Leland Liquors

Place gets the job done. Decent selection. Prices are acceptable. Def convenient if eating at Opart next door. Owner is quirky, but I do not find him offensive (like it seems some folks do).

One experience here was enough to never return. After a quick search, no one else seems to have had an experience like mine, so i’ll share a funny story.
I was walking past, so I stopped in. The cell phone stuff is kind of amusing in a neurotic soup-​nazi sort of way, and hey, you can run your store however you want.
So I head in and back to the cooler, and notice some six packs sitting on the floor under the racks. Reach in, and discover it’s Zombie Dust. Score! As I pick it up, a jolting noise explodes from behind the rear door next to me. Cujo, I swear it was Cujo. This dog starts barking like crazy, mere inches away, and it threw me for a loop. I went up to the counter to pay, and said jokingly, «I guess your dog doesn’t like me very much», and the guy gruffly replies, «Yeah, he’s just doing his job». I guess they have the same job, scaring away any customers.
Oh, and the beer was $ 18/​six, and it turned out to be old and faded. Struck out big time here.

Guy yelled at me for checking to see which 6 pack didn’t have a layer of black grit on the top, then threw me out. There’s a liquor store a block and a half south on the same side of the street where they treat you normally.

The owner is hilarious, its great how upset people get w/​him, he’s totally putting on an act. He’s got a pretty good selection, but lots of the beer is expired and dusty, you’ll see cob webs on some of the 6 packs. There is usually zombie dust and gumball head available, its kind of pricey something like 17.99, Whole Foods has it for 13.99. I’ll stick with Foremost on Kedzie.

All right, so it’s kind of awesome that the store photo here is the «no cell phones sign,» because I had a run-​in having to do with this today.
Three reasons you shouldn’t buy your booze at Leland Liquors (oooh, smell that alliteration, I didn’t even intend for that to happen):
1. Small selection.
2. Their liquor is priced over Binny’s and WHOLE FOODS. By a LOT. Their Death’s Door was priced at $ 32.99; you can get it at Binny’s for $ 24.99 and at Whole Foods they only had it boxed with Q Tonic for $ 32.99 so I have to assume the price is similar to Binny’s there if the Death’s Door were on its own.
3. GOD HELP IF YOU USE YOUR CELL PHONE, EVEN IF IT’S JUST BECAUSE HUMAN ERROR MADE YOU MISS THE SIGNS, NO MATTER WHAT YOU’RE DOING WITH IT, BECAUSE IT’S VEXING AND INSOLENT. The guy kept checking on me — like, not verbally, just sticking his head out from the other room and seeing what I was doing — which, whatever. But THEN. When he saw my CELL PHONE. Ugh. I told him I was just using it as a calculator, and he pointed out in a rude manner that there were signs that said «no cell phones,» and fine, I made a mistake, but he quickly escalated it and started raising his voice (I hate saying «yelling» but that’s what it was), and was talking over me despite the fact that I wasn’t disagreeing, and I was going to put my cell phone away, but then I said never mind, I’d just go somewhere else. As I was walking out he stood in my way and said «OK BYE. If you need something next time you ask ME.» I asked him if that applied if I needed a calculator and he said «You ask ME.»
You know what’s vexing? …I’m not even going to finish that, you know where I’m going with it.
Seriously, no one has any business treating their customers like that. Sure, it’s his right to do so as a business owner, but I hope his business fails, because there are plenty of people to whom I would rather give my money, for instance the nice gentlemen in the liquor store at Rockwell and Lawrence. I will go out of my way to make sure everyone I know goes out of their way to avoid Leland Liquors.

It’s on my street, and easily accessible for a bottle of wine. The quirky owner and weird signage is charming. The wine is not.
My only conclusion is that they sell manufacturer off casts and spoiled wine because they can buy it at a low price. The wine is typically an unrecognizable brand, which is fine, but I’ve purchased probably 15 bottles from there to date and half of them either smell weird, are corked, oxidized, or otherwise have simply gone off.
I’m not a wine snob, but I do know when a bottle of wine is spoiled and most of their bottles are. In fact right now as I’m writing this the glass I poured is next to me, wafting the smell of mice, asphalt and cabbage with a hint of nursing home. Going to pour the bottle down the sink, it isn’t fit to cook with.

