Chicago Lake Liquors

I am writing this because I was deeply disturbed by what I witnessed here today around 7:40pm. One of the women cashiers was being incredibly hostile and disrespectful toward an immigrant customer who clearly had a language barrier. ​It was painful to watch someone in a service position treat another human being with such blatant disregard. Another customer luckily stepped in to demand a manager, but the situation nearly escalated into a physical fight because of the staff member's aggression. Management needs to address this immediately—no one should be treated this way

A landmark! Competitive prices! Will have what you need and some fine liquors too. We'll lit store, looks nice. Had a lot of specials on wine and alcohol too. All around just a great neighborhood store.

I don't like to be watched the entire time from the moment I entered the door as if I came in to steal so I go to a way friendlier liquor store on nicollet or Franklin

Best prices in town been going there for years and they always have deals on everything

Quick lines, lots of staff, friendly service and decent prices.

I was charged for something I didn't get and doordash didn't give me a refund and it was my birthday, it said tequila and I got 4 crookscrews

Before George Floyd, employees would ALWAYS say, "Hi, welcome! Can I help you find anything?" No Lady Godiva or Skinny Girl or organic white wine. Best prices in Minneapolis.

Security was on it, cool dude to conversate with and let us know he from the City, over on south shore drive!

Excellent selection. The best in the area. The place was clean and the clerks were friendly.

You know what I Lake! Some guys are natural doms, others prefer to worship. I'm definitely one of those Liquors. But I can do all of it, don't get me wrong. Still. I know what I Lake! And it's not Chantilly Lace. A pretty face is fine tho. Pretty cute liquor store if liquor is what you're into - located on the infamous and justifiably famous Lake Street close to the Mercado Central and the Midtown Global Market. Getting drunk from here is always a pleasure for the residents of Midtown and Uptown and prices are actually a little better than at some of the big box stores, plus you are supporting a local business so it is a win-win.

Best place to buy liquor in the cities. Always have a deal worth trying. Friendly staff.

If your 9:45 forget about it they won't let you in Even if you hav a 8 sec pick update

This is probably my favorite Liquor store to shop at. The store is clean and remodel for their 50th year anniversary. They literally have every kind of alcoholic beverage your looking for, all the good brands and the prices are good too! I love that it's right in the heart of Minneapolis so it's easy to get to and it gets a lot business. My favorite drink that a lot of other places may not provide anymore is FOUR LOKO so thank you for having these and other great drinks too!!

I live 2 blocks from this liquor store and try to avoid shopping here unless I'm really short of time. They treat all their customers like garbage and since they're the only store in the neighborhood many people are stuck with them. Not surprised they got looted and burned. Basically the pawn shop of liquor stores but the selection is pretty big.

They used to have an interesting selection of off brands and deals. Now its just mainstream garbage at retail market prices. Too bad, they were a staple for when I needed to throw a party. Now I just go to Liquor Boy near Costco, they have better prices on average to compete with Costco.

The GHETTOEST of all Minneapolis liquor stores! Drove 11 minutes just to be turned away at 5:53pm when I called 10minutes prior to leaving my home and one of the employees stated they will close the doors at 5:55pm to not let anyone in. WASTED GAS going to this pos liquor store after being told a lie! I will be calling management tomorrow because gas isn't cheap to be wasting on stupidity that could have been avoided!

Horrible. Showed at at 9:50pm and was refused entry by guy at the store. If you close at 10. Close at 10. Very disappointing and will never come back.

I don't know why I love this liquor store mmm maybe its cause ITS SO BIG AND CHEAP they got everything I have been looking for some liquor and some stores don't carry it or never heard of it here I have never been disappointed! for some reason there liquor taste stranger maybe im crazy or something but like the jack daniels I bought here it was SOOO STRONG im like woooo now if I get jack daniels someelse its smooth maybe im nuts! anyways I def recommend this place

This is an ok place. Good variety of liquors. But I was confused by a sign I saw. They sure do like to keep things classy!

