During prohibition, Thomas Pharmacy gained fame when the Hamm kidnapper, Fred Goetz, left a ransom note in the pharmacy for Clarence to find.

As prohibition ended, Clarence quickly expanded his liquor inventory to meet the needs of the thirsty Macalester-Groveland neighborhood.

In the 1960s, Clarence's son, Jim, along with his wife, Judy, took over the business. Then in the late 1970s, their son Mike began working full-time alongside his wife, Tammy, expanding the business to be the wine-focused destination it is today.

Jim took over the business from his dad, and alongside his wife, Judy, has worked tirelessly for many years—first with their children and now their grandchildren. Over the decades, they have witnessed countless industry changes, along with many additions and renovations to the shop. They also have plenty of stories to tell, including a memorable robbery where Jim and Mike were locked in the cooler after the thief made them take off their pants!

Jim and Judy love their neighborhood, community, and treat their customers like family. They are proud of the 4 generations that have made their dreams come true. Judy is still working part time and Jim just recently retired. In their spare time, they are enjoying their 10 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren! Judy is the cook who has made banana bread every Monday for the staff and sales reps, for too many years to count. They are truly grateful for the kindness and loyalty the customers have shown year after year. It is because of them, that the business has succeeded.  

Nick is the fourth-generation Thomas to join the family business. After honing his expertise as a salesperson at Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits and working a harvest in Sonoma County, he returned to Thomas Liquors in 2020 with a mission to modernize and innovate. Since then, he has revamped the brand, launched an online store, and strengthened customer connections through social media and newsletters. With the introduction of the Thomas Wine Club, Nick continues to push the business forward, while staying true to its deep-rooted traditions.

Outside of the shop, Nick and his wife, Madeleine, are loving  life as new parents, after welcoming their first child, Henry Thomas. These days, their favorite pairing is a home-cooked meal and a great bottle of wine. And if family tradition holds, it won’t be long before Henry is roaming the aisles and stocking the beer fridge himself—perhaps as the 5th generation to carry on the family legacy.

Fitty has been a friend of the Thomas family since his childhood. After graduating from St. John’s and working for a beer distributor for a year, Fitty joined the Thomas Liquor team in 1998 as the beer manager. Since then, he lived and worked in Australia and New Zealand before rejoining the Thomas team permanently.

He has travelled extensively exploring beer and wine throughout the country and the world. Fitty’s favorite part of the job is talking beer with any and every customer! When he's not at the shop, you might find him cruising the town on his zippy red scooter.