We love this picture of the front of our store.  It says a lot about us. "Wine a bit - you'll feel better" (we're all way better with an occasional "wine" than an everyday "whine").   The picture also encourages us to stop, breathe and listen. Be in the moment.

Nature calms us, and it's right here at Upson's.  It's amazing since we're tucked back on one of the most traveled streets in Kalamazoo! 

We're perfect for the smallest "big town" you ever visited.

And oh, the little saucer?..it's for our favorite squirrel (he can be seen on our Specialty Food page - we recruited him for our "tasting panel")..

Come on in - let's talk.

Food For Thought

"Mayberry!"  It's the feeling you get when you shop at a local small business who knows who you are, and cares that you're there. 

Small independent businesses (like "Upson's") are what makes Kalamazoo Special & Unique from Anywhere else on the planet. 

Take a moment to think about the towns you travel through.  Aren't they all starting to look alike? 

But wait a minute, this isn't some "franchise city syndrome", we're just recognizing what the the impact of the subtle & steady loss of small businesses has on a communities identity - and its quality of life.  

We encourage you to support businesses who notice you when you walk through the door, greet you, and may even call you by name.  These are the things that truly make you feel special and connected to your community.   Support businesses who really appreciate that you are choosing to shop with them.  Value businesses who know their products, offered with professional advice, and of course service (real people to talk to with your questions, comments or concerns).  Open the door to small business, and step inside - you may just find the warmth and friends of "Mayberry" inside!

If a business is doing a good job, tell a friend.  If a business upset you in some way, tell the business.

Who We Are

We're often asked "How did you get started in the wine business?"  The cornerstone of "Upson's" is Wine.  Before opening the store, we spent a lot of years being frustrated consumers.  If you've ever stood in a grocery store isle trying to figure out if a wine was good (because the label is pretty or the price is right), or felt intimidated because you couldn't even pronounce the name of the wine you were looking for....believe me, we've been there.   That's why shopping at Upson's is so comfortable, we've never forgotten those feelings. 

Now, 30 years later there are still wines out there that I may not pronounce "correctly", but what's more important to me is the excitement of trying something new.  I'm thrilled with every bottle I open (even if it's a familiar one), because I enjoy the process of "meeting it".  A wine tells me so much about itself before I even taste it.  This introduction is a special time.  I start to slow myself down and pay attention to what the wine is telling me about itself. 

Through the years, there will be touch stones in your memory that will include wine (a special meal, a special place, a special person), and the early stages of learning about wine are always part of that memory.  Come talk with us, and we'll help you take it one "sip" at a time. 

"Who is W. J. Upson?"  When we opened in 1982, we named the store for my grandfather "Walter James Upson".  He lived his entire life in Kalamazoo, worked hard, and was well respected in this community.  He was an absolutely amazing guy.  I'm so honored to have had such a grandfather to name this business after (I've always felt I'd better do a good job, because it wasn't just my reputation on the line - it was his, too). 

Thanks for visiting our Webshop. 

We all look forward to seeing you personally soon.

Linda Czapla - Proprietor

CMS/L1 Member Guild of Sommeliers

TAM Certified / National Hospitality Institute

and the entire Upson staff

(Our outstanding Peeps include:  Mike, Anna, Kate, Peggy, Karen, Mary,  

                                        and occasionally Betse, and Miranda).