Do not shop here! Over priced and extremely rude customer service. If I could give it negative stars I would. Very Dirty and smells like something died in there.

I realize that this is a very old review but I didn’t realize back then they wouldn’t push from my phone. This is a true story.
I was in this store yesterday (27.Aug.12) around 6:45 pm to pick up some Bourbon and when I walked in the little old man was eating a sandwich and very friendly and cordial. We exchanged the standards ‘how goes it’ and then I proceed to be dumbfounded as to what liquor I wanted. Here is where things went bad…
A young woman probably in her mid 30s walks in and picks up a six pack of what looked like Corona and went to the counter, the man behind the counter immediately tells her that she has to buy something more than 10 dollars to use a card and she politely responds with something to the effect of «my apologies, the sticker reads 9.99 and I figured it would be okay» and this guy f’ng lost his mind. He begins yelling and screaming at the lady and waving his arms all over the place in a very threatening manner. By this point I have decided to just watch and let her defend herself, but she decides that she will just get two six packs. She walks over to the cooler to get another and he intercepts her, yanks the 6 pack out of her hand and tells her she isn’t buying from his store. At this point she begins to lose her f’ng mind and is going wild. I figure its best to get the woman out of the store so I politely usher her out of the store while being sure to tell this man he is a dick.
Point is, I can respect your fees and taxes, banks are screwing us all, and when I walked in, I was playing with my cell phone (which he has signs posted saying its a no no) and he didn’t say a word to me. I took the lady to the store on the other corner and we bought our libation and we both lived on. I beg you to not shop there. Any man who would talk like that to a woman should be made to close his doors, or at least have man hold him accountable. This man is pathetic.
And if you read this Sir, you know what you did. I’m sure you do it all the time, but I won’t stand for it.

Leland Liquors has a new policy which prohibits the purchase of Three Floyds to not only one six pack per customer/​party BUT the six pack must now be purchased IN ADDITON TO A SECOND PRODUCT!
I used to be a frequent customer here, stopping in once a week (between my partner and me) to purchase their over-​priced craft beer. I even found the eccentric owner a bit charming and was happy once he seemed to recognize me. But, I will no longer be spending my money here. I find this new policy to be such a slap in the face to the neighborhood customer that I cannot support their business.
There is a lovely wine shop just east on Leland called Provenance that carries some Three Floyds products and MUCH better wine than Leland Liquors. Spend your money there. Or, head to Gene’s in the square if you need a bigger beer selection.

Great place to get BYOB for Opart’s. Selection is great for a mom & pop. I’ve been here a number of times, and yes, the old pop here can be a little gruff (as noted elsewhere). But he’s got a sense of humor underneath. Don’t be too serious & he won’t be either.
As for cellphones? Dad’s house; dad’s rules. :)

One of the best dive bars in the city. They play live blues on Friday and the bands are good.

So I promised myself I would write a negative review for this guy. So here is the story. Its a saturday afternoon, I walk in off the street I have to use the washroom, so I make a be line for the washroom, I plan to use the washroom and have a quick beer and wait for a bud. The guy behind the counter, starts yelling «Hey Hey, when you come into bar you have to ask to use the washroom.» So I say,“Ok can I use the washroom.” He says,” No you can’t just walk in here like you own the place.” I was shocked. What is this guys beef? I was a going to be a customer. He apparently did not have anybody in the place. This guy is really a stupid petty horrible bitter person. I hope he lose his license. His disregard for the public is criminal…

