Q Stop

One thing I can appreciate is that they are open 365 days a year and great hours, open until late. But you do PAY for this availability. Usually a 12pack will cost you at least $ 15 – 17 depending on who is working. It’s like they make up a price on the spot. But hey, they are always open and have a great variety.

You never know what you’ll get at the ol’ Q Stop (or, as those of us who actually check our bank statements know it, «National Fruit Stop»).
Sometimes, the owner’s son may tell you that you look like Adrian from Rocky. That was cool.
Sometimes, a loud, rude and rowdy customer may incite a fight with the owner who then gets into a shouting/​swearing match with said customer, chasing him out of the store.
But no matter what, you’ll ALWAYS be able to find an incredibly, impressively vast selection of beer, liquor and wine.
Local microbrewed gluten-​free organic free-​range stout? Sure! (Clearly I’m still learning a lot about beer). A review from more than several years ago mentioned a small selection, but that must have been before the expansion. If you haven’t been there in awhile, it’s worth checking back. You’ll find things here you won’t find anywhere else, not even at Foremost.

Yeah, I know it looks like a place that sells 40s and 24-​packs from the outside, but Q Stop ALSO carries a totally fantastic selection of local and regional craft brew. Bombers, six packs, four packs. Plus ciders. If you are an Albany Park beer nerd, please stop schlepping to Fischman or settling on Blanz or Jerusalem. Come to Q Stop.

Bright fall Sunday afternoon:
Boyfriend: «I want beer.»
Moi: «Let’s take a walk and buy stuff for cocktails– I made cookies!»
(This is routine, i make cookies every weekend)
Boyfriend: «Mmm cookies? Really good with beer.»
Moi: «A liquor store is a couple blocks away– want to go now?»
We walk to QStop. The leaves are changing colors, the air is crisp… and there is a substantial crowd of little elementary-​young-​age children in the parking lot… of a liquor store. This is novel for me.
Moi: «Are they chanting? Dancing? Aww.»
Boyfriend heaves a heavy sigh «Baby, no, those are GANG SIGNS. Go in the store.»
Moi: «They are cute, just like little munchkins.»
Boyfriend: «Get in the store and just buy something, anything from Revoloution.»
Moi: «They are so little, I just want to feed them cookies!»
Boyfriend: «Don’t feed them sh! t. Go. Inside.»
Moi: «Oh look, more children!»
Boyfriend «That is another rival gang.»
Moi: «Where are their parents? They really need some cookies.»
Boyfriend is at this point swearing, readying to drag me in the store, then going to the counter and suggesting the grumpy countergentleman notify the authorities.
They have a selection here– an assortment of Goose Island, Revoloution and plenty of the usual liquors, mixers… and a somewhat ecclectic clutter of dusty goods– are you looking for tampons in packaging from roughly 1998?
Little Debbie and Hostess products indeterminate age?
I wasn’t, but I saw them here.
Betcha they are still there.
Unlike the Munchkin gang.
By the way the police never showed.
The Munchkin gang dispersed and we went home– served cookies, beer and made cocktails by a big fire (toasted s’mores are extra yummy on peanut butter toffee cookies!)
We did not pour any out for the Munchkin gang, nor did they get any cookies.
Their loss.

It’s been really cool to watch the evolution of this once janky little convenience store from neighborhood eyesore into badass neighborhood mecca for all of your craft beer needs. You still have to navigate the deadly parking lot and dodge the creepy drunks that hang out at the corner of the building (harmless, but annoying) but once you’re inside, there’s an amazing selection of great, even rare, beer and top shelf liquor. Prices are fair… not a Binny’s bargain, but not wildly overpriced, either. Definitely a neighborhood secret that I’d like to see become less of one, so that they keep buying great stuff!

