Tropical Liquors

Let me count the ways I love Tropical Liquors.
1) Those smiling eager to help knowledgeable faces on the inside.
2) It offers a variety of wines, both domestic and international. I love the comfort of knowing that I can always find a bottle for less than $ 15 that will not disappoint.
3) Craft beers. CRAFT BEERS!!! They have one of the best selections in the city. You can always count on them to have a pack of that new release inside.
4) The prices are perfect. Reasonable and lower than a lot of other stores in town.
5) That ‘if we don’t have what you are looking for we will try our best to get it’ attitude.
TL may look a bit lack luster from the outside, but one step inside and you will realize it’s all worth it!

It’s great customer service, cheap prices, one of the only liquor stores that stay open late with a large selection of beer wines and spirits!!!

Where to start? Love the façade of the store, but this place is a mess. The parking (at least on Cranston St.) is a disaster. Much of the merchandise is behind glass. And worst of all — most unforgivably for an inner city liquor store — they have a sub-​par selection of forties in the cooler. And then there’s the crowd hanging around outside that makes Tropical Liquors more of a hassle than it’s worth. I see they’ve hired a security guard to keep the order, and it’s a shame since that really eats into the margins for a small business, but what can you do?
Ever since Reyes Liquors opened up on Westminster, I haven’t been back to Tropical Liquors, and can’t imagine going back at this point.

Reasons to visit: it’s the only liquor store in walking distance that probably isn’t a front for drugs. Decent beer selection, good liquor and wine selection, cheap.
Reasons to take a bus downtown for another store: the baffling traffic of people parking everywhere trying to get to Tropical Liquors at all hours of the day. No parking. Limited craft beer if that’s your gig.
This is not the kind of liquor store you want to go to if you’re looking for a lot of local beers, microbreweries, and interesting finds. It’s all standard fare, but it’s cheap enough. If you’re looking for special beers, I’d take the visit over to Reyes on Westminster, but if you just want your six pack of Bud or Corona, this is your place.

Tropical Liquors literally defies the laws of physics. They have one of the most extensive selections of alcohol on the west side and yet fit everything into this small, unassuming store front on Cranston Street. If they don’t have what you’re looking for Raul WILL find something to appease your thirst.
Quick story as to why I will always love Tropical Liquors:
In college I organized an annual semi-​formal event that catered to over 500 undergraduate students from all over New England. Each year we turned to Tropical Liquors to stock our bar for the evening. We typically purchased upwards of $ 1500 worth of liquor ranging from beer, wine, spirits, and cordials. The event took place in April and one year I ran into a friend of mine three months later in July. He informed me that Raul was looking for me and had something to give me. I stopped in to Tropicals and Raul informed me that he accidentally forgot to include two bottles with my order THREE months prior. He didn’t have my number but ran into a mutual friend and wanted to ensure that he gave me those two bottles or the $ 40 that he had charged us.
Anyone who runs a business should be honest and while this is a baseline expectation from customers, as a poor college student myself at the time, it meant a lot to me that he ensured my non-​profit would be properly reimbursed for the mistake. Although I have since moved out of Providence, I still stop in to Tropical Liquors whenever I have an opportunity.

For the BEST selection of wines on the west side of Providence, right in the Armory district, or at least across the street, nearest the corner of Dexter Street, this is the place to get good, table wine or other even if you want to start your own collection. The prices are good, the selection is far more exceptional than Broadway Liquors. Beer is adequately stocked, liquors are reasonably priced. They do sell, Johnny Walker (even Blue), Lucid Absinthe one other brand, top shelf with bottom prices. I highly reccomend it, don’t be scared poopy head support your local booze merchant. They also have parking, fyi it is better to park on Dexter Street and walk across. Raul Rocks and they are the upmost respectable to women who shop there.

«Hey… you want something special?»
No I do not! Just beer, thanks. But seeing as how this fine establishment in the West End of Providence off Cranston St. sells almost anything (including craft beer and Mexican beer) I am sure I will find something rather special. Just not, you know, meth. But thanks, dude on the street!
Good prices and run by a friendly family. That guy out there won’t bother you to buy drugs in here because of the security, but I’m not promising he won’t try to hit you up on the way out. JUST SAYING IS ALL.