State Liquor Store

This place has the worst customer customer service I have ever experienced! When I went in there this evening to purchase some Liquor one of the cashiers told me that I couldn’t shop there and that I should come back after closing. He called me out in front of the whole store because i look under age. I am a 21 year old man and he had not seen my drivers license. Which by the way is a horizontal Utah state drivers licenses… the cashier then preceded to question mine and my friends identity like we had stolen someone else’s identification. I had just had my photo taken for my license so the photo was clearly me… and to add insult to injury it appears that this establishment is selling liquor to minors after hours. This was the worst experience I have ever had in any establishment and if there was anywhere else to by liquor in the area I would never shop here again

Do not waste your time or money here, worst selection in all of utah. Specifically in the wine section. What a f@cking joke.

Note to self — when in Utah– everyone has to show ID at the state liquor store — even if you are only along for the ride. As for the RUDE cashier in training with the brown hair — you might try explaining the liquor laws to out of state clients, rather than being defensive. Even the elderly lady in front of us was shocked to be rudely told «no, I’m telling YOU not to take it personally. If you don’t wish to provide customer service, find another job!

If you have an out of state ID or a Canadian license you can forget getting anything here! Apparently we’re not legal! What happened to equality?!? Thanks constitution for not standing up for us!

Not a bad liquor store unless you seek higher end rum. If that’s the case you’re better off hitting up the wine store… Go figure.
The do have a decent selection of vodka, whiskey and beers and a mediocre wine selection but not bad unless you’re seeking top shelf.

For a State-​run establishment… I have to give it high marks. For the most part, there’s really nothing I want or need to buy that I can’t find at this location. Now if I wanted some rare or exotic thing… they might not have it… but lest there be any doubt… you can certainly keep your bar at home well-​stocked with the items they carry here.
The beer selection is O.K. — I mean nothing fancy… no Belgians or Euro beers with the exception of Heineken or Guinness. Their wine selection will satisfy all but the most snobby of wine-​geeks. The California red section is actually impressive. Again, not a lot of boutique Cabernets or Zins … but I swear they beat my local BevMo back in Pasadena, CA. The State store that is on South West Third … the one they actually call «The Wine Store» has a better wine selection overall — but usually not worth the drive for me.
This store does one heck of a business on Friday and Saturday nights!

I happened in today rather than drive all the way across town and holy upgrade. They have remodeled about a month ago and doubled the available shelf and store space. It’s actually somewhat roomy now. It’s frankly gorgeous in there and even though the wine section is nowhere near the place over on 300 W. or any of the other actual wine stores, it is still respectable. Beer selection didn’t seem to get the same upgrade, but selection of wine is now at a pretty good level, liquor selection is still fantastic, beer is still somewhat poor.
Parking, however, is the same nightmare and there are still surly staff wandering around, but their interior upgrade deserves — and gets — another star from me. Sad that the consistently ill-​tempered staff instantly negate it.

It’s crowded usually, but we haven’t had problem of getting a parking space. At least the store provides us good selection of alcohol that we cannot purchase elsewhere. The only thing I wish is they sell these yummy drink at a cheaper price lol

Treat this place like you would a brief stint in jail:
It’s unpleasant, it’s crowded, you have to pay someone in order to leave, There is always a cop standing by and the only relief is trying to make nice with your sometimes cell mates who are stuck in there with you.
And even though it’s miserable, you know you gotta be there for a little while in order to get at what you want on the outside.

We love our liquor store. Its funny how busy it gets at closing time. Great selection, will continue to visit.

This location is my least favorite in the state. That’s right – worse than the one on 4^th South on a Saturday night at 9:55 pm. The beer section in this store is especially cramped and making selections in this area is rushed. You’re bound to be bumped into and snapped at to get out of the way.
The selection is just like any other state liquor store.
Parking in this place is a nightmare. You will be risking your life trying to walk through the parking lot and trying to steer your way through the heavy traffic. It’s busy all the time, not just on weekend nights. I really don’t like this location, but when it’s close by your house, it’s all you can really do. Avoid if you can.

