My Favorite Bottle Shop: What Valpo’s Old World Market gets right

If you’ve ever visited downtown Valparaiso, you know that it is host to a wide variety of businesses. You’ll find a little bit of everything—a brewery, a bakery, restaurants that range from Mediterranean to local farm-to-table, a meadery which is slated to open April of this year, and this small intriguing shop on the corner of Washington Street and Indiana Avenue. At first glance, you may think of it as just a specialty food and wine store, mainly because their sign reads “fine food and wine.” This was my first reaction. I remember my first encounter with OWM because I was hesitant to enter, afraid I may be in over my head in regards to what they offered. My curiosity finally prevailed, and I am grateful it did, because once inside, I was sucked into the world of craft beer.

Chris and Megan Marolf are the owners of Old World Market, and you will see at least one of their smiling faces every time you visit the shop. They and their staff have such a passion for their products and it really shows. When you first enter, you are greeted by specialty food items, a beautifully displayed deli case, and shelves of wine. It’s not until you reach the back corner of the store do you find their craft beer selection. Chris was the first person I met upon entering OWM, and he so graciously took time out to explain the different craft beers he carried.