Good selection of liquor, beer, wine... you name it. I'm not sure if it's as cheap as other reviewers suggested but I found the prices a-okay. Big parking lot in the back - close to Midtown Global Market, the Transit Center, and the Sheraton.

I freaking love alcohol... and this place! Believe it or not, this is probably the only liquor store where the more than one person (in one visit) has asked me how I'm doing and if they could help me find something. Really? Are they drunk? Asking ME if I need help? That never happens in a liquor store. And yes, this happens every time I step foot in this son'bish. And yes, I frequent this place a lot. Last time I visited (it's been a long five days), I loaded up my cart with seven bottles of Riesling and four bottles of red wine. I wish I could say these were all for me, but no, I was throwing a party and I tried to stay classy like that. The cashier asked me if she could check on a discount for buying a case, "uhhh... yes? thanks for checking, but I feel like a complete alcoholic." Unfortunately, the discount could only be applied if I bought 12 of one kind of wine... darn! Next time.... next time. Before I knew it, another person was at the register loading up a box with my wine and asked if I needed help out to my car as I paid my $100 tab. Someone's going to walk me out? Am I in a Byerly's or Lunds? No? Okay, now I knew that they were SERIOUSLY drunk. Just remember, tip them a couple of bucks! Did I mention that there's typically a pretty darn good lookin' police officer on duty? Ah, yes, hot officer. And no, no, silly, that's not with my beer goggles on.

See, the problem is that I am, at heart, a girlie girl who was raised in a gated community by upper middle class parents but thinks she is a little bad ass because she has woofers and spinners on her car. Well only two spinners, because I went to Kmart to buy a fan and someone stole the front two. But that is a different story and different review for a different day. The point is, I am actually a sorority girl who sometimes masquerades as a bad ass. And the truth is, I am not really bad ass. Case in point: shopping at Chicago-Lake Liquor Store. Chicago Lake Liquor Store is, surprisingly enough, located on the corner of Chicago and Lake. Which is truthfully, a little ghetto-fabulous. OK, a lot ghetto-fabulous. Like across the street from the Guns and Ammo store ghetto-fabulous. And like all ghetto-fabulous places, the crowd is a little rough. In fact, I always always always get asked A) for money B) for cigarettes and C) for my phone number while walking into Chicago Lake Liquor. And walking out. And sometimes while in the store. And at stop lights while driving down the street. The good news is there is usually a plethora of policemen either at the store or in the neighborhood. More good news? Lots and lots and lots of liquor. Cheap liquor. And you can buy as much or as little as you need. Are you having a party? Buy some cases. Having a party for one? Get a 40 and a brown paper bag. All the cool kids on the block are doing it anyways. Bottom Line: There is lots of selection and cheap liquor, and if you can be bad ass enough to want to get out of your car in the neighborhood at night, it is totally worth the trip.

I was surprised by the prices, and especially the selection at the Chicago-Lake Liquor store. The extremely visible and attentive security force did not surprise me. When I picked up a bottle and began to double back towards the door I had come in through, I certainly caught some attention. No words, no preemption, but I was on their radar. I retrieved a shopping basket, which I had neglected to grab upon my entrance, and continued browsing. They had my brand of bourbon, and at a price I hadn't been able to find in months (and believe me, I've looked). They didn't have the brand of rye whiskey I wanted, but I've only found the stuff at Surdyks before. Overall, good liquor selection and prices. I browsed their microwbrew, expecting to be less impressed, but was not. I ended up grabbing a tasty local microwbrew I had never tried before. The checkout stations were the most beat up, grungy part of the place. They seemed out of place inside Chicago-Lake. Perhaps they were there to ease you back into the neighborhood. Not that anyone offered me crack rock, grabbed my ass or asked for money.

