We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sally Stewart a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Sally, thanks for joining us today. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

Owning and operating a specialty wine shop was something I’ve wanted for many years prior to finally opening my own shop.

I was 32 when I received my ALS diagnosis, ALS a terminal and progressive disease that effects motor neurons in the brain that weaken eventually causing full body paralysis, with an average life expectancy of 2-5 years after diagnosis.

I was forced to quit my job as a sommelier in my fine dining restaurant in Manhattan shortly after my diagnosis, due to my increasing difficulty walking. I was starting to fall more often and feel unsafe on the commute to and from work.

After I effectively retired at 32, I was home all the time with little more than cooking and television to occupy my time. I spent the next 5 months grappling with my decreasing ability to walk, use my hands and speak. When the March 2020 rolled around my partner Steven was also informed he was indefinitely out of his beverage manager position at his restaurant. We spent the following 2 months enjoying the time together, but also wondering what our next steps were. Were there any opportunities in NYC for Steven or myself? Could I work from home in some capacity? Several brainstorming sessions and a few Negronis later we had the idea to move from our expensive apartment in Jersey City to our beloved state of Colorado that we previously resided in before moving to NYC.

We took the plunge to break our lease and move across the country mid-pandemic to open our dream wine shop in Denver, Colorado. By this time (July 2020) I had completely lost my ability to walk unassisted. I didn’t let my diagnosis get in the way of my dreams, and miraculously, my symptoms have not progressed since about the time we moved to Colorado; that is 2.5 years without any degradation in my physical health . For ALS, that’s unheard of! I believe to my core that pursuing my passion and finding incredible fulfillment in my work and new home has breathed life into my mind and body. The experience of owning and operating Denver Wine Merchant has given me chance to enjoy life more than ever before. I’ve somehow managed to live my best life despite being terminally ill with an ALS diagnosis. I’m proud to be disabled female business owner!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’ve been in the restaurant industry for 17 years! I have a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management from the University of Houston.

I applied my passion and knowledge for wine and hospitality to being a sommelier and eventual owner of Denver Wine Merchant.

I’m most proud of building my store in the face of adversity; imagine not knowing if you’ll be able to feed yourself by the end of the year, or not knowing if you’ll be able to swallow food safely in the near future. I had to abandon all negative thinking and focus on building a successful business that delivered my unwavering passion for wine to the community.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Having the best and most thoughtful selection of wine on the city. We put maximum effort into every aspect of our business: visual appearance inside our shop, website, experience, prices, hospitality, and of course the carefully selected wines on our shelves.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

That doctors don’t know exactly what will happen with anyone’s health. You may be told accept the traditional narrative and then you inherently believe that you are another statistic. Anything is possible if you choose to see the best possible outcome to your situation.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://denverwinemerchant.com/
• Instagram: @denverwinemerchant