Reasonable diversity in stock. Not the biggest but not the smallest liquor store either. There are 2 parks near by, but alas, open container is frowned upon in Utah, so best take a brown paper bag if you must enjoy the view with your chosen brew. ~m

If you’re in Sugarhouse you have probably experienced this hell hole that we pretend to call a liquor store. The only reason that we keep going back is because we need to purchase more liquids so we can forget about our crappy lives.
The parking is horrible. I would rather watch all of the Twilight movies on repeat then try to find a parking spot at this place. HORRIBLE.
Always packed with smelly people and if you’re not careful you will get stuck in a long line and have to have a conversation with one of them. Just don’t look at the goiter on their neck.
Yeah, I complain about this place but I will be back. I will keep going back because we have no choice but to go back.
PRO TIP: AVOID ON THE WEEKEND.

Ode to my neighborhood Liquor Store:
There once was a booze store nearby,
Whose prices were much, much too high.
The parking’s like hell,
And the vagrants all smell
But each week I still come to buy.

Our liquor stores, although they do represent a true monopoly, are not nearly as bad as some make them out to be. Utah State Liquor Stores have great deals on wine. Their prices are every bit as good as grocery stores in other states and are much lower than liquor stores in other states. The spirits are a little higher than out-​of-​state prices, but are still cheaper than bootlegging from Nevada or Wyoming, since gas is $ 3/​gallon.
The beer prices are definitley the most egregious, but even that department can be navigated effectively, since there are several beers for $ 1.35/each and lower. I just wish they offered some LIGHT BEERS!
This particular location seems to be where all the tightwads (like me) shop! Nearly every «on sale» wine was sold out! Geez! Don’t get me wrong, I still managed to pick up some bargains, but all the best deals (40% off and better) were bone dry!
The parking here is horrible, as previously mentioned, but this store will do an adequate job providing your libations. The ridiculous business hours are… well… ridiculous!

I agree with Stuart for the most part other than the «wonderful» part. A trip to the liquor store or any out of state vacation reminds me of what an insane, un-​American, scandalous liquor monopoly our state owns. You want a real beer? Then ya gotta’ get it from big brother. Not to mention the criminal element to the price inflation. Have you ever taken an out of stater friend to get a delicious seasonal six pack of Sam Adams? I like to let the $ 14 price tag come as a surprise so I can see they’re WTF? face. It’s almost like you have to leave Utah to get into America when it comes to wine and spirits. People who hate alcohol should at least be asking why this system isn’t funding our public school system. Instead we cram our class rooms so tight we’re eventually going to have to start stacking the kiddos on top of each other. And this year they closed stores because they said they were losing money. Somebody please explain to me how you lose money with an alcohol monopoly. It’s like being the only water vendor in the middle of a desert and falling on hard times. The system is hemorrhaging money, but into who’s pockets? If the government wants to regulate, tax, and distribute something, why don’t they try cannabis? But then how would the Mexican drug cartels make money? I guess you can’t please everybody.

I’m surprised our wonderful state liquor stores don’t get more reviews on here. Especially considering every store is an adventure of endless quirks unto itself.
This sugarhouse store is probably most notable for the «parking situation form hell». If you attempt to arrive here by car during:
a weekend
holiday period
any other time where people are awake
then you will face a test of wills and courage previously reserved only for those in elite commando units. Simply put, its a royal pain in the backside. The lot itself is small, cars are constantly flowing in and out, with wanton disregard for anyone else (must get booze, must get booze) plus its just off the high traffic flow of Highland Drive. It is a completely insane location to place a high demand store of any kind.
That said the store itself is pretty decent if not small. Fair to middling selection of wine, all your primary spirits and a smattering of beers. Still no instore refrigeration, boo!
The staff are generally friendly which always surprises me, given the constant flow of battle hardened parking warriors in search of liquor.