Washington State Liquor Store

Sad for all the workers losing their jobs when liquor goes to grocery stores and out of the states hands June 1^st but really it was long overdue. It is a major hassle to have to go out of your way to pick up booze for a party. The 3 closest State liquor stores to me all are inconvenient to get to & their parking sucks. When I am able to walk up to my QFC or Safeway it will be so much easier and YES cheaper! The clerk at this store was telling the patron in front of me that the public would all be shocked when they find booze isn’t cheaper at grocery stores. I bet it will be $ 2 a bottle cheaper. When I don’t have to pay the rent on a store, the high hourly salary of a liquor store worker & their benefits the price of a bottle will be less.

dude, this blows.
Why is Washington delegating liquor to shops instead of supermarkets… wow, somebody needs to wake up.

Clean store… Poor service. I knew exactly what I wanted, Midori. I didn’t want to look for it so I asked where it is. I talked to an older man and was immediately shown where, but I was told me to get an alternate brand which is the same thing except cheaper. He said the only difference is that I’m paying extra for the label. Maybe he was trying to save me a few bucks, but it felt a little condescending. Was it just my imagination? It sounded like he wanted to steer me away from a «foreign» or Japanese brand. Hmm… I’ll chalk it up to my imagination.
Next, I asked if they carry the stuff that you use to mix drinks (a bar mixing set). He promptly told me that they only carry drinks in a rather gruff tone of voice. Again, maybe it was my imagination.
Now, I pull out my credit card to pay. I’m immediately told that they can’t take my card unless I sign the back of it. Sigh! In my mind… I can’t get this anywhere else in Washington. After all, this is a government monopoly. So, I didn’t hesitate, nor did I change my cheerful demeanor and just signed the back of the card. I did try to express some sympathy and say the I’d bet that there were people that raised a fuss about signing the back of their credit cards. I expected him to say something about how frustrating it is to have to ask people to do it as part of his job. Well… He was genuinely irritated and said that if people didn’t want to sign, then they didn’t have to buy stuff there.
Okay, three strikes and you’re out. He is a confirmed grump and would be canned before long at any other business with competition. It really saddened me to have to swallow my feelings and be treated this way when I work retail in a competitive business and have crabby, condescending, penny-​pinching, finicky and/​or clueless customers all day. I had just gotten off of work and wanted to try my hand at making a Midori Sour with real Midori.
I didn’t let the experience ruin my drink… Although, it didn’t taste nearly as good as when someone else makes it for me. Oh well, practice will make perfect. I hope.

Clerk Jerry, the older gent, refuses to break a $ 50 or $ 100 because the store apparently doesn’t carry enough cash in the till. What a joke! He’s claimed on two occasions that the majority of customers pay with debit/​credit cards.
Here’s another reason for the liquor stores to become privatized in WA because the little convenient store in the same strip mall was more than happy to take my money, and make change.

I think the key to writing good reviews is to start out drunk.
That’s why I love Washington Liquor Store #69. They’re the only reason I’m ever funny. Also, they’re clean, friendly, and they make you feel like less of an addict even when they know your name… which is good for the denial factor.
I lopped off a few stars because I’m wasted, right now, and feeling impulsive. Anyone know a good base jumping company?

Great selection! Not used to having to buy it at a designated location, but it’s close to my place. Not much of an experience, which is fine. Went in, found what I wanted, got out.

I went in today to pick up some rum for mojitos… I got to the register, placed the bottle on the counter, the checker snatched the bottle up and stared at me. I look like I’m maybe seventeen years old, so I’ll give her that. I immediately forked over my ID as I always do. It was a temporary, so I informed her that as well as the temporary license and the expired copy I also had my passport on me, just in case. She kept on eye-​balling me, so I asked her if she needed to see the passport. She nodded, yes, so I handed it to her. Still clutching my Cruzan light rum, and looking at me like a deranged, psycho-​booze-​hound, she gingerly tapped in my birthdate, and of course, the screen said VALID BIRTHDATE. Only then did she loosen up and ring up the alcohol. I felt dirty and guilty and weird, which is not what I want to feel when I spend money. And since alcohol sales in Washington state have dropped, the Liquor Control board might consider treating their customers as guests and not as felons.

A liquor sto’ in walking distance is definitely a good thing. But if you’re me, you’ll just hop off the bus early after work and pick up something. We occasionally purchase some ‘hard A’ for cooking (bourbon baked beans), but sometimes I feel like a girly drink w/​peach schnapps (shut it). ;)
We have found that they sell BLACK BOX wine for really cheap, about $ 15 for, yes, a BOX of wine. But it’s really good! And a box is equivalent of 4 bottles. We usually go for the Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon, but lately can only find the California one, which is a good substitute. We’ve tried the Merlot, and it’s just okay. We’ve also purchased the Bota Box, Shiraz when there’s no Black Box.
The employees are pretty nice and if you catch them during a lull, they will talk your ear off (in a good way). I’ve also gone to complete paperwork for events w/​alcohol and it’s been seamless.
Parking/​getting into their parking lot is kind of a PITA, but I appreciate the handful of «15mins only» parking slots.

