ITHACA, NY (607NewsNow) — 607 Businesses to Know gives you a glimpse into some of the businesses that make the 607 unique and allow you to get to know them a little bit better. In this installment, we feature FLX Beverage Company. Currently being renovated, the business will do things a little differently than before.

Owner: Chris Hass

Location: 605 W. State Street, Ithaca, NY

What’s your background/how did you get here: “I’m a local of the area, I went to Lansing High School and my sister and brother-in-law own the Ithaca Agway and Ace Hardware on North Triphammer Road. I’ve worked in the medical device world for decades and wanted to get more involved in the local community again. I decided it was time for a change and looked to invest in local real estate, and thought buying the old beverage center was a perfect fit.”

What will FLX Beverage Company bring to its customers: “Our inventory will include crafted brewed beers, artisan ciders, seltzers and more. In addition to that, we’re bringing more organization and clarity into the process of searching for your favorite beverage. It’s easy to get lost in all the labels and brands, but our approach will focus more on highlighting categories, including local breweries, regional breweries, and national and international breweries.”

Business hours: “We’re looking to be open every day of the week, although hours aren’t set in stone yet. It’ll be along the lines of Monday-Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 6:00 p.m.”

Most exciting part about opening: “I’m really looking forward to embedding myself in the community, I’ve been all over the globe and met some amazing people as a result of my career. Now, it’s time to get reconnected locally. Being able to help restaurants who might be short on inventory and build relationships there, plan out parties/events and get people what they need for those, setting up a rewards program for customers, hosting tastings for microbreweries… the prospect of filling a need is what excites me most.”

What sets FLX Beverage Company apart: “Online, we’ll have inventory listed so that customers can see what we have before they come in. We also want to have a responsive relationship with beverage distributors to be able to get products in stock when people request them. Delivery may also be offered, provided that we get all of the legal requirements taken care of. That way we can offer an array of services for people with different needs.”

When is the grand opening: “The end of March or first week of April is what we’re aiming for, we had to resubmit some paperwork, but it should be sorted out by then.”

To keep up with FLX Beverage Company, visit their website here and stay in the loop.