For today’s #MemberMonday I had the pleasure of sitting down with Chris Cobbs and Sang Lee of Total Wine & More. They are located at 3250 Buskirk Ave, Pleasant Hill. They can be reached at (925) 588-0215 or you can visit their website at https://www.totalwine.com/store-info/california-pleasant-hill/1118. Total Wine & More is a corporation owned and operated by David and Robert Trone. They established their first store in #Delaware in 1991 and now have 200 stores as of last week. They are located in 22 states and have 28 stores here in #California. Both Chris Cobbs, the store manager and Sang Lee, event coordinator started their career with #TotalWine&More when the store opened nearly three years ago. Prior to opening in October of 2016 Total Wine & More agreed to #partner with the #PleasantHillChamber to participate in the #ArtWineandMusic #Festival. It’s been a solid relationship ever since and we are lucky to have them working with us on this event. 

Total Wine and More has a simple #mission; to be the industry leader in #sales, #service and #price. They offer an amazing selection of wine, beer, spirits and more. The #PleasantHill store has over 30 #associates and they are currently hiring for the #holidays. Did you know you can attend classes at the store each month? They have various classes on wine, beer and spirits. Most wine classes are $20 and beer classes $10. It’s a great way to learn, meet new people, and taste some great beer and wine. You can #book their #classroom for up to two hours for #free and get 4 wine #tastings. Grab your friends or colleagues and have a meeting in their private classroom. Here’s a link to their upcoming #events Events - Pleasant Hill You can also reach out to Sang at sanglee@totalwine.com 

The store manager, Chris, comes from a long career in the retail industry but he changed from tools and home improvement at #TheHomeDepot to beer, wine and spirits at Total Wine & More. When Chris was 10 years old he moved from #Anaheim to the #BayArea. He attended local schools and he has one brother. He’s also married and has four children of his own. He loves to #golf with his buddies, visit #wineries and #breweries as well as #festivals and #events that help him to continue to learn and grow in this industry. On his #vacation this summer he actually chose to attend a #winery #bootcamp to really dive into the industry. He loves to go #camping with his #family. He will never turn down a good #steak. He is currently #reading #StrengthFinders 2.0 by Tom Rath. He recalls his fist album purchased was #PeterFrampton. Chris is very busy running the Pleasant Hill store and he is also responsible for the beer at multiple Total Wine & More stores up and down the California coast. He was pulled away many times during our interview. I appreciate him taking the time to sit with me and allow me to get to know him better. 

The Total Event Coordinator, Sang Lee is a known fixture in the store with his #fun #personality and his #passion and #knowledge in the wine industry. Sang came from a career in the #financial services industry. He spent many years as an #Event Manager so this career change was a smooth transition. He grew up in the #Midwest outside of #Chicago and came to California 12 years ago to be near his extended family. Sang has a passion for #travel and would go back to #Europe if he could go anywhere. He used to live in #France and #Spain. His most recent trip was back to #NewYork where his #wife is from to celebrate their #anniversary and a #birthday. Sang and his wife speak seven #languages between the two of them. He loves to explore #food and #pair it with wines. His favorite foodie activity is going to a #farmers #market. He loves to read #cookbooks and fully appreciates the #fresh, #quality #cuisine of California. His first album ever purchased was #MichaelJackson, #Thriller.