ticket, but the “contraband” was confiscated. I don’t think anyone ever worried as to whether the ticket was paid or not…. apparently the confiscated goods were payment enough.
But finally, Virginia moved into the 20th century and let restaurants sell liquor by the drink and modernized their ABC stores and the need to leave the state to buy booze became somewhat less. Usually it was cheaper to buy alcoholic beverages and spirits outside of Virginia, but the convenience of being able to drink locally dramatically cut down the number of people making the booze run over the Key Bridge.
As the world changed, Calvert Liquors remained in business in Georgetown, but in 1982, it merged with one of its competitors, Woodley Wine & Liquor and opened its doors as Calvert Woodley. The store is located at the corner of Connecticut Avenue and Windom. I’m told that some of the original employees at the time of the 1982 merger are still employed there.
I’ve never been there, and I’m sure it’s a very nice store — but it’ll just never have the colorful history of Calvert Liquors….
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