How to choose a wine shop?

So I learned last week that my local wine shop is going to be sold. The owner wants to move on to doing other things, the store is profitable but he wants to do something else in life. On the one hand I understand, but on the other hand I'm just crushed because he's been a wonderful guide to me, and I just don't know where else I will go for wine. Total Wine has a huge selection, but the staff just don't know all that much about wine generally, and though it's not their fault because the selection is so huge, they don't know much about what is on the shelves either. The little wine shop was great because I could stop in, tell him my budget and what I was in the mood for, and usually get a mini-lecture about the grape, region, and method. The advantage of a place like that over a huge place is that your salesperson has tasted every single thing on the shelves. This kind of service is absolutely valuable to me, and worth paying another buck or two on the bottle because I don't buy nearly as many bottles that don't fit my tastes.

I'm also reacting to it personally too... I'm still new in the city, and the wine shop owner was really the first person that I talked to with any regularity. It's a bit sad to see the first friendly face leaving.

Anyway, all this means that now I have to shop around for a new wine shop. Maybe that will be a good thing and push me to learn more about wine opportunities in my area.