This is the only liquor store I go to. The ONLY reason I give them 4 stars instead of 5 is the fact that they busted up the attempt to unionize. It's the most inexpensive liquor store in Minneapolis, I believe. Staff is always friendly, and they have an amazing selection. *** For all the people talking about sketchy clientele, convinced a shooting is about to take place, and the place being in a bad neighborhood, I have a few things to say to you: Just because brown people are around, doesn't mean that a place is bad. If you're afraid of people of color, please go back to Edina, et al. We live in a city that's already 80% white, we don't need suburbanites complaining about being afraid of the 20% who are "different."

We ordered the liquor for our wedding from Chicago Lake Liquors. Peter, who is in charge of event ordering took care of us and was prompt and precise. They use a 3rd party for delivery but their prices are competitive and with the amount of beers and champagne we were ordering, the pricing was still great. Lastly, because we ordered cases of beer and champagne, we were able to return whole cases that were not consumed. There is a 10% restocking fee but it's still much better than getting a keg and only going through half of it, being unable to do anything about it, beyond just drinking yourself to oblivion. It was extremely interesting to see how busy Chicago Lake Liquor gets at 10:30am on a Monday morning.

I know most Minnesotans LOVE Surdyk's, but you can keep your uppity wine and cheese store - I love my booze cheap and have no problems if it comes in a plastic jug with a handle on it. I'm not one of those people who locks their doors when they drive down Lake Street. I grew up in this area and I'm perfectly comfortable walking into this liquor store at night by myself (believe me when I tell you it's ten times safer in there now than it was when I was younger.) They have absolutely everything, it's dirt cheap and the employees rule. Oh, and if you stand by the display of 40s long enough, you are bound to see some awesomeness go down. You can thank me for this life-changing heads up later. Also, where else can you buy a mason jar of "corn whiskey" for $9 while some lady talks drunken politics to the bottles of JD? Trust me, driving across the city to Surdyk's is a stupid waste of time.

This place is great for what I need it to be. Cheap wine. I go here for cheap wine, at like $2.99-$3.99 a bottle. I have no palate and no shame. However, it is a bit crowded (the aisles), the beer selection isn't that great (go to Zipp's), and the clientele can be a bit sketch. But for cheap wine, come here. I think you can also buy it by the case, so save even more dollas.

Best prices in town? I would be very surprised if you could find cheaper booze anywhere. Good booze like Jagermeister and Jameson even. Don't like either one? Ok, they pretty much have almost any major brand of any major booze you have heard of at prices that I have yet to see beat. Maybe you want to lock your doors on the drive down. Maybe you shouldn't live in the phukking suburbs and should keep an open mind in the first place. Duh. Plus they are open till 10pm every day of the week except of course Sunday which costs the state of Minnesota how much exactly in potential lost tax revenue? You can drive to Hudson, WI doncha know on Sunday and get liquor. It is only four exits past St. Paul.

Without a doubt the best liquor store in the metro area...at least on this side of the Mississippi. This place can curtail to almost any boozehounds tastes. On a budget and need to get plowed? A case of Black Label and a bottle of Thunderbird can be yours for well under $20. The bum wine selection here is wonderful. Mad Dog 20/20 Orange Jubilee is like my secret boozy mistress that you dont introduce to your friends because you're ashamed. Actually, nevermind all of my friends are well aware that I drink some putrid liquors. For your non bum wine needs, the selection is good. I base my wine buying on either a hilarious name or if it has something cute on the bottle. This is why Little Penguin is my favorite wine. People say the store is "sketchy" but thats kind of a stretch. They've got so much security onsite that the likelihood anything would ever occur to compromise your safety is laughable. BONUS: It shares a parking lot with Los Ocampo...so if you havent eaten, go there.

If we're just going to grab a bottle or a case of beer, we'll hit the liquor store closet to home, but for stocking up, this is THE spot! For a fact, hands down, cheapest prices in the city, probably by 15-20%. On our most recent visit we spent $118 and got a 1.75 of Svedka, 750 of cherry Stoli (in the bargain bin near the check out, with many other flavors to choose from!), a liter of Bushmill's, 750 of whipped cream Smirnoff, a case of Coors Light (keepin it classy, always) 6-pack of Angry Orchard ciders, 4-pack of Bud Light Lime tallboys, and 4 assorted little 1-oz bottles of flavored vodkas. Hell of a deal. Also, the people-watching is phenomenal. Feeling bad about yourself? Come here, and you'll feel better, I swear. Minus one star cuz I always feel like a shooting might occur at any moment. Oh, and the aisles are a bit narrow and difficult to navigate.

