Binny’s Beverage Depot

Binny’s is awesome. An adult candy store. In addition to our regular stuff, we wanted to get some great red wines for a Christmas gift for relatives. Their french wine person was helpful; and knowledgeable. We described our recipient’s tastes and he made some great recommendations. He took time to explain things thoughoughly. He printed out the reviews so we could share them with the recipients.

I stopped by on Nye looking for some cheap wine and some expensive mezcal. Don’t ask. Anyway, I left with the best of both because of the amazing staff.

I wanted something different for a gift; decided on a DIY tasting for whiskey. Emailed Binney’s about small bottles of newer take offs on a basic brand. Brett and Nina really went out of their way to get me the 350 ml bottles of Gentleman Jack, Tennessee Fire, and Tennessee Honey. It made a nice Xmas gift; my friend was so delighted. I was impressed that they would go to the trouble of special ordering from their distributor for such a small order. So it’s 5 stars plus in my book for the staff at this location.

5 stars for the selection. 4 stars for the staff. 0 stars for the stupid sale/​points card nonsense. I saw a great sales price on a vodka. When checking out learned that I only would get the sales price if I have the store’s reward card. I signed up for the card but didn’t get the sales price because it takes 30 days to process my application for the card. 30 days? Aarrgghh!

I don’t remember what it felt like to be a kid in a candy store… but I do know what it feels to be an adult in a Binny’s. Love the selection and staff at this location. The staff is always easy to find when you need assistance, but they are never pushy.
I think this store really showed their awesome when I went in to buy wine for my brother (a total wine snob). I know NOTHING about wine beyond the fact there’s red and white and some are sweet and many have hints of oak or whatever. So I said «I know nothing. My brother wants some white varieties that are reviewed over 90 points. No I don’t know what he’ll eat with it, but he likes Italian and Southern food. He specifically instructed me to ask for help.»
I wish to goodness I remembered the name of the guy that helped me. He was so nice, so knowledgeable, and didn’t make me feel like an idiot for being so clueless. He just asked about my price range and suggested some bottles accordingly (actually it came out to less than the the price limit I gave him). My brother was impressed.
Anyway I know big chains usually don’t have a personal feel to them, but this one does. If I lived a tad closer I would probably do all my beer shopping here.

THE GOOD
Good good selection of everything.
THE BAD
Day-​after-​day, month-​after-​month, year-​after-​year the staff are consistently not friendly, sometimes rude, infrequently smile and appear as though they work in the worst work atmosphere ever.
THE NOTE
This review stands for both the 3000 Clark and the 213 W. Grand Ave. locations

Beer heaven. Unilocal is making me type more, but the former statement is all I have to say about this place.

I only schlep down to Benny’s for Kosher wine and Champagne in bulk (definitely cheaper than per bottle). The staff is helpful, knowledgeable and are always in a great mood (maybe they’re taking shots in the back room, just kidding). They are helpful and always willing to provide some expert advice on options. The store is always well stocked and clean, definitely a plus. It’s a magical place full of wonder and delicious beverages. I’ll be back!

Can grab a well priced beer to drink while perusing the great selection this location offers. Taproom is gorgeous. Would loooove to be able to purchase sample sizes beers and wines. will keep coming back often to see if that is a new option.

Does anyone get disappointed going to Binny’s?
Today’s haul:
Ardbeg Uigeadail
2 Padron 1926 Anniversary 40^th Anniversary cigars.
The huge advantage is that Binny’s does not charge any additional tax when buying a cigar unlike many other cigar retailers that add on the 47% tax from city, county, state taxes.
Binny’s selection is unbeatable, last time I was able to haul home Templeton Rye Whiskey, Whistlepig, a jiggler, shaker, cocktail spoon, etc. It is a great liquor store and is the perfect one stop shop!!!
–Another satisifed customer

ALL THE BEERS ARE HERE!!! Huge fantastic wonderland of booze. It’s a nice bonus that it looks like a damn castle.
While we were looking around (we live in Florida and were home for the holidays) to figure out what took the highest priority to mule home on the plane, I heard the front desk page a beer expert to give customer service. I was really impressed as I listened the guy walk the parents through various stouts. Their son had requested they pick up some beer with his only request being «a stout… maybe an imperial stout».
Nice signage too. My only complaint is that you have to buy 6-​packs of the loose beers, you can’t just buy singles. That may not be up to them though. There’s even a parking lot!

I couldn’t possibly be more happy with every experience I’ve had at Binny’s. I’ve been to huge liquor stores, specialty stores, and local stores both in Chicago and Denver. This is honestly the best liquor store I’ve been to and completely surprised to find it’s a local chain.
Does Binny’s have my brand? Check the website! First thing I did before visiting a Binny’s was check through the selection. What they carried impressed me and so I went. Glad I did.
Hours: Sure it would be nice if they were open later, but you do have other options. It’s a bit unfair to rate a store badly based on that.
Selection: Top notch. I’ve found everything I’ve been looking for and a lot of new stuff. They have a great selection from coast to coast. Anything they don’t have at one store they might have at another store, just ask or check the website.
Prices: Overall what I expect. A few beers and wines were higher than expected but the liquor was actually cheaper than I usually pay for higher end.
Service: Impressive. I was actually almost annoyed with how helpful they were because it was so unnecessary. I was looking for a specific vodka and they didn’t have it. So they checked every store and their list and asked if I wanted them to see if they could get a hold of it. I certainly wasn’t in need of it and was looking at an alternative, but they went far above and beyond.
Negatives: My only knock is the short selection of refrigerated beer. It’s a decent mix they have in there but the fridge is small. Maybe it’s just this location but it’s something to know. Doesn’t kill my overall rating though, they have everything I wanted to buy that I know gets distributed this way.

