West Lakeview Liquors Love

Stopped into this little beer and liquor emporium last week for one of my Spring beer stock up frenzy's. I am a long time lurker here on LTH and just recently discovered the joys of thread categories beyond the restaurant reviews. This storefront has a few mentions here in LTH land but I think West Lakeview Liquors deserves their own thread.
I'm a first time poster so be gentle.

I discovered West Lakeview Liquors a couple years back while sitting on Addison in typical rush hour traffic. I pulled over, always game to explore a small independent store like this one. What I found inside was probably the best assortment of imported and domestic beers outside of say, the Winekeller on Roosevelt Rd before the mysterious fire . By no means the volume of a Sam's or Binny's but what's there is cherse.

The level of quality and depth of Belgian and German beers makes me want to hoard and drink my self stupider every time i'm there. I've also been known to sport a chubbie while fondling certain impossible to find bottlings, which my cardiologist says that at my age and girth is not only impossible, but not recommended - if possible. Just kidding- sort of.
This little liquor boutique, as it were, also reminds me fondly of long lamented Casey's on Chicago Ave. I wish I bought one of their filthy T shirts when I had a chance. They closed about 12 years or so ago. I liked going into Casey's not because they had the biggest selection but because what they did have was chosen by true beer fanatics and homebrewers. I am doing West Lakeview Liquors a disservice by likening them to Casey's because Casey's was a dump. West Lakeview Liquors is not a dump by any means, it's just that they show a kindred deep down fanaticism and pride in what they have on their shelves.

The store is very small which limits their selection but that's a good thing in a way because they are forced to look past some of the easily found beers and procure those that the big corporations won't bother looking for, much less stock.

In addition to the beers they have a tidy, quality heavy selection of Scotch and American whisky's ( I spied a very rare Brora on an upper shelf), some nice liquers and aperitifs, and an expanding wine selection which appears to show the same deft hand at selection that the beer shelves have. My only complaint is the wine must never encroach on the beer space and I saw it had on a couple of floor displays. I'll register a formal complaint on my third spring stock up.

In closing, I highly recommend this little Gem of a place. I'm a champion of the family owned establishments and this is a great one. Worth a trip from the suburbs for sure.
Their UK selection needs some rounding out (I think they were expecting a big shipment) but beyond that I can't complain. OK I will - I wish they would open up a satellite store in Forest Park, closer to me

By the way they won the #10 spot for Best Beer Retailer Award by the Rate Beer Site.

PS: Thank you all out there by the way who have turned me on to some great restaurants, drinking establishments and cooking tips. I love this site!



West Lakeview Liquors
2159 W. Addison
773-525-1916
http://www.wlvliquors.com/

West Lakeview Liquors is a nice little corner liquor store with a great selection and friendly staff. I would definitely second the recommendation of this place.

I too miss Casey's on Chicago Ave. My beer store of choice when I lived in the area in the late '80 and early '90's...

West Lakeview was our go-to store when, a few years ago, we were lucky enough to move a block away. We're a little further away now, but still go back as often as we can. This is a great store. The staff is incredibly knowledgeable and friendly. The beer and liquor election is the best I've seen outside of Sam's and Binny's. The wine selection is good, but I wish they had slightly higher quality stuff in the sub-$20 range. They also have tasting fairly often, including some larger ones in the adjacent yard. I believe they deliver also, but I've not taken advantage of this.

I too appreciate the excellent selection and friendly, enthusiastic service at WLVL. They always have seasonal beers before anyone else does, and a decent wine selection. They're walking distance from Lush on Roscoe, and the two generally accompany each other quite well, filling in when and if the other is missing something.

Thank god for West Lakeview Liquors. Addison is the main artery for when we head out to family and friends in the burbs and WLL has saved my ass many times. They also have Imperial (Costa Rica) and Aguila (Colombia)--both of which bring back travel memories and are damned good lagers--and WLL has an excellent selection of red wine from Oregon and Washington State that rival many Napa Valley equivalents. Viva West Lake Liquors!