I’m a California transplant, so this whole notion of having to go buy booze from some windowless, cinder-​block, State-​run facility instead of shoveling it into my cart at the local Safeway left me with an illogical fear of drinking anything beyond beer and wine for the longest time. Based on little more than the exteriors of many stores I’d driven past, I always envisioned some kind of dark, sticky-​floored, unsavory establishment patronized by people in overcoats and sunglasses, paying with cash and scuttling back to the shadows with their purchases hidden away in dingy paper bags.
That may, in part, have lead to my being overly surprised and pleased when I finally broke down and went in, only to find the place über-​clean, well lit, and staffed with super-​friendly people who really know their stuff. Not even a little judgment!
Really though, this is 2009 and I want to buy my hooch at 7 – 11.

I’m not sure how to rate a store that I’m required to come to in order to get my fix of booze. But the staff here are not worried when you purchase enough liquor to get 8 people drunk for a week. I enjoy the fact that I can go here and not feel like a lush when I purchase enough alcohol to drown a small child in.
Now that this store has moved to a larger location and undergone a major remodel, I really enjoy coming here. I wander for awhile just looking a the pretty bottles, trying to decide if I should attempt something new or stick with the standards that always work for me. The staff is always available to assist and are very knowledgable. They know if the 12 year old Scotch you are purchasing for your dad will be smooth and peaty or will burn his nose hairs and esophagus.
Good clearance selection as well. Prices fluctuate with the market, but it’s all pretty standard.

I normally don’t rate liquor stores, but I read Sean D’s review and had to pipe up. I’ve never had a negative experience at this store. My frustrations stem more from the tight parking, but I’m always in and out without being come on to by drunks or hearing the «F-​bomb» from the employees.
In fact, I’ve never had a negative experience at a Washington State Liquor Store. Which is good, because they’re a necessary evil. Why can’t we have Rum, on sale, at Longs Drugs like they do in California? Oh well.
This store used to be tucked behind where it is now. That was a scary location. I was always waiting for someone to hold it up, but now it’s up on 5^th in the old Olympic Sports space. Much, much better.
I just realized rating liquor stores is silly. I mean, «Where else are you going to score booze?»

I’ve actually had some pleasant experiences here, so maybe I have been lucky the two times I have gone in. I’m not sure what Erik is referring to when he says it is small, it may not be the biggest in the state, but out of the 15 or so I have been to it is only smaller than maybe 4 of them.
I may be way off base here, but it seems like this location has a larger wine selection than any other liquor store I have been to.
I like the fact that they carry Sake, although probably most stores do, I just haven’t seen them and noticed it for the first time here. I found a set that included Sake accessories, and went to the register. This is where I had my only disappointment out of both visits. When I asked the clerk if Sake is usually served warm (I found out that it is traditionally, I have had both cold and warm, warm is preferred), she looked at me with daggers like it would be impossible for her to know. Now, I understand if you don’t know… but you might! I’ve received a lot of good information from liquor store clerks over the years, this was not one of those times.
One other thing, the location is not desirable. Across from the Northgate mall on 5^th avenue. You can quickly park, plenty of spaces, but it is a clusterf~~~ in general.

What the hell??? Did I just get dropped into an alternative universe where bad service is seen as good service? I stopped by the this store to pick up some vodka and had the worst shopping experience of my entire life.
Let me sum it up for you:
1. Two drunk fellows where standing inside the entrance when I came in making comments to each of the customers entering the store. These ranged from benign «How’s it going?» to downright misogynistic comments to female shoppers like, «Hey Honey-​buns. Wanna keep me warm tonight?» The two staff working seemed to know the two fellows (maybe they where staff who just dropped by on their day off to say hi) and didn’t bat an eye at their behavior or comments. One even had a brief friendly conversation while I was there.
2. One of the staff was very angry that he had to work longer then he was scheduled. He proceeded to take this anger out on everyone in the store. This was done a number of ways. He started off yelling at his co-​worker, stating, «I ain’t going to f****** work any later then six. If he doesn’t show up I’m f****** leaving. You got that?» I didn’t just over hear this. I was in the back of the store as he yelled it at his co-​worker. His co-​worker just stared at him with a blank stare. I assume this is because this is standard behavior for him.
3. When I tried to check out I got in this fellows line. He only had one other person ahead of me and he was struggling with the person’s check. After about ten minutes, he turned to me and said, «This line is closed. You need to go to the next line.» Um… OK… Guess you didn’ t see me standing here for the last ten minutes…
4. After moving to the next line I wait another 20 minutes because the four people in front of me (Three of which where behind me in the other line) are buying enough booze to fill a small bar. Just its about time for me to get to the counter Mr. Rage yells over, «Hey You! I can help you over here.» as he shakes his head and looks at me like I’m dumb and blind for not seeing that his counter was open.

Despite being liquor store #69, this store actually kinda sucks. Not only is it small, but the staff are generally rude. Also, despite the fact that I use my debit card anywhere and everywhere nearly every day, this particular liquor store doesn’t seem to like the fact that the little magnetic strip where you’re supposed to sign your card has fallen off.
GASP! There’s no signature on your card, we can’t take your money here, sir, despite the fact that I need to enter in a pin anyway to complete the transaction. Which brings me to another issue: Why do Washington liquor stores have the slowest, most primitive credit card systems?
Of course, the idea of a state-​run liquor store is just silly, anyway. I get it, at one point, there was a lot of drunken Finnish loggers and beligerent Native Americans, but that was a hundred years ago. Why let a few Finns ruin the fun for everyone else?