Marcus Lemonis of The Profit traveled to Orange County, California to visit Amazing Grapes, a wine store and retail shop. While he wasn’t impressed with one of the owners (Bill) who Lemonis said was “more interested in sipping than selling,” Lemonis was impressed with the employees. After liquidating and closing the retail shop, Lemonis invested $300,000 to renovate the space and turn it into a successful new bar. Lemonis got 51 percent equity; he made sure the employees got 25 percent.
Amazing Grapes continues to serve food at its wine bar including a $28 half rack of New Zealand lamb entrée. (It’s served with truffled mushroom risotto and baby carrots, in a fresh herb emulsion.) Marinus Franciscus Eikelboom is the executive chef at Amazing Grapes. The Profit will re-air the episode on August 16 at 8pm on CNBC.