Amazing craft beer selection. Don’t be fooled (as I was for 4 years of living in Albany Park) by the outside of this place. It looks like a hole, but looks can be deceiving. There are several coolers dedicated to craft sixers and bombers, as well as a wide range of top shelf liquors. Very friendly owner and knowledgeable staff too. Went in last night after hearing about it during a recent Albany Park Neighbors meeting (look them up on FB and join us!). I walked out with a bombers of Revolution Very Mad Cow (didn’t even know this was available beyond release at the brewery), Alpha Klaus (in mid-​January!?) and another 3 Floyds bomber – the name escapes me. It was an English IPA. I’m impressed and will definitely return for more.

This place needs a more recent review. I pass by the Q Stop all the time. Until recently, my first and only visit was around 2008, when, underwhelmed by the beer selection and overwhelmed by a powerful, indescribable stench (a friend told me it was likely kim chi), I walked out empty-​handed, vowing never to return.
Fast forward to last week. Needing some fresh additions to my beer fridge, yet not wanting to stray to far off my path in the snow storm, I heeded the advice of that same friend and gave the Q Stop a second chance. Where before I found only dated coolers of macro swill, malt liquor, and Mad Dog, there now stood a gleaming cooler wall full of various craft brews from the likes of 3 Floyds, Stone, Tyranena, Half Acre, and Finch’s. It seemed bigger than before as well; they must have taken over some of the space from the hardware store next door. Best of all, however, the wretched odor was gone.
Initially indecisive about what the bring home from their abundant selection, the choice was made easy when I found out that Bell’s HopSlam was priced at $ 9.99 for a six pack. I don’t know if that was a mistake or not, but both the guilt at getting it for such a great price and the possibility of future bargains will keep me coming back much more often.

i love this little store it has everything i need and it only right around the corner from my house. they offer late hours which it good for days that i crave junk or even a drink before sleeping… they also have a small parking lot which is great since lawerence lacks on street parking.

About as basic a liquor store as you can find. If all you’re after is a 6-​pack, this is your place. If all you’re interested in is Bud, Miller, Coors, Corona, etc., or a fifth of the cheapest thing you can pay for with spare change, this place won’t disappoint.
Want something other than crappy macro corporate beer? You’re out of luck here.
Want some snacks or soda? Just wipe the thick layer of dust off the packaging first, and hope it’s not *too* stale.

On October 15^th, I stepped off the Pulaski bus at Lawrence in time to see the man who got off the bus ahead of me get hit by a car. After the ensuing drama (911 call, police report), I started walking home. On my way, two things happened: 1) I started crying hysterically and 2) I developed a sudden need for Doritos (comfort food, maybe?). At around this time, I walked past the Q Stop.
Here’s what I remember, though much of that evening is a blur. The store was extremely cluttered, with items sitting in stacks on the floor and on pallets in no particular order, creating a sort of maze. It was rather overwhelming. The owner (I assume he was the owner) was very polite, even though I am quite sure that I was a sight to behold, crying and clutching my bag of Doritos and my Coca-​cola. It cost me almost $ 8 for Doritos and Coke, which – even in that frame of mind – I found a little steep.
In summary, if you are ever in a state (and by in a state, I mean require Doritos, stat), the Q Stop will do right by you.

Booze and Vitner’s and pop, oh my!
If you’re going to a BYOB restaurant in Albany Park, this is one (of many) liquor stores in the neighborhood to purchase wine, beer, and spirits. The advantage they have over other stores is the small parking lot outside. They have 5 parking spots, which is a notch above street parking. Q-​Stop FTW!
⁴⁄₂₂: I love the fact that this Korean-​owned liquor store has ice cold soju in their coolers. That is all.

Oh Q Stop, your block letters shining bright
have beckoned me forth many a night
I forgive you for not letting me use the shitter
and for being responsible for most of my street’s litter
I know these things aren’t your fault
but maybe you should consider selling less liquor of malt

Love the Q. They have really yummy ice cream treats in the summer, too.

An Albany Park landmark. This liquor store has been around for decades servicing clientle as diverse as the UN. Their liquor selection is hefty and food prices reasonable. I do miss the arcade machines but nothing beats a nice cold case of Mickey’s.