Lush Wine & Spirits, a Roscoe Village institution, has been navigating the choppy waters of tariffs and consumer uncertainty. Since President Donald Trump's second term began in 2025, Mitch Einhorn's biggest concern remains increased tariffs. With Lush being heavily reliant on imported items, this has put pressure on the small business to raise prices, which Einhorn is keen to avoid.
Einhorn has expressed frustration with the arbitrary nature of these tariffs, which have seen European wines face a 15% tariff since August. This uncertainty has been exacerbated by Trump's recent threat of imposing even higher tariffs β up to 25% β on certain European countries unless they agree to allow the US to purchase Greenland. It was this announcement that prompted Einhorn to pause further purchases until things settle down.
The impact of these tariffs extends beyond Lush, however. Einhorn has expressed concerns about the downstream effects these measures can have on people whose livelihoods are connected to imports, including port workers, truckers and retail employees. "When you think about how many hands touch a product," he said, "it impacts a lot of people."
Einhorn's priorities lie in creating an enjoyable customer experience at Lush Wine & Spirits. With its cozy bistro and menu items ranging from imported caviar to sandwiches and seafood, the business aims to provide a reasonably priced gourmet meal. Einhorn's goal is to make Lush "the best place to buy a bottle and eat."
Einhorn has expressed frustration with the arbitrary nature of these tariffs, which have seen European wines face a 15% tariff since August. This uncertainty has been exacerbated by Trump's recent threat of imposing even higher tariffs β up to 25% β on certain European countries unless they agree to allow the US to purchase Greenland. It was this announcement that prompted Einhorn to pause further purchases until things settle down.
The impact of these tariffs extends beyond Lush, however. Einhorn has expressed concerns about the downstream effects these measures can have on people whose livelihoods are connected to imports, including port workers, truckers and retail employees. "When you think about how many hands touch a product," he said, "it impacts a lot of people."
Einhorn's priorities lie in creating an enjoyable customer experience at Lush Wine & Spirits. With its cozy bistro and menu items ranging from imported caviar to sandwiches and seafood, the business aims to provide a reasonably priced gourmet meal. Einhorn's goal is to make Lush "the best place to buy a bottle and eat."