About
I’m John Davis celebrating my 44th year as a wine merchant. I’m the founder of Wine Insiders, one of the nation’s top direct marketing wine companies and Geja’s Café a well-known Chicago fondue restaurant begun in 1965.
Wine Insiders began as A Taste of California , a Wine-of-the-Month-Club in 1982 when I wanted an alternative to expensive, large-store wine offerings. I planned to offer a diverse selection, with an informative newsletter and no membership fees or commitment, shipped directly to my members’ homes or offices. Using my wine industry contacts to gain access to both well-known and hard-to-find wines, I assembled an expert tasting panel to screen thousands of wines.
Over the years, Wine Insiders has expanded to include international wineries. In addition to the wine-of-the-month-club shipments, which can be given as gifts, Wine Insiders offers wines by the case. The basic goal remains the same: fabulous wines at value prices – guaranteed – with a superb 24-hour-7 day-a-week customer service Hot Line.
Having run a restaurant and a wine company for many years, I’ve accumulated a life-time of interesting wine-related experiences which are known as “John’s Stories” around the office.
I promise not to put you to sleep with needless wine jargon. You can always find the technical info on other blogs, though I do know a bit about viticulture and enology, having been voted the “Midwest Wine Educator of the Year” by my peers.
Using my wine insiders’ perspective, I’d like to share my opinions, experiences, travels, winemaker profiles, wine industry anecdotes and, of course, debunk some wine myths. Plus, you may enjoy some of my “Stories,” particularly about my adventures founding and running Geja’s Café and Wine Insiders.
Kind regards,
John Davis, founder, Wine Insiders
1.
John Davis | February 4, 2010 at 4:29 am
Ok thanks, hope all is well. John D.
2.
Kevin Eichorst | March 14, 2010 at 7:59 pm
Hi John,
I’m in advertising school and my partner and I are working on a project that involves The Plugged Nickel. We have found a lot of info about the amazing performances there, however we can not find what the club’s address was. Do you happen to remember or know what the address was? If Geja’s used to be directly across the street what was your old address? We want to find the location and juxtapose the current location with old images of the club…
Thanks!
Kevin
3.
John Davis | March 17, 2010 at 11:20 pm
Geja’s address was 1248 N. Wells – a few building south and west of the Nickel. Hope this helps. John
4.
Karen Curran | January 9, 2012 at 10:37 pm
Hi John,
I used to live in Chicago years ago and it was always a treat to visit your restaurant on N. Wells St! It was wonderful!
I am very curious about how you came up with the name Geja’s. I have a dear friend from the Netherlands and has lived in the States for a while and her nickname is Geja! I sent her the link to Geja’s cafe and she wanted to know how you came up with the name..is there another Geja somewhere?
It has been so interesting reading your blog and following your adventures. Thank you John,
Karen
5.
John Davis | January 10, 2012 at 2:16 am
Hi Karen, Yes, Geja’s was on Well Street from 1965 to 1971 when we moved to our current Armitage Ave. location. Wells Street in the 60′s was quite the place – a real magnet for interesting businesses, including blues, jazz and folk clubs, head shops, etc. and of course, very interesting inhabitants of the street and unusual visitors. Every hippie and “Hard Traveler” in the US either visited Wells Street or wanted to.
On the back of Geja’s menu is the Geja’s Legend which I’m happy to pass along:
The Legend of Prince Geja….
originated in the Moroccan city of Marrakesh in 687 A.D.
Prince Geja’s, as he was to be known, spent his youth high on Mount Tizi in the Atlas Mountains, tutored in the ancient wisdom and understanding of the prophet Mustafa El Said. Upon reaching maturity, Geja joined the forces of the Amir in the conquest of the Iberian Peninsula.
It was in 722 that Prince Geja was acknowledged to be the most learned of the Moorish princes, having distinguished himself in the monumental Battle of the Quadalquivir River.
However, it was not in battle that Prince Geja was to win his true place in history. For upon his return to Mt. Tizi the following year he established the forerunner of today’s Geja’s Cafe, featuring the finest wines, cheeses and spirits from the world over.
Thus today – thirteen centuries later – the same tradition of hospitality and good taste is alive and well.
And you don’t have to climb a mountain to reach it.”
I’ll be your friend did not know that she might have royal blood in her system
Regards, John