Route 94 Wine & Spirits offers fine wines and a taste of history

Fredon — In his autobiography, “The Spirit of St. Louis,” aviator Charles Lindbergh noted that once he had completed his famous trans-Atlantic flight, he was asked to endorse products by many American manufacturers, including a piano company. Since he didn’t play the piano, he agreed to say this company’s pianos were “the finest pianos I have every leaned on holding a drink.” That story came to mind when the owners of Route 94 Wine and Spirits explained that the counter in their liquor story is a former bar once leaned on by famed comedian Jackie Gleason. A year and a half ago, this novel liquor store came to Route 94 in Fredon. It boasts the usual assortment of beers and spirits, but when it comes to wine, some of the finds in this nostalgic building are not what the average Sussex County shopper has come to expect. This is thanks to wine and culinary connoisseur, Bob Kaufer. Kaufer has brought a huge array of wines from all over the world. He doesn’t stop with stocking the shelves however; he is glad to educate customers about the wines and offers selections to suit all price ranges. One of the most popular wines Kaufer has introduced to the area is from the Barefoot vineyards. It was such a hit with his customers that Route 94 Wine & Spirits was given an award by the vineyard for it’s high sales. Route 94 Wine & Spirits’ success was long thought out and well planned by Kaufer and his partner, Bob Gaugler, whose sales philosophy is: “Make a concerted effort to keep prices competitive to attract more business, and keep current clientele happy.” Prior to opening the store, Kaufer spent 30 years as consultant in the safety industry. He may have retired from that world, but he wasn’t ready for the sofa and the remote control. Shortly after he retired, Kaufer called his then “happily retired” friend Bob Gaugler. “He asked me if I’d be interested in a partnership, and the more we talked, the more I thought that with a good business plan, we were on to something.” Since “the Bobs” knew they wanted to go with a liquor store, they began scouring the area for a viable location. They nearly had a deal in a nearby town, but when they learned of an available liquor license in Fredon, it appeared a much more promising location. “The stretch of 94 we knew could be a gold mine for a liquor store,” Gaugler said. “The problem was finding a building.” They drove along the highway until they decided, even though it was larger than they wanted, to buy what was formerly a restaurant called Our Place in May 2005. They knew there were renovations to be made, but like many purchasers of an old building, they had no idea how many. After filling five 30-yard dumpsters, installing all new wiring and new sheet rock and the first insinuation the building had seen, they were finished. And by doing the work themselves, they didn’t have to borrow money to complete it. They were so confident the store would make it, they invested their savings. A sign went up that Route 94 Wine & Spirits was “coming soon.” There was a buzz, especially among the commuters who use the highway daily. The sign remained but the doors didn’t open. That’s because Kaufer and Gaugler were still working to get it perfect. They restored the old stone fireplace, transformed the old wooden bar into a check out counter and, at the suggestion of their wives, went with a soft wooden décor rather than plain white, “creating a real road house feel.” Doors opened on November 11, 2005 when Gaugler said to Kaufer, “How about we open today?’ He was still making one last sweep of the floor but agreed. Kaufer is in charge of staffing Route 94 Wine & Spirits, by which is meant he works most of the hours himself. He knows all of the regulars by name and greets them and newcomers with a broad smile as he stands behind the wooden counter where Jackie Gleason once rested his elbows when the establishment was called The Willows. “I don’t mind the hours,” Kaufer said, “I worked lots of hours for lots of years and now this is my business, so it’s a pleasure.” The tie to Gleason isn’t the building’s only claim to history. When Kaufer and Gaugler were renovating, they discovered graffiti written from 1932 to 1938 on the back side of the fire place. The men had it carefully preserved and are hoping historians or descendants of those who lived in the area at the time can help them unravel some of the building’s story. “It’s like a time capsule,” Gaugler said, “We’re hoping folks from the area can help us learn its history.”