Spec’s Liquors

Specs is the best place to go for all things alcoholic. If you want it, they probably have it. Great beer selection and tons of wines and liquors to choose from. There’s even a small section of gourmet snacks and cheeses (good move). All of the staff that I’ve ever encountered in this particular Specs is extremely kind and welcoming, helpful, and knowledgeable about their products. If you don’t know what you want, they can help you find something right up your alley!

For the size of the store, there is a wide variety of wines and liquors. I was greeted when I walked in, when I walked into each employees section, and even when I walked by a group of employees who were discussing store lay out. I finally had a question and a stocker, not familiar with whiskey quickly found the guru for me. Even though they didnt have it in stock they were able to offer to order it or find a different location. I felt the prices were slightly higher than average, but the service pretty much made up for it. I would definitely stop by again after work if I need to fill the wine fridge.

Without a doubt the 2^nd best Specs in the city (after the Specs warehouse of course.) But I always went here the most, because it was more readily accessible. This is a very large specs, so it has a very nice selection of wines, spirits and beer. It also has a fine collection of things to accompany drinks, such as snacks and cigars. I like this location because there’s plenty of parking nearby, and it is built for speed. Sometimes there’s a big line, but they power through that line very quickly with 3 – 4 people operating the registers.
They have an excellent selection of alcohol, from boone’s farm to some of the nicest single malts around. Their beer selection is probably where they’re weakest at, but its still decent. There is a 5% discount if you use cash or debit.

Spec’s, Spec’s, Spec’s… how can I love thee more?
This is not as good a selection as the mothership on Smith, nor a disaster like the Montrose «discount» store.
This is a solid well-​staffed booze shop. And the staff is helpful, and then some. Was helped by Eileen today since I needed pool-​friendly beverages (no glass). We look at hard ciders (nothing in cans), we look at premixed drinks in plastic and bags (yes, bags!), then an AHA moment – they have chilled cocktails in cans. So I bought 5.
Thank you Eileen.
What else, I’m probably the only Canadian who has had a Spec’s key card on his keychain for 20 years who lives 2,500 miles (4,000 km) away.
Whether you want a $ 200 bottle of wine or a $ 10 half-​gallon of gin, Spec’s has it, at a good price, and the staff is excellent,

The «Wine Connoisseurs» at this location are excellent. I’ve asked for wine recommendations and they have never let me down. Their wine section is very neat and organized.
Parking here can be a little tricky if you park right in front of the store. Not bad or anything, it just may take a while to back out because some drivers yield and not stop at the stop signs. That’s why I park on either side of the store’s location and just walk over.
The cashiers are very nice and have a great system to get people in and out quickly. Great store!

It’s dangerous to live right across the street from a liquor store. It’s doubly dangerous to live across from a Spec’s because you know you’re getting the best price and the biggest selection.
There has always been a ton of staff around to help with any questions, and they’ve never steered me wrong.
Spec’s is where it’s at.
Liquor, food, drink accessories — they’ve got it.

This location is fairly old, compared to the others in the area. And because of that, it’s not the biggest either.
Liquor and wine selection are ok, but I can’t always find the top-​end, selective brands. There’s just not enough shelf space. Same with the beer, as you’re not going to find a wide variety like Belgium beers.
The only reason why this place gets bumped from 2 to 3 stars is the convenient location. I can stop by after the gym, especially on Fridays to get my free samples.

From the outside I was skeptical of what I would find inside. I figured Spec’s would be one of those stores that had nothing but crap beer and a poor selection of wine. I was pleasantly surprised to find out I was wrong.
Spec’s has a large selection of wine, and it is not only broken down by type but by regions of the world.
The craft beer «bomber» selection was one of the best I’ve seen. Quite a variety; from Rogue to Duvel to Great Divide to Matilda.
Great prices too. Walked out with two bottles of nice wine and two bombers for just under $ 40.

