Seaholm Wines & Liquors Changing Hands

Seaholm Wines & Liquors, a landmark in the Huntington Village business community with origins that go back to the end of World War II, is being sold, senior partner Ted Ryder confirmed Tuesday.

“We’ve had this business for thirty five years,“ said Ryder, who purchased the store from the Seaholm family in 1976. “Now it’s for sale to a new owner. We’re going to closing next week.”

The new owner, said Ryder, is named Chris Lin.

Seaholm Wines and Liquors is named for Carl Seaholm, who opened up the store on Main Street, Huntington after returning from service with the U.S. Army in World War II in 1946. After a number of years, the business moved to New York Avenue, and then eventually to its current location on Wall Street.

Ted Ryder and a partner purchased the business in 1976, and since then he and his partners have brought a level professionalism and dedication to their business that has resulted in the store being regarded as having one of the finest selections of wine, and one of the most knowledgeable staffs on Long Island.

Over the years, as the main wine buyer for the store, Ryder has visited famous winemakers in almost every important wine-producing region in the world, attended numerous wine tasting in New York, Long Island and elsewhere, and tried almost 2,500 wines each year.

Ryder also was instrumental in establishing Seaholm’s reputation for community service. For many years he taught a wine class at Huntington High School. In 1982 he started the Wall Street Gourmet Deli, now The Culinary Studio, and sold it in 1986. He ran the wine tent at Long Island Fall Festival for eight years.

And he donated his efforts to Family Service League in Huntington to provide wines from 20 different suppliers for the "Great Chefs of Long Island" charity event each year, in December.

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According to Ryder, his store manager will continue with the business under new ownership.