Meet Anu Apte, the owner of Vinnie’s Wine Shop in Seattle’s Belltown neighborhood. Anu’s shop is the perfect place to enjoy a large selection of natural wines and delicious Italian seafood. Anu is also the owner of some of Seattle’s most decorated and beloved bars including Rob Roy, No Anchor and Navy Strength.
Get to know more about Anu and Vinnie’s Wine Shop in this week’s Business Q&A.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
What’s your favorite part about the community your business is in & why?
I fell in love with Belltown when I came to visit Seattle for my first time in 2005. I moved here 3 months later! Belltown is close to everything this city has to offer. It’s densely populated with apartments, homes, and tourists visiting Seattle Center and/or coming off cruise ships. Belltown is a place for the local community but it’s also a destination spot.
Why is it important to you and your business that people #SpendLikeItMatters?
If people don’t spend like it matters their money is essentially going into a big void of corporate capitalism. Spending your dollars at local businesses keeps the money in your own community. As a small business owner my goal is to give back to the community as much as possible so many of us local owners prioritize spending dollars earned on revitalization and support.
As a business owner, what’s the strangest or craziest idea you’ve ever tried?
This is a hard question because I think I have a crazy idea every single day.
What are some of your favorite local businesses and why?
Bangrak Market, Street Bean Coffee, Sassafras, Doll Parts [Collective] vintage shop in West Seattle, Florentino’s Fine Flowers. There are so many! This list could go on forever. Seattle has a lot to offer.