Marty’s Liquors

Marty’s moved. This review is for the new Marty’s.
This is a craft beer lover’s wet dream. Holy hell. I walked in and my jaw dropped. Everything from rare Americans to chilled imports. Everything. EVERYTHING!!!
For those of you who are too scared to venture from Blanchard’s, you don’t know what you’re missing out on. This is about a 5 minute walk from Deep Ellum and I can bet my soul that you won’t be disappoined.

Well, I just heard that there’s a new Marty’s locations up N. Beacon St in Brighton.
Sadly, this is much further than the old Marty’s on Harvard & Comm and I have been told that there is no deli due to the Stop & Shop located near by. I’m quite disappointed.

I miss Marty’s…
If you look in the windows from Harvard St. you can still see a lonely 4 pack of Smirnoff Ice…
This place was so convinient considering my friends live next door, literally.
RIP Marty’s, you’ve forced us to walk to Blanchards!

Good news for Marty’s fans – they are re-​opening on Market Street, next to the new CVS. Not sure when as the space is still under construction – I just hope it is soon!!!

Marty’s in Allston is a liquor store that offers and extensive collection of beer, wine and alcohol. What sets it apart from other large comprehensive stores are its service and knowledgable staff.
Marty’s has a great deli with delicious variety of gourmet foods and a terrific selection of sandwiches.

An Allston without Marty’s is going to be a very strange Allston, indeed.
Here are the things I always liked about Marty’s:
1) Their selection. They always have a bunch of weird brands that are unique and fun (vodka with a scorpion in it? cool, but ew.) They also have tons of fancy beers, which is great because my friends are beer connoisseurs.
2) The labels they have next to the beer choices, so I don’t look stupid when buying beer for my beer connoisseur friends.
3) Their prices. They are so cheap!
4) Nostalgia: Marty’s is the first liquor store I’ve ever been to.
5) They take out-​of-​state IDs without being jerks (cough Copley Shaw’s cough)
Here are the things I won’t miss about Marty’s:
1) The rude manager-​carder-​person who YELLED at me two days after my 21^st birthday because my license expired on my birthday, asking for my «temp license» even though my state doesn’t issue them. I understand if they couldn’t have taken it, but they could have been polite about it instead of yelling at me like a deadbeat. I’ve always held that against them.
2) The shady types who loitered outside the store, and inside the store.
3) The bottle return. It’s the ickiest bottle return in Boston.

Close enough to walk to, cheap enough to come back to (brookline liquors, wtf?)
OH and by the way, DELI?
Do not be weirded out by the whole deli in booze shop thing. They make slammin’ sandwiches which go down great before a night of alcohol fueled debauchery.
Awesome beer selection, as well as nice deals on 12packs ($ 9.99 for a 12 of Molson Canadian? Yes please).
If you happen to peruse the liquor aisles, you will most likely come in contact with an older gentleman who will NOT STOP BOTHERING YOU until you are ready to go buy a bottle. He always has recommendations for you but I have yet to grab something he’s offered up. Not a bad dude, just a bit annoying sometimes. I guess he adds some character to the place, as all the cashiers seem to be very short with everyone (except for their fellow employees, if ya get me).
If you’re in Allston and you’re currently boycotting Blanchard’s a la puppy abuse, look no further than Marty’s.

I heard martys might close
this will be a sad day
it will allmost be like when in cambridge harvard sq
they got rid of the tasty and the wursthaus
best all night diner and one of the only german resturants with a big beer selection
granted i was too young to ever experience it
but it was beloved just like Martys in allston
alot of history gone forever
the evil of castle neck mike and the love of mr Butch
i cant help to think that there souls are trapped in the basement of this place
and if it gets closed the Ghosts of mike and butch will haunt the new ocupants

