The Official Timeline

1936 Centennial Liquor Stores is founded by Albert Susman.

1948 Centennial becomes a founding member of the Wine and Spirits Guild of America—a national organization of retailers formed to generate business ideas.

1958 Centennial acquires a 10,000 pound, 50-foot tall neon cowboy known as “ Big Tex ”. Big Tex has 1,200 feet of neon tubing; projects eight different colors and has been designated a Dallas landmark.

1968 Jim Vandeveer buys Centennial Liquor Stores form Albert Susman. Centennial had grown to 18 stores by that time.

1977 Greg Wonsmos joins Centennial as controller and is quickly promoted to CFO.

1993 Vicki Vandeveer Moore joins her father, Jim, to assist in the development of the family business.

1996 Vandeveer and Moore commit to new direction and revamp the management staff: Greg Wonsmos is promoted to president and Roger Voss is hired as executive vice president to handle marketing, advertising and to improve Centennial’s overall presence in the wine business.

1997 Voss implements the “wine consultant” job classification and commences hiring and training existing personnel for these positions.

2000 Wonsmos is elected president of the National Association of Beverage Retailers, an organization representing more than 14,000 on-and off-premise retailers across the U.S.

2001 Centennial introduces the Gift Card to replace paper gift certificates.

2002 Centennial moves into its new home office at Interstate 35 and Northwest Highway in Dallas . The facility has 83,000 square feet of space.