The Village of Webster finally has its own liquor store.
Small Block Wine and Spirits opened about two weeks ago at 205 North Ave., right off Rt. 104 between Pub 235 and Salvatore’s.
Opening the new shop was a two-year long process for owners Mario and Kailin Cristofori. Mario calls it their “little passion project,” a reflection of their love for wine and desire to share that love with the Village of Webster.
“I’m not a wine savant,” Mario admitted, but “we’ve been to Napa, to Sonoma, and I’ve been to Tuscany in Italy. … A lot of the things on these shelves are what we’ve had or from vineyards we’ve visited. I’ve probably tasted 75% of the wines that are here.”
The new shop is small but mighty. When you walk in you might be surprised by the limited selection compared to the much larger liquor stores in our area. But that’s the way Mario likes it.
“We didn’t want to go for the typical liquor store footprint, where we have boxes lined up and really congest the (floor space),” he said. “We’re trying to keep it clean and simple and easy to find what you’re looking for, and have variety where at least everybody can find something in a jam.”
Which explains, in part, how they chose the name Small Block. They first heard the term several years ago when they were touring the Hess Persson Estates in Napa Valley. It was there they learned that a “small block” was “a little section of the vineyard that they block off for friends and family or is a very small vintage they don’t sell,” Mario explained. “They keep it for themselves. That’s kind of the vibe.”
Mario’s worked hard to stock his shelves with a little bit of everything, starting with a nice selection of wines from New York State, California, Oregon, Australia, France, Chile and Spain, including a line of organic wines, at prices ranging from $7.99 to $77.99. But there are also box wines; ready-to-drink seltzers, vodka iced tea, and vodka lemonade; chilled wines, Prosecco and champagne; and lots of spirits — bourbons, whiskeys, tequila, gin, Scotch and more.
“I won’t have everything for everybody,” Mario admits, but he does take suggestions if there’s something in particular you’d like him to carry. And since it’s the only liquor store in the Village of Webster, “it’s certainly a convenience for anybody who lives in the area. …I think there’s a big opportunity for anybody who lives east of here because the next liquor store to the east is eight miles. This is very convenient getting right off 250,” he added.
Mario and Kailin proved their commitment to the village just a week after they opened, when they took part in the Village of Webster’s Beer Walk, where they handed out samples of — well, wine, of course.
It won’t be the last time you’ll see them at special events. “As much as the village has, we’ll be involved,” Mario said, “in any and all events.”
Small Block Wine and Spirits is located at 205 North Ave., between Pub 235 and Salvatores. It’s open Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, check out their Facebook page here. You can also call 585-236-1080.
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(posted 9/14/2025)
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