The headline may sound cliche, “Tech Entrepreneur Tries His Hand at Retail”. Yes, it’s true, I am a retired startup guy. And, yes, I have no real experience in local retail, certainly not a specialty food and wine shop. But if there was a feelgood story of destiny, this might be it.

Let me introduce myself. My name is Jerome Dubois, and I am the new owner of the Spirited Gourmet in Cushing Square, Belmont, MA. I have been a resident of (mostly) Belmont for nearly 25 years. My fiancée and I have four children, three in the Belmont schools. I coached for the Belmont Soccer Association for seven years, am an active board member of both Arlington-Belmont Crew and our neighborhood Belmont Tennis Club, and a proud member of Fluffy Bunny Velo, our local Belmont cycling club. This past year, our family completed an extensive renovation of our 115 year old home, in the heart of the historic Clark Hill neighborhood. In short, Belmont is home.

My journey to The Spirited Gourmet started over 50 years ago. I was born in the heart of France’s Bordeaux wine region. Raised in “The States”, by traditional French parents, my brother and I grew up with a different vocabulary than anyone else. Camembert, Graves, rillettes, and baguette weren’t just fun words to say, they were revered foods that held special meaning for our family. Growing up, some of my fondest memories were of giant family reunions, 30 or more people, stretching 2, 3, and sometimes 4 generations, crammed into my grandparents modest home. Meals would last hours. Adults would eat, drink, and talk through courses of colorful shellfish, savory charcuterie, heart warming soups, stewed or grilled meats and vegetables, and a head spinning assortment of cheeses and deserts. All made or farmed locally. The kids would run around playing “du foot” (soccer), riding bikes, and laughing till the sun went down. Food and wine always brought family and friends together, unless, of course, it resulted in an argument about the better digestif, Cognac or Armagnac.

Over a 25 year career in high tech, I worked for three successful Massachusetts startups, including the company I helped co-found and successfully sold in 2019. During that time I learned many valuable lessons developing concepts, building teams, and helping companies grow and succeed. It always comes down to three things – product, place and people. This is where The Spirited Gourmet shines.

Prior to the Spirited Gourmet, residents of Belmont had to do their wine shopping elsewhere. Chris and Elena Benoit worked very hard to bring The Spirited Gourmet to Cushing Square. They built something that we knew we wanted but didn’t know how to get. And now, in its 17th year, it has changed our town, unquestionably, for the better and is a true Belmont gem.

The plan for the Spirited Gourmet is quite simple; keep what works, upgrade what doesn’t, and try some new things. Our product - beer, spirits and our unique fine wines, gourmet foods, and freshly made sandwiches - will remain, with a strong influence on locally sourced products. We are improving the experience for our guests with a new layout, lighting, and colors. We’ll make it easier to shop where and when you want to buy, making our wide selection of products available online.

In the first month of ownership, the thing I heard overwhelmingly from our guests is “This shop is the best because you have amazing people!” And I couldn’t agree more. Long time managers Laura (Food) and John (Wine) are experts at their craft. They don’t just do their jobs, they love their jobs and it shows. The team is diverse and shares a unique passion for what they are doing. We are investing in our team with better systems and training, to ensure that customers get a highly curated and seamless shopping and buying experience.

My family loves food as much as I do. When we sit around our kitchen, sampling the latest products from the shop, it brings me back to those memories of meals in my youth. It’s an exciting opportunity to share this experience with them, to develop this concept and grow our business as a family. With their support, and that of some close friends, Belmont can be sure the Spirited Gourmet isn’t going anywhere. It’s here to stay.

Chris and Elena, thank you for making this place a possibility. Belmont, thank you for your continued partnership and patronage. It’s truly an honor to be wearing this apron!

Warmly,

Jerome