Graham Bond in his store, I Want That One (Photo by David Taffet/Dallas Voice)
DAVID TAFFET | Senior Staff Writer
Taffet@DallasVoice.com
I’ve been in retail all my life,” said Graham Bond, owner and creator of a new experiential store near City Place. He has a very diverse retail background, growing up in South Africa and, in the ’90s, moving to Miami to become a buyer for Macy’s.
Then Richardson-based Fossil approached him to move to London. “I’m from South Africa,” Bond said. But to a Texans’ ears at Fossil, a South African accent and British accent sounded the same, which made him the perfect candidate for the job.
So he accepted the job offer, moving to England to head up Fossil UK.
Then Bond lived on the U.S.’s West Coast for three years after receiving an offer to work with Sears/K-Mart. And finally Signet Jewelers, owners of Zales, brought him to Dallas.
Then, on a trip home to South Africa, he met a man named David, and they began a long-distance relationship. Bond and David eventually got married on a wine farm outside Cape Town in South Africa. David is a pilot, so he had plenty of job opportunities that would have him based in Dallas.
Bond said he has wanted to own his own business for quite a while now. “I’ve always had a passion for wine and art,” he explained, so he knew those would be elements of any store he would open.
And last month, in June Pride Month, he opened I Want That One on Haskell Avenue, across the street from City Place.
Bond describes the store as experiential. He said he wants his store to offer more than just great customer service.
“Amazon gives great customer service,” he said, adding if you buy something online from Amazon, it’s delivered a few hours later, and “That’s great service,” too.
But there’s nothing memorable about those experiences. At Bond’s I Want That One, even a simple wine tasting will be memorable.
Bond said you can come into his store and try wines from wineries he’s visited, made by winemakers he’s met. You can taste wines from smaller vineyards around the world — wines that aren’t available anywhere else in the DFW area.
Tastings by the glass start at just $7, and wine flights for four people start in the $20s. The store can accommodate about 15 people for tastings, maybe as many as 20 if a few people browse while tasting.
Walk-ins are always welcome. But for larger groups, Bond said, advance notice will help him prepare and make the experience even more special.
“Come,” he said. “Be comfortable. Get to know some new wines.”
Explore the rest of the store as well. On the walls are a variety of framed prints, photographs and other pieces of art. “These are things I love,” Bond said.
The works rotate, themes change, and everything is reasonably priced. Currently on the back wall are framed prints for just $50. Other walls feature a variety of framed works priced up to $1,500.
In August, Bond will partner with a local artist who will be in the store teaching people to paint, and her work will be hanging on the walls for sale. Pair that with an interesting new wine, and, Bond says, you are in for a fun afternoon.
Gift items fill the rest of the store. Bond said he visited Vietnam and China, buying from people he’d worked with in the past as a buyer. Items range from funny gag gifts to the perfect beach bag made to hold quite a bit and designed by Bond exclusively for his shop.
Finally, before leaving, treat yourself to a wonderful summer goody. Try the frappe vino, a sort of wine-blended Slurpee. It’s $10 for an 8 oz. glass, and if you have to have more or want to share it with friends, the mix is for sale in a variety of flavors that can be made at home in a blender.
I Want That One, 2410 N. Haskell Ave. is open Tuesday-Saturday 11 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sunday noon-6 p.m. 214-258-5196.