WHAT & WHO ARE WE?

Dick Scheer started in the wine business in 1964, establishing his present modus operandi, Village Corner, in 1970. Village Corner, at South University and South Forest, Ann Arbor, MI is home to 5000 wines, 600 spirits, 150 beers, and 350 cigars, as well as a full line of groceries. 

 Behind the original Village Corner premises--part of a strip of storefronts built along South U. in the 1920s-- stood a stately brick manor depicted on city maps as early as the middle of the 19th century. It counted among its residents several notables, and though the building was destroyed by fire in the mid 1970s and replaced by a Village Corner addition, their ghosts remain.

The first was the famous philosopher/educator John Dewey. Back in the late 1800s, he reportedly resided where now stands Village Corner's wine department. A student of philosophy himself, Dick Scheer has played Wine Educator to thousands over the last 35 years, through programs sponsored by the University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University, and the Ann Arbor Art Center. Coincidence? Or the Supernatural?

The second was another Dewey, Thomas, a campus contemporary of Dick's father, who never knew Tom but chanced to room with a guy who did ascend to the American Presidency, Jerry Ford. While Tom Dewey was born in Michigan and went east to seek his career, Dick started out in the east and settled in Michigan. Unlike Dewey, Dick aspired to non-electoral chief executive roles: President of Village Corner and Director Ann Arbor Tasters Guild and Ann Arbor Wine Club. Unlike Dewey, Dick never went to law school, yet he became a judge nonetheless: at the Michigan State Fair, Tasters Guild International, American Wine Society, Great Lakes, and Canadian wine competitions. So what do Dick and Tom have in common? Both conservative.

The last famous resident of 605 South Forest was Robert Zimmerman, a.k.a. Bob Dylan, who spent much of a summer here in the Sixties. Is it any wonder that Dick's business has counted among its employees a steady stream of aspiring rock stars? As well as hundreds of potential graduates working their way through college, and Dustin Hoffman stand-ins trying to figure out what to do with their futures.

Instead of teaching Sunday School or leading a Boy Scout troop, Dick has chosen to spend his discretionary time writing, compiling, and editing catalogues for two of the country's leading wine-auction fundraisers: Ann Arbor Art Center WineFest and the Center for Creative Studies' Detroit International Wine Auction.

Once in awhile, Dick and his 40-year-partner in life and business, Sally, stop to smell the flowers on their 96-acre spread in western Washtenaw County.

Ric Cerrini
 Ric Cerrini concentrates on Italian and Bordeaux wines and has been with Village Corner as its resident curmudgeon since 1973. Want to know anything about the local music or theatre or movie scene? Ask Ric. He's probably heard it or seen it already. He's no stranger to poetry either, and you can often hear its influences when he talks about wine.

 Jorge Lopez-Chavez, newest member of the Village Corner wine team is Jorge, is our budding New World wine man. He's been a member of the Village Corner team since 1988, another "home-grown" wine lover who started with us in his college years and now brings a new awareness of the delights of South American wines to all of us. Dick has sometimes pressed him into service as translator when talking to cigar suppliers whose English skills are not too strong and on many other occasions.

Our Address is
601 South Forest Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48104

That's the southeast corner of
South University and South Forest.

Hours are 9am to 1am Sunday thru Thursday
9am to 2am Friday and Saturday.
Hours may be shorter during UofM break times.

WINE STAFF HOURS:
9am to 6pm Mon-Sat; noon-6pm Sunday

PLEASE NOTE: Michigan state law forbids sale or pickup of alcoholic beverages before noon on Sunday.

Phone is 734-995-1818

fax is 734-995-1826