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Rosewood Wine Cellar Opens in Downtown Great Bend, Benefits People with Disabilities

Rosewood Services Inc. launched its latest retail venture in late January with the opening of its winery outlet store in downtown Great Bend. The Rosewood Wine Cellar, located at 1901 Lakin, serves as a retail store that provides great possibilities for Rosewood to serve people with developmental disabilities.

Rosewood opened its winery in mid-October last year, but the outlet store is an important component to making Rosewood's products readily available to the public, said Tammy Hammond, executive director and founder of Rosewood Services.

"The opening of the Wine Cellar is monumental because it is a step in a series of steps that will help grow opportunities for people with disabilities," said Tammy Hammond, executive director and founder of Rosewood Services. "If the Rosewood Wine Cellar is successful, it will create more demand. If it creates more demand then it expands employment and working opportunities for our clients. The potential here of providing goods and services in the consumable products industry is nearly unlimited in the scope of what is possible for them and for us."

Rosewood Wine Cellar - 1901 Lakin - Great Bend, KS

Client-employees do not work at the Wine Cellar currently, but they are counted upon to provide products for the new store. Hammond said they are the backbone of the retail operation from production of wine, honey, soaps, jellies, pottery and other products that will come along. There are even plans to offer specialty meats, which will be produced with Rosewood beef from the cattle that client-employees help to tend.

"The most important aspect of this business is that it allows us to create real job opportunities for people with developmental disabilities," said Hammond. "By the same token, our products must meet optimal quality to compete in the open market. It's a delicate business model, but one we are confident that we have mastered over the years in preparation for this exciting moment."

Additionally, the Wine Cellar carries unique items such as large selections of wine bottle jewelry and ornate picture frames, and even old-time candy. Shoppers can customize and personalize their gift baskets with vast selections from the store.

Wine Cellar hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays. The store is open Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sundays the Cellar is open from 1-6 p.m. Hammond said those hours may be adjusted when the downtown movie theatre opens in several months.

Experience Counts – New store manager Stacy Hefley holds a bottle of Pinot Grigio, while posing for a photo in the Rosewood Wine

For more information, contact Tammy Hammond, founder and executive director Rosewood Services Inc., tammyh@rosewoodservices.com, 620-793-5888

January 20, 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Story by: Michael Dawes, marketing director, Rosewood Services, 620-793-5888, MichaelD@rosewoodservices.com