Binny’s is great. I have found obscure wines here that I haven’t found anywhere else. The best part is if you want to buy alcohol for a party or for a wedding, like we did, you can overbuy and they will buy back anything that you haven’t used. It was amazing for our wedding and really helped us because it’s not easy to predict who will be drinking what. We thought our people were beer drinkers, but apparently they aren’t when faced with a delicious Tito’s vodka cocktail.
If you’re having a wedding (or even if you’re not), go to Binny’s.

Disappointed. I used Binny’s all the time but more and more I’m really getting annoyed with the degrading service and going to start spending my money elsewhere. I ordered over $ 700.00 over liquor for a party. The Binny’s agent did not ask me if I was a member or not… indeed I’m. When I emailed him to apply my points, no reply.
Then I requested a delivery at 5.00 Pm. That specific time cost me $ 60.00 fee. That’s fine if only it would be have been respected. The delivery was a nightmare so I sent an email to a ninny’s agent about it explaining that the delivery guy was absolutely not courteous and rude (contracted). He could not find the buzzer on a building, seems to be on something and I had to come down to catch him or he would have ben gone. He had 5 huge boxes of booze obviously with a $ 700.00 order and brought only 1 upstairs. I mentioned during the order that we were on the 04^th floor and they needed to come up. Remember I pay $ 60.00 my delivery! I asked him politely to bring the rest upstairs and he refused. This is not called delivering service to a customer house. I don’t have to precise that he did not get a tip.
On a $ 700.00 order, a $ 60.00 box delivery, that’s just unacceptable and rude from the company. I brought the rest of the booze upstairs. Ps: They did not deliver at 5.00 Pm as requested but at 4.15 Pm! Thank god I made it home by then but again they can’t follow a direction you gave them and charge me $ 60.00 instead of $ 20.00.
Binny’s 1 week later has yet reply to my email. Not Cool… Binny’s Lake View… Don’t Forget… there are other stores which serves liquors… in the hood… just say’in!

Close to me and has a decent selection.
But it’s definitely RIDICULOUS that is closes so early. even on a weekend.
Dumb.
I once specially ordered a bottle of a wine from here. I gave my name and phone number to a salesman working here, and he told he me he had ordered it and they’d receive it in a week or two. He said when they got it in, I’d be called. Weeks went by, no call. So I went in person about a month later and asked someone about it. I told them about the couple of weeks prior and how I never recieved a phone call. A manager looked into it and told me here was never an order placed. Oh. COOL.
Needless to say, I haven’t been back.

You know Binny’s. It’s an awesome liquor store chain, with tons of stuff to choose from, but this location really steals the show in terms of service.
Had a guy help me carry a couple six packs about 3 blocks to the BYOB restaurant I was eating dinner at. That my friends is above and beyond.

Prices are decent but closes at 6pm on sunday.
wtf.
Not the biggest binny’s but definitely the closest to me.
it’s at the end of my block.
VERY convenient.

Full disclosure, I’m giving Binny’s five stars simply because they sold Kona Brewing Company’s Koko Brown Ale BY THE CASE. I’m not from Chicago, but can’t find Koko Brown within a 100 mile radius for the life of me.
Other than that, Binny’s does a great job with their beer and wine selection. Everyone in my group found something to take home, so no complaints here.
Not sure if Liquor Barn is big in Chicago, but Binny’s was similar, just a smaller version.
All I know is I’ll be back next time I’m in town to stock up on my Koko Brown.

Not bad for a Binny’s, but it isn’t my fav location either. That honor going to the location in Lincoln Park, on Marcey St. But this location isn’t bad, if you need something in a pinch. I think I minorly prefer some of the suburban locations since you save a little bit on liquor tax, but it’s fine for the ‘I need it right away’ jonesing. And they did handle their Bourbon County Stout 2^nd release date pretty well, though I sadly narrowly missed out on the Barleywine and Coffee Bourbon County versions. :(
At least this location does have samples, from time to time. And a cigar and cheese section, so I applaud them for that. The tax factor, and that I’ve always been the most impressed with the Lincoln Park Binny’s for city locations, are the only things keeping this one from 4 stars. But it’s fine for impulse purchases, and stuff like that.
I often wish Binny’s was open past 9pm, and till 10pm on certain nights like Friday and Saturday. But what can you do?

Pre Ravinia liquor run
Take 2!
Previously to my visit today I had only been inside a Binny’s Store
Once, and that was for a Unilocal Party, The Booze-​a-​poo-​loo-​za!
And, Binny’s impressed me on that day very much and even though that
Binny’s was at a different location than the one I went to today I was just as
impressed by this location.
A great staff of people working at this Binny’s location, they were very kind in
offering me help in trying to find Summer Shandy for my son Brian and I was
told that it is pretty much gone for the season, now it’s Oktoberfest time!
This store has/​had a great selection of beers to choose from, other than
Summer Shandy!
It’s ok. I substituted Miller Lite and a bottle of Prosecco!
Honestly, this store is very well stocked, with great prices, I have compared
liquor prices recently and Binny’s really had some great deals!
Aisles upon aisles of various beers, wines, champagnes, and other assorted
liquors.
Even a gourmet food section in the back!
So, Binny’s once again you have impressed me,
You really are a very nice place to shop!
Booze-​a-​poo-​loo-​za or not.