Alright you dirty savages, here’s the deal. If you’re reading this you fit into the following categories:
1) You are a college dickhead who got their ID pinched from someone working at Marty’s so you’re pissed and you want to sabotage them so you came to Unilocal to do it, then you saw this review and read it and went mental because I am saying awesome things.
2) You’re a girl who goes «OMG I’m suuuuuuch a luuuush, I made out with like 2 guys at this Ashford St. party on Saturday. I can’t stop getting UTI’s. I’m a walking college cliché with Ugg boots and a fake LV bag from Canal St. in NYC but I don’t think anyone can tell. I am wrong though. And I have a $ 3 blonde hair dye job, and I straighten my hair and wear tight spandex leggings instead of pants but I am disgusting and smell like Stetson cologne from CVS»
3) You went here to get a sandwich because you understand that «If you booze, you lose»
Here’s to those who went in for a dope sandwich. You heard that the sandwiches were off the chainz, and you’re such a timid pickle smoocher that you felt weird about ordering one in a liquor store where bums buy their fix, dudes buy lottery tickets with their paychecks, and married buy their juice before I show up after responding to their craigslist posts and give them the thrashing of a lifetime.
But the sandwich guy. They’re good but you’ll have to put up with some basic bullsh*t before you get the sandwich. There’s always some airhead working behind the deli counter talking about Cold War Kids or about these «new vans slip ons» he/​she got that «no one has seen before». You’ll be like «excuse me, can I have a turkey on wheat» and they’ll be like «sure» and continue their boring conversation about something related to indie rock or some ironic cartoon they got the DVD set to. Anyone who mentions My So Called Life is a jackass too. That show was stupid and over dramatic. If you’re still sweating it, you should throw on a BUM Equipment sweatsuit, a Von Dutch hat, and then ride a bicycle without a seat and go off SIQQ jumps.
I hate you. I love your sandwiches. You get 5 stars for the sandwich, and negative 3 stars for being a dumb dumb.

I can be a pretty paranoid person. For example, last time I was in Marty’s I didn’t want to ask where the tequila was because the aisles are clearly marked and I still couldn’t find any. I figured, if I asked, I would look like some jerk who is presently drunk and can’t find the T liquors. After much walking around with a furrowed brow, an employee asked if I needed any help then pointed in me the right direction. The aisle for tequila was mislabeled and it was actually in the aisle next to it. Oh. Okay then.
Marty’s is my jam (or juice) even with the plethora of area liquor stores. They always have what I’m looking for (when I can actually find it or when I ask for help) and they’re always friendly. They even have a deli! Although I’ve never had any of their food. what a fantastic idea! Bread is always a lovely companion to some likka.
Beers, liquors, wines, etc. you want it they got it! OH! And they were open until 11PM on New Year’s Eve. That’s dedication my friend! Marty’s Liquors loves you and wants you to keep warm this winter season.

Oh, Allston. There are so many boozers inside you that you have not one, not two, not three, but *four* purveyors of alcohol in about a three-​block radius. Marty’s is the best of the lot, for the following reasons:
1 — Best prices, great selection of everything (wine in particular)
2 — A wicked deli that enables dinner and a bottle of wine to happen in one stop shopping
3 — Lots of «Two wine bottles for $ 10/​$ 12/​$ 14/​$ 16» selections. Good choices, too, not just plonk.
4 — A very good «staff favorites» section.
5 — They always card. I know that’s annoying for some but being 31 years old, I am delighted. I’ve got my ID out and ready before they even ask. «Who, little old me? I had no idea my appearance was so youthful! Sure, card away! Do you want to check it again? 1977, that’s right, can you believe it!?»…then they have to shove me out the door, assuring me they believe I am in fact over 21 years old.
This is why I will skip the much close BLM most of the time and walk down to Marty’s to get all my inebriation needs met.

Marty’s rules. Good selection of beers I like and weant on a regular basis, good imports, and good seasonals. The deli also rules and has some delicious sandwiches. Support.
RIP Griff.

This place rocks.
I was adamant about sticking to my go-​to, Blanchard’s, but with a little bit of coercing, I made my way into Marty’s, and will swear by it — it really is superior liquor store to its neighbors. I like the open layout, and the selection is large but not overwhelming. You may have to deal with some interesting clientele from time to time, but it’s not like you do not realize that you are, in fact, on the corner of Comm and Harvard in Allston!

I was guided here by two locals and shown the ropes. We talked about beers and booze. I listened and learned.
This place is big. Big big big. I was happy to be able to finally get a 30 pack of PBR, since they don’t sell it in grocery stores like they do in California. Prices seemed pretty standard on the lower end stuff, which sadly I have to partake in during these times of financial uncertainty. However, the high end stuff seemed REALLY expensive. I think it was 10 bucks for a 4 pack of 12oz Oatmeal Stouts? Ridic dude. Maybe I’m just too spoiled form California.