This is my place. If I ever need to get my drank-on, I go here. Great selection. Great prices. Seriously, I don't go anywhere else. There is always a mad rush at closing time on the weekends, so if you're wise, you'll get your shopping done early. The parking lot is like a zoo!!! Come early, stay sane.

This place is amazing. I rarely visit liquor stores, but I'm confident in saying that this store is nicer and better priced than any other one I've been to, including ones in the suburbs. I was not expecting the level of microbrews that this place has, nor the wine selection. I was also not expecting the friendly, happy cashiers. I mean, what liquor store has happy cashiers? This place. This place does.

Good selection. GREAT prices (and sometimes incredible prices). The neighborhood and clientele are best described as "eclectic". Go in, and ask if Pete is around. Pete is the beer buyer and is readily willing to walk you around and introduce you to all the different beers. He always has something interesting that is new and always has something interesting on sale. Everyday prices: 12pks of Sam Adams, Sierra Nevada, Summit, Ranger are always in the $10.99-$11.99 range. On sale: I recently scored a case of Goose Island for $14.99 & a Sam Adams 12pk sampler for $8.99. If you don't like getting gouged by the the little monopoly your local Muni operates then cross a couple of zip codes and stock up.

Ordered through Drizly. Easy mistake got wrong beer. Not only did they apologize but hand delivered the right beer. Super happy great customer service will always buy here!! So glad they are back!

HUGE selection, TINY prices! This is the way that all liquor stores should be. Cheap, with an abundance to choose from. I was highly impressed. I got two 12 packs for like $22! $22!! That felt great. I sometimes hate spending money on alcohol, but I do it anyways, so I, now on, will be coming here! Plus, I got into a nice little conversation with the check out lady. Her son is about to have a baby.. isn't that nice?

I have to say, for being tucked into a part of town I don't want to bus to, I'm totally impressed. I got my favorite wine for 7 bucks. 7! How awesome is that? The rest of the prices I saw on things I like were pretty fab too; my friend picked up three 6-packs of beer for less than $25. I may have a new favorite booze shack (as the people watching fodder is also supreme).

It's in a shady area. The beer is about 15% cheaper than MGM and it's the same distance from uptown. Check out the wine disco bin. Blackstone Pinot Noir was $5.99 Great selection. They do take credit cards, but they don't take American Express.

Cheap wine, cheap beer, cheap liquor...what else does a person really need? Be prepared to deal with a bunch of sketchy characters in the parking lot, but they just add to the charm of the place. :P

I attempt to get a parking spot close to the front doors. Once inside, I relax a bit. The security guard in his perch puts me more at ease. Seriously though, one of the best selections for both beer and liquor on the South Side of the city. Great prices, stock and selection. However, you often have to make your way through guys paying in change...who "forgot" their ID...or just want to bump you on their way through. If you can handle the tough crowd (often found on evenings) then this is your spot!

This is my neighborhood liquor store. The staff are always friendly and helpful. Prices are reasonable...you can get almost anything from a cheap bottle of wine to an expensive bottle of champagne. There is a great selction of beers, liqueurs, and hard liquor as well. Chicago Lake Liquors obviously cares about their customers.

If I ever wanted to commission a study involving myriad socioeconomic groups in one location, this store would be a strong contender for the spot. Go here on a Saturday night (yes we still have those silly blue laws on Sunday, good thing Wisconsin is close enough for a beer run!) and you will see so many types of people it will make your head spin. As far as the store itself, the prices are great and the selection is greater. One of the cooler parts of the store is the new addition of a swanky-style counter that they keep super premium liquors behind. They also have a nice assortment of glassware; in fact on my twenty-first birthday they gave me some glasses to celebrate. I thought that was kind of cool.

