In the early 1900s, Hatch’s Package Store originally operated as a garage that sold kerosene in five-gallon containers for heating. The store, located at 133 Orange Street, has continued to evolve with the changes on the island, including acquiring a beer and wine license after Prohibition. Today, among its regular stock, the store offers not only special orders of fine wines but also a barrel program unique to Nantucket. Hatch’s manager Zach Held talks with N Magazine about these programs, what’s new at the store, and more. Hatch’s Package Store is much more than your average convenience store.

What is something you wish everyone knew about Hatch’s?

Hatch’s has recently gone through some major renovations: new floors, fresh paint, new fixtures and new lighting—and a fresh approach to the layout that has our regulars thrilled. Along with the renovations, management has brought a lot of cool new items to the store such as craft beers and a wide variety of tasty snacks. Hatch’s website is also brand-new, with a much easier interface to order online for pickup or delivery.

You also special-order fine wines. Tell me more about this and the process.

Hatch’s has the ability to find practically any wine on the market because we work with so many distributors. If you are looking for a particular wine, come into the store and talk with me or [co-manager] Matt Hotin, or give us a call and we will most likely be able to source whatever you are looking for.

With this in mind, what makes Hatch’s stand out compared to some of the other wine and liquor stores on the island?

Our fantastic staff is highly knowledgeable and looks forward to helping customers find whatever it is they are looking for. Hatch’s is also the first and only retail store on Nantucket to feature barrel programs. A barrel program is a process in which a retailer works with a distiller to choose different blends and barrel aging to produce a one-of-a-kind product to put on the shelves. Hatch’s worked with three distillers—Maestro Dobel, Old Forester, and Cleveland Underground—to come up with four unique spirits: two tequilas (Maestro Dobel) and two whiskeys (one from Old Forester and one from Cleveland Underground), exclusive to Hatch’s.

What have been some of your favorite special-order wines thus far? Are there any good bottles that ended up permanently on the shelves?

We have a number of special orders every week, and we do occasionally keep some of those wines on the shelves. One order that comes to mind is Larkin Cab Franc. We were luckily able to get our hands on a couple of cases, some of which we put on the shelves. We then brought in the Larkin Sauvignon Blanc and the Jack Larkin small-batch bourbon.



What is new this month?

Hatch’s will have three private-label wines (rosé, sauvignon blanc, and white Burgundy) that are only found at Hatch’s. All from France, these wines are unique and delicious—something we are very proud to carry. For more information, visit ackhatchs.com