| Rich Merino, a Hudson original |
Except for the 39 months he spent in the Navy in World War II, Rich Merino has lived in the same house next to the green in downtown Hudson, sleeping in the same room he was born in. Not only that, he's been working right next door -- at Merino's Beer and Wine -- since he and his dad opened the shop in 1946. He still drives and still mans the register every day. Last week between customers, Merino, who turns 90 in April, took a few moments to chat with PDQ's John Campanelli.
What are your hours?
Whenever I get here. I try to get here by 11 o'clock in the morning. I stay till 9 o'clock at night.
That's a 10-hour day.
Oh, yeah. And sometimes I stay a bit later, 9:30 or so. Depends if there's a ballgame on or something.
What's your daily schedule?
I either have physical therapy or I go golfing. And then I go home, have breakfast, try to clean up the best I can, do the washing.
Where did you serve during World War II?
In the Pacific. I served on an LST, landing ship tank. It was a 328-footer, about 50 feet wide, and we used to take supplies and hit the beach -- and get the hell out.
Do you ever get kids trying to use fake IDs?
They never try to get [alcohol] here because they know they can't get it here. They get it other places. If I see they're too young or if they have a fake ID, I don't even bother with them. Go down to the grocery.
When are you going to retire?
When I'm dead. There's no use retiring until you're dead.
You were close friends with Hall of Fame football great Dante Lavelli, who also grew up in Hudson. When did you know he was going to be a great athlete?
When we were kids, we'd play football in the park. He was on the other team. We kicked off to them and Dante faked me out of position. I said, "Boy, you gotta watch that guy." He was only about 8 years old. I was about 10.
You said that you've shot seven holes-in-one. What's your best golf tip?
Go back slow. Don't tighten up your thumbs. Keep 'em loose. Bring 'em back slow. Keep your head down. You can't move your head.
What have you sold the most of in 6 1/2 decades?
Stroh's was a big one for a long time. Carling's was good when the Cleveland Indians advertised them. And I went and bought stock in it. I should have never done it. If I would have bought Budweiser, I'd be a billionaire today.
Who's your typical customer?
I've lost all my steadies, really, because they don't know when I'm open. A lot of times I'm not here. Today, I just get a lot of my customers from out of town. I don't even have a handful of regular customers. They either buy somewhere else or . . .
Or they stopped drinking?
Oh, no, they didn't stop drinking [laughing].
Has beer gotten better or worse in the last 64 years?
I have no idea because I never drank too much beer.
Are you a wine guy?
I couldn't drank too much wine, either. I was never much of a drinker, because I was selling it and I didn't want to get too boozed up. But I spit out more wine than most people drink. I go to wine tastings all the time.
Most memorable moment in the store?
I was robbed. I think it was in the 1950s. I used to cash checks. Four or five of them come in, they stuck us all in the cooler. There were three customers and me in the refrigerator with the door locked.
Favorite part of owning your own store?
It keeps you occupied. Otherwise it'd be what? Fall asleep while watching TV?
You have a TV in the store. What do you like to watch?
I watch golf. I try to watch basketball. I tell you what I'm watching now, "The Bachelorette." Oh, jeez. These guys, every one of them think they're going to go out with her. She's only going to pick one. It's amazing. It's amazing how she picks one or two out that have to go. I kinda like that.
Do you use a computer in here?
I know everything and what the price is. This is my computer [pointing to his head].
You've had two heart attacks.
I had one in 1988. I was playing golf. I was coming up the 18th hole and playing with this one guy Bob. I said, "Hey, Bob, my chest hurts can I use your truck?" . . . So then I started changing my diet a little bit. I got rid of red meat. I've tried to eat right. Then I had one right here on Oct. 17 last year. I had a stent put in. That's where I'm at right now.
What's the secret to a long life?
Get up in the morning, go to bed at night.
How would you like to be remembered?
I'd like to have a street named after me.
What advice do you have for the rest of us?
Don't overstuff yourself. Just eat what you think you need. Eat what you think is good and what you like. And drink a glass of wine every night.
Merino's Beer and Wine is located at 53 First St. in Hudson.