Love it, love it, love it. Very good selection, stellar prices - and I mean STELLAR - reasonable lines, friendly cashiers, ample and helpful employees, and even though it's right at the corner of two very busy streets it has a parking lot. Did I mention the crazy-cheap prices? New favorite liquor store.

This is my go to liquor store. They have some of the best prices around. Sometimes $10 cheaper then other stores. Check this place out first. The only draw back is the small wine section. But other then that its great.

Great prices, selection and people watching. In line I overheard an elderly looking woman proclaim "I'll stab a bitch if it come to it." Don't worry about getting stabbed in the store, though, as they have an armed guard.

The security guard gave me the boot today for carrying an empty, reusable shopping bag into the store. Doesn't seem like a very green or very friendly attitude. At least he settled for screaming and berating me instead of shooting me.

Great selection and the staff were really friendly asking if they could help and yet not be pushy or really sizing you up for your age. Many of my friends like this place and some even think that it is the best liquor store in the Minneapolis-St Paul area. I wish I was closer.

Best liquor store in Minneapolis. I am a bit of a self proclaiming beer snob and Chicago-Lake has a great selection at unbelievable prices. Best price on Summit, Sierra, and New Beligium in the Twin Cities. Great selection of 6-packs and single bottles. The only knock I have on them is that when I want to reach for a cheap beer, my beer of choice is Busch Light and there is none to be found at Chicago-Lake. Staff is always friendly and are always smiling. Highly recommend making a trip to this hidden gem.

Prices cannot be beat. I've looked all over the metro and this is the best. Their selection is good and their staff is hands-off but friendly when needed. If you're buying in Minneapolis this is the only place you need to know.

Wow.....their selection is great. I passed by so many times thinking "this place looks sort of sketchy" and on impulse for a night of fun, I dropped in to pick up some beer and cider for me and my bf. I was surprised by how it seemed soooo different from the exterior. I picked up a stout that was being sold beneath cost for my bf then I picked up a cider for myself. The selection was amazing and the prices were very good. The atmosphere was not dreary like I expected but a bit on the lively side in a sense. This is not a "getting drunk" liquor store, its a "I want quality" liquor store. Feel free to stop in!

I am very torn about shopping Chicago Lake. It's in my neighborhood, the prices are lower than other liquor stores...unfortunately, their prices are low but they also pay their staff poorly. They were in the news last year because some employees petitioned the management to get the starting wage raised from $8/hour to $9/hour and those employees were immediately fired without explanation. This store is always PACKED and the prices are significantly lower than other liquor stores in the area, so it rubs me the wrong way that those low prices come at the expense of my neighbors who work there for well below a living wage. Even though it's walkable from my house I usually go to the family liquour store up lake street where I pay a little more but feel better about supporting a small family business.

Do you like deals? Do you like booze? Well you are in luck. Chicago Lake has some of the best deals around and a great selection to boot. Added bonus - a police officer is always on duty.

Best Liquor Store in the city. They have Guinness 8 packs for $10.99.

OMG, Bad as sorority girl only gave CLL 3 stars? This place is the bomb. If you want top shelf in Minneapolis at bottom shelf prices, there is no place like Chicago Lake Liquor. Maybe she's not as bad ass as she pretends and she's just too scared to drive Lake street on a regular basis. Hendricks at 33% less than just about every other store in the state. Hell, they are even less than Costco! Yes, the company that specializes in putting ma and pa out of business can't tough Chicago Lake's Ma and Pa business prices. Beer, yeah they've got that too, but if you're buying good stuff and want to save serious % of cash, this is the place to go. If you can't handle the neighborhood go during the day, and as the sorority gal pointed out, they usually have a couple badges hanging out inside and out. I'll be back Chi-Lake when the Hendricks bottle's are empty.

terrible security .....great prices on liquor .... felt like i was being followed an watched just to shop also being talked to with disrespect .... not my first time shopping there but it seems like nothing has changed ...