Clare Rose sold to Southern Glazer’s, ending Suffolk County era

A Miami-based beverage giant is set to take control of one of Suffolk County’s best-known family distributors, a shift that could reshape how beer and spirits move through bars, restaurants and retailers across Long Island. Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits announced it reached an agreement to acquire substantially all the assets of Clare Rose Inc., with the deal expected to close in the first half of 2026.

For customers and employees, the clearest immediate signal is continuity in East Yaphank. Southern Glazer’s said it plans to keep operating out of Clare Rose’s existing Yaphank facility, and after closing the business will become part of Southern Glazer’s Beverage Company of New York, serving Nassau and Suffolk counties. That suggests the trucks, warehouse and local routes that have long fed Suffolk’s hospitality economy are not disappearing overnight, even as ownership and decision-making move to a much larger operator.

The transaction covers distribution rights for Anheuser-Busch’s Long Island portfolio, including Michelob ULTRA, Busch Light, Budweiser, Bud Light, Cutwater Spirits, NÜTRL Vodka Seltzer, BeatBox Beverages and Phorm Energy. It also includes Tilray Brands, Pabst Brewing Company and other suppliers. Clare Rose says it serves more than 4,500 retail and hospitality customers across Long Island, a network that reaches bars, restaurants, delis, package stores and venues that depend on steady delivery schedules and brand availability.

Clare Rose’s own history turns the sale into an ending as much as a deal. The company opened on January 7, 1936, as C. Rose Distributor, also known as Plaza Beverage, at 178 West Main Street in Patchogue, selling Mission and Plaza Soda. By 1948, it had become Anheuser-Busch’s wholesaler for Eastern Suffolk County, and in 1964 it expanded to cover the western half of the county. The company sold its 1 millionth case in 1974 and its 3 millionth case in 1978, milestones that underscored how deeply it had grown into the local economy.

Clare Rose also became part of the village landscape in more visible ways. In 1991, Clare Rose Blvd. in Patchogue was named for the company’s accomplishments and contributions to the village. Today, the company says it is the sole Anheuser-Busch distributor in Nassau and Suffolk counties, carries brands including Budweiser, Michelob, Bacardi and Busch, partners with three Long Island craft breweries and operates its own recycling facility.

Sean Rose said the family was pleased to transition to another multi-generational family company that shares its values and commitment to people. Southern Glazer’s president of commercial sales, Mark Chaplin, said the acquisition builds on the company’s existing foundation in New York and expands its ability to serve the broader New York area. For Suffolk, the sale marks a local power shift, from a Patchogue-rooted family business to a national distributor with far greater scale.