GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — If you've ever stopped into Leon & Son to pick up a bottle of wine, you'll notice the shop looks a bit different now that it's under new ownership.
"We are starting fresh under a new name and under new ownership," said Ben Vanderwaal, co-owner and wine director of Ritual Wines.
A small independent wine shop, Ritual Wines introduces its visitors to wines from regions known and unknown. Vanderwaal took over Leon & Son with his business partner with Izamar Contreras. The co-owners said they really care about small wine producers with an emphasis on high-quality farming and also "telling a story."
"Wines that you can truly trace back to the ground," said Vanderwaal. "Back to real people, not corporations that just do things right."
Vanderwaal said that despite the rebrand, the shop will still be committed to representing wine producers as always. However, he said there will be some changes.
"We're going to ramp things up," he said. "Beefing up offerings, not only wine selections but also getting a wine club rolling, getting more community collaborative events, really just digging our toes into this community."
Their Grand Opening weekend hours are Friday and Saturday, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday, and then Sunday, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
You can find Ritual Wines at 972 Cherry Street SE in Grand Rapids.