Is it possible to give negative stars? I’d like to. Maybe I’ll just start new accounts to drag this asshat down a peg.
While I like the selection here (liquor, beer, no experience with wine), the man has the social skills of an overheated engine block.
(1) People answer cell phones. It’s uncouth to be texting or talking on a phone on a date, while driving, or during a loved one’s bar/​bat mitzvah, but not in the corner of a store. How in the hell does this impact you or your business? I’m happy to oblige your rules, but if I’m kind enough to STEP OUTSIDE to take a phone call, don’t throw a fit. Just update your signs to «Cell Phones are vexing. Don’t even own one if you plan to purchase my liquor, walk in this store, or take the 49 Western Bus past this building.» I had to take a call to buy even more things from your establishment, and you decided it was reason to put 4 bottles back in their original place. There were no customers in the store, but you felt free to yell «DON’T STEP INTO MY STORE UNLESS YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE BUYING.» It’s not cute, it’s not endearing, it’s bad business.
(2) I understand that the charges for credit card transactions are expensive and ridiculous, but it is not up to us to pay them for you. You’re a business, and you pay the fee for the ease of receiving this convenience; charging us for it is illegal. Plain et Simple. If you don’t want to pay for it, be a cash-​only establishment.
…Huff…Puff…
(proceeds back to his crocheting)

I buy a lot of wine. The bottles I bought here were terrible. Most likely stored in sunlight for far too long. On return the clerk gave me nothing but excuses and attitude. Stay away if you like wine.
Come in if you like to be insulted by an angry intolerant jerk selling overpriced booze.
Also, I encourage everyone to report them for their $ 12 minimum plus up charge for using a credit card. This is clearly against all credit card company policies. Call 1−800-VISA-911 or
for visa and visit
for mastercard.

The jerko owner can stick a bottle of his overpriced booze up his wazoo! This guy just lives to antagonize his patrons. He must think he is so f’ing funny. I swear he enjoys driving his customers crazy. It’s like he’s trying to make people hate him. He would rather have someone storm out of his store pissed off than make a sale!
I’ve really tried to be nice to the old frustrated fart. I really, really have.
Here’s an example of what I’m talking about. Last time (and I do mean last time) I bought something here my bill was $ 10.01. I only had a $ 20 bill.
–I say, «hold on, let me check my pockets.»
–He says, «Don’t worry, I’ve got it.»
–I say, «no, I’m sure I have it.»
–I dig through every pocket, «Let me check my backpack for that penny.»
–He says again, «No, really, I’ve got it.»
–I dig through every pocket of my backpack, «I still don’t have a penny.»
–He says, «don’t worry, my friend, I’ve got it!»
–So I hand him the $ 20 bill and he hands me $ 9 and 99 cents in pennies, nickles and dimes back!
–I say, «Hey, you said that you had it!!!»
-«Yeah, I have $ 9 and 99 cents worth of change!»
-«Why on earth would I want $ 9 and 99 cents worth of change? I thought you had a freakin’ penny!»
-«Too bad for you isn’t it?»
What I wanted to do is punch the old geezer but I yelled a bit more, took my fistfull of pennies, nickles and dimes, turned around and walked out of this stinkin’ booze shop never to return.

I won’t comment about their selection or how they are overpriced in comparison to other stores in the area — I’m going 100% on customer service for this review and I will never give this store another dime. I echo people and their complaints about the signs and problems with credit cards. I’ve had to take out money to buy a six pack when I didn’t meet the $ 12 mark. Tonight, I got lectured about my signature on my receipt and how he should refuse the sale because the way I signed my receipt wasn’t identical to my credit card. I reminded him that if he had doubts, he’s welcome to card me to prove my identity. He further lectured and I got tired of listening to him and walked out with my purchase. It’s funny — he never carded me (though the lovely sign about how young and old will all be carded) but was willing to give up a $ 30 sale because my signature on an inch signature didn’t match identically to my credit card AND wasn’t interested when I said I’d prove my identity with showing him my license.
Do yourself the favor, walk two blocks to Cardinal where you’re treated like family instead of garbage. In this economy, you’d think small business owners would do everything to bring back business — but hey, maybe I’m just too ‘vexing and insolent’ of a customer to be given proper respect for shopping in a store.