Oh, so is THIS why I h8 Allston? I thought it was the lack of parking. :(
Don’t get me wrong, this place has a swell idea. Liquor, classy deli optionz, decent wine selection, but what the hell is it doing on this nasty corner? Can’t they just put another Blanchard’s here?
I don’t think ALL of the prices were awful. A bottle of Andre was $ 4.99… that’s pretty standard, but when I was looking for vodka, I had to pass by Uncle Fester, and have him pick out everything for me!
Who is this bald man? Is he there every night? He’s like 70 years-​old, and doesn’t take NO for an answer.
I wanted to browse and this is what happened:
Uncle Fester: «What do you want?»
David Dancer: «Vodka.»
U/​F: «What kind do you want?»
D/​D: «I don’t know, can I look?»
U/​F: «Here, this one is good.» (as he places it in my hands)
D/​D: «Ewww, why is there Black Pepper in this Absolut? That’s gross.»
U/​F: «What do you want?»
D/​D: «Unseasoned vodka.»
U/​F: «Here, this one is good.» (as he hands me a bottle of Citrus Burnett’s”)
D/​D: «Ewww, this is Burnett’s.»
Ok, I’ll cut it off there, but it went on 4-​EVER!
After I settled on a purchase with my unexpected personal shopper, I headed to the checkout.
‘Sup with scanning my retina for age verification? The teenage cashier didn’t believe I was actually older than her. That sucked. I think 3 employees reviewed my ID. I was waiting for rubber gloves to come out!
:’(
After my age was determined, the cashier sped through the tranzZzzaction, and gave me the wrong change. I was standing firm in line as she started ringing up the guy behind me, and she said «What’s wrong, what are you looking at?» and I said «The wrong change.» and she didn’t like that.
:(
I was given the correct change, and almost started drinking on the sidewalk with every1 else, in order to relieve some of the anxiety and stress that had built up over the last 20 minutes.

I never spent a huge amount of time in Marty’s, but I do remember there being a big selection of wines and spirits (compared to Blanchards and similar stores). As I recall they carry Boddington’s, which is not TOO rare, but not something you find everywhere. So points for that!
I like that they have extra things to look at, like gifty stuff pertaining to alcohol and snack food and the like. It’s a bit squished in there and I remember it being kind of dark, which feels a little sketchy, but all in all a great place to pick up some vino or good beer.

The ginormous selection of wines is perfectly balanced by its huge selection of beers and just-​right spirits. Whether way upscale, way cheep, or somewhere in the middle, this is the perfect place to pick up not only bevvies, but coffee (Lilly), sandwiches (using Boar’s Head Brand), snacks, smokes (many fine brands of cigs & cigars), and darts.
I’m not ashamed to admit I did a fair share of my Christmas shopping here: a bottle of Cheap Red Wine for my bro-​in-​law, Godiva Caramel liqueur for my sis, Bah Humbug ale for my dad, and a couple of pints of Hitachino Nest Ale for my husband (which less expensive than Charles St. Liquors). The only downside is that it’s kinda heavy if you’re taking the train.
I love that at its heart, Marty’s is not that different from when I lived in Allston many years ago. And I still get carded!

I wish I could give this 3 ½ stars. The selection here is great, but it’s a second tier store for me. Though this store is closer to me than the Wine Gallery or Bauer, I prefer to shop at those other stores. The beer isle is a bit cramped and the stock can get pretty old. You take a gamble on some of the beers here as they aren’t always stored well and you end up with some bad beer on the more rare selections.
That being said they do have a strong selection of craft beers here and if you need something random they prob have it. If you need a Keg this is the place to go as well, I get my Paulaner Oktoberfest kegs here each year for my Oktoberfest party.

Okay let’s discuss the best places in Boston to get a good sandwich… and a bottle of wine… in the same place… from people who actually know what they are talking about. Yep, you guessed it, Marty’s is the place.
I grew up around the corner from Marty’s in Newton, but I only ever knew it as a place where my Dad picked up the booze for our dinner parties. When I moved to Brookline-​Allston I developed a serious relationship with Marty’s sandwiches (perfect for both lunch and dinner). The selection of breads, spreads, cheeses, meats, vegetables, etc is unrivaled if you ask me, and I have never ever had a bad sandwich experience there.

Two reasons why I like Martys:
1) Amazing beer selection, one of the best I have ever seen. My big gripe with the beers however has to do with the beers they have chosen to keep refrigerated. Invetibely I will find myself here looking at a Belgian beer I want to take home (or more likely to a friends house) and crack open, but no, I have to refrigerate it for an hour before its drinkeable. Not that im opposed, I understand that refrigerating a beer, then buying it, putting in your trunk so it warms up, then refrigerating it again will inevitably result in a skunked beer, but give me options.
2) Food/​snacks selection: there is plenty of food you can munch on available here. Good cheeses, meats, snacks. Of course harder booze is available as well.
Really, I think that beer is the primary reason for going to this store, especially if you don’t live in the area.