Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar
What Is the Deal With Marshall and Spec's?
RECEIVED Wed., Dec. 19, 2007
Dear Editor,
I find it interesting that Wes Marshall and Spec's seem to have a synergistic relationship. Realizing that Spec's generally is the only wine and spirits retailer that advertises with The Austin Chronicle (owned by Houston Chronicle?) and the disconnect from local stores (Twin, Grape Vine, Wiggy's, etc.), it might make someone wonder about the abuse of readership.
I find it interesting that Wes Marshall and Spec's seem to have a synergistic relationship. Realizing that Spec's generally is the only wine and spirits retailer that advertises with The Austin Chronicle (owned by Houston Chronicle?) and the disconnect from local stores (Twin, Grape Vine, Wiggy's, etc.), it might make someone wonder about the abuse of readership.
Kevin Subramanya
[Food Editor Virginia B. Wood responds: The Austin Chronicle is owned by Editor Louis Black and Publisher Nick Barbaro and is one of the last independently owned alternative newspapers in the country. There is a strict division between the editorial and advertising departments. In the 14 years I've been employed by The Austin Chronicle, I've never once been instructed to provide coverage to an advertiser and none of the contributing writers under my supervision (including Wes Marshall) has ever been instructed to write about an advertiser, either. If Mr. Subramanya will do a search of our website or a Google search of Mr. Marshall's writing, he'll discover that Wes has given far more coverage to Twin Liquors (locally owned and also a regular advertiser here), Grape Vine Market (founded locally and now owned by Majestic Liquors of Fort Worth), Wiggy's (locally owned), or Austin Wine Merchant (locally owned) than he has to Spec's. A very rough search on our website found:
Spec's: nine references, six by Wes
Twin Liquors: 35 references, six by Wes
Grape Vine: 81 references, 28 by Wes
Wiggy's: 15 references, nine by Wes
The other places have been around longer, so it's not a straight comparison, but also, both Twin Liquors and Grape Vine have been mentioned more often in the last year than has Spec's. So, we are not sure what this reader is referring to. Would he care to elaborate or be more specific? Spec's is a Houston company that has opened three stores here in less than a year and advertises in a variety of publications, including The Austin Chronicle. Since when does offering our readers consistent, reliable, well-informed information about wine bargains constitute abuse? Also, obviously, we're no relation to the Houston Chronicle.]
Spec's: nine references, six by Wes
Twin Liquors: 35 references, six by Wes
Grape Vine: 81 references, 28 by Wes
Wiggy's: 15 references, nine by Wes
The other places have been around longer, so it's not a straight comparison, but also, both Twin Liquors and Grape Vine have been mentioned more often in the last year than has Spec's. So, we are not sure what this reader is referring to. Would he care to elaborate or be more specific? Spec's is a Houston company that has opened three stores here in less than a year and advertises in a variety of publications, including The Austin Chronicle. Since when does offering our readers consistent, reliable, well-informed information about wine bargains constitute abuse? Also, obviously, we're no relation to the Houston Chronicle.]