This mom and pop shop has been around for ages and is connected to Tar Bar next door that used to be something else. The old fella that works in there is timeless and still very sharp. I have gone to this store many a time and they carry a fine selection of spirits and wine. They could do a bit better in maintaining their beer selection to include a more expansive selection, but really — where would the space for it be?
This shop also sells cigarettes and cigars like any good liquor store would. I stopped by here on New Year’s Eve and bought myself a bottle of Bailey’s and a bottle of Jameson to make Irish Coffees all day and all night and Leland Liquors came in the clutch. Yesterday was also Tet New Year’s Eve, so I stopped in this shop to do my last minute shopping and got myself a couple of bottles of brandy to make a wicked brandy cider. A cover band was blasting so loudly from Tar Bar it was hard to think straight. What’s funny is workers from Tar Bar will run in the liquor store telling what they need and get their load.
Leland Liquors is always great weather I’m going east or south as it’s located right across the street from the Western Brown Line Stop. During last night’s visit, what surprised me was that when I checked out, the owner guy saw my rice hat in hand and said, «Happy New Year Year.» I smiled and wished him the same. Only on the Northwest side do we have cultural awareness like this.

Beware. Beer: Maybe. Wine: Stay away.
«Off Brands» to say the least. Your best bet is to pick any bottle with the least amount of dust on it.
But here was the kicker for me. I was meeting a friend for dinner at the Thai place a few doors down, and they allow BYOB there. So we thought that we would buy a nice bottle of wine for our dinner.
After struggling to find something of any quality pedigree at all, we settled on an Argentinian Malbec. Brand was not recognizable, but little is at this place (plenty of cheap junk but we were looking for maybe just a little nicer than crap).
Anyway, purchased the bottle, went next door, opened it … and it was spoiled. Terrible, disgusting, not drinkable kind of spoiled.
So I took it back to the store. The previously nice old guy behind the counter became snotty and told me the wine was fine, and that «I just don’t know what Malbec tastes like». I explained to him that no wine should taste like this, and just wanted a replacement bottle. He held the bottle up to the light, and without ever tasting even a sip — pronounced the wine «just fine» and would not replace it.
Never Again !!

The mission: (1) Obtain beer for boyfriend who had rough day, preferably something Italian. (2) Find a decent red wine for dinner. (3) Find all this someplace between work and home.
My mission was great, as I was completely out of all wine and beer at my place. Fortunately, Leland Liquors is on my way home, directly across the street from the Western brown line stop. Hooray, I sense a happy ending here!
The beer selection in the cooler is pretty good for a smallish liquor store. I quickly found a six-​pack of Moretti and then was off the wine section. It’s a little cramped, but they do have lots of options. After much perusal, I found a bottle of Pinot Noir that looked good (come on, I pick them out by the labels, kids) and was set to go.
It’s a little pricey, but the gentleman who checked me out was friendly as could be. I am all about supporting local businesses who know that treating customers right is key.
The end of the story? I got tipsy, the boyfriend was cracking a smile by night’s end, and everyone is happy. Mission accomplished.

I’m a fan of Leland Liquors after my first visit to them today.
It’s not like they’re a huge superstore with every drink you could possibly imagine – they’re a small, family place with coolers full of beer, wine, and plenty of spirits on the shelves. That infamous sign that prohibits cell phone calls (as before mentioned) now says that making calls inside the store is «vexing.» Awesome. And I have to agree – isn’t it annoying when you’re in a liquor store, and some drunken frat boy is saying in the LOUDEST voice possible, «Duuuuuuude they’re like outta Miller! I meannn whoooaaaa that’s retarded.» At least I think so.
I picked up some winter seasonal Leinie’s (big fan), two fairly cheap bottles of pino grigio and a red wine called Blue Jean. I just picked it because it had a cool label… I don’t know jack about wine. It’s true.
The guy behind the counter was really nice, and he packed my wine bottles very securely. I guess the only thing I don’t like is the entrance – it’s kind of obscure, as you walk into the bar next door to get in. Hmm.
It’s in my neighborhood… I’ll be back.
Purchase with credit cards is a 10 dollar minimum.
The guy (does he own the place?) was very nice.