I love this place. Not sure how other stores can compete in the Houston market. Their selection & prices are simply not to be beat. I always find something new & interesting to try at Spec’s & this location is no different. There were 2 female employees having a «way to personal for the public» conversation while standing next to my husband & I near the beer coolers. They were too busy gossiping to even acknowledge us. LOL These days it seems you can’t expect service employees to act professional in the presence of customers it seems. I try not to hold it against businesses unless it becomes a trend at a particular location.

I think most Centennial liquor stores are converting to Spec’s, but don’t quote me. This place is located in the swanky part of town next to a Chinese restaurant. The shopping center even has their own security guard! I say swanky because the Galleria mall is just a few blocks down. You can agree to disagree.
While visiting Houston for business, we stayed at Hotel Indigo. After a long day, we were trying to figure out what to do. The gentleman at the front desk suggested we go to the mall, which was right across the street from the hotel.
Mall + Joy = trouble
So, we went with option #2 and drove to Spec’s. It reminded me of Bev-​Mo! They carried Lorina sparkling drinks in glass bottles, which I adore. They did not carry a couple California wines that I was craving. No big deal because we found their snack section and a Boursin cheese spread we have never seen before– White cheddar and sage.
All in all, this place is pretty solid compared to the liquor stores in OKC. Not to frown upon them, but the liquor laws blow. Cheers to Spec’s.

This Galleria Spec’s isn’t the mega Spec’s downtown but this location certainly isn’t lacking when it comes to any wines or other liquor products. There are even a few unusual and specialty finds, too.
Inside you’ll find a nice selection of wines from the standard to the unusual for every occasion fancy or casual. We discovered some excellent cherry and blackberry wines with light, sweet to tart flavor that go well with a variety of foods. If you’re a beer lover, you’re in luck. This location does have many beer, stout, lager and ale options. Champagnes are not lacking in choices, either.
The foods (cheeses, sausages, salami, etc.) are not as diverse a selection as some locations but there are still enough in stock to satisfy. The candies and other sweets are decent variety and will please those of the sweet tooth type, like me.
Staff are friendly and knowledgeable and the store is clean and well organized. As with all Spec’s there is a discount when you pay with cash or debit.
This location can be somewhat busy considering it’s the Galleria area and parking can be tight. Overall, it’s not a big problem.
This Spec’s is still a good, quality, dependable store. No matter what your needs may be in the spirits category, water, soda, snacks, an impulse buy or browsing, you’ll be able to find something to suit you.

Came here to get a specialty beer for my beau. Often something sold at one Spec’s isn’t sold at others, but luckily it wasn’t too far a drive. They had a decent amount of people giving out free tastings on the weekend. The parking here can be a bit more of pain since it can become a busy strip center, but other than that it is your typical Spec’s. Make sure to pay with cash/​debit if you can and to get a discount card to save more.

Awesome store. Hand’s down the most informative staff of all the Spec’s. I went in looking for a good wine for dinner and Marissa helped me find exactley what I needed. I loved the wine so much that I went back and bought a case to put in the wine cooler at home.
Edit: If you like Oregon pinot, you HAVE to try the Four Graces. From my research it was just released to be sold at retail stores, before it was restaurant allocated.

Got everything you want and then some. I can find pretty much everything normal I need here. It’s nothing compared to the one downtown, but it does have a great selection.

It’s not the Spec’s of downtown, but it has a good selection of wine, spirits, coffee, etc. It’s a little light on the cheese options. The staff is extremely helpful and knowledgable.
The cons for me are the lack of a cart return and the parking lot. There are some crazy people who will practically run you down when trying to return said cart to the store.

From booze, to cheeses and snacks… I could browse in here for hours.
They have a great staff here. I described my red wine preference and asked for some suggestions. An employee took me directly to a wine I had never heard of. I bought it and when I tasted it at home I was immediatley in love. He was spot on with the recommendation!

Love. What else is there to say?
Okay, the selection is great. I’m a cheap-​o when it comes to alcohol and there are tons of low price options in every category. I know the midtown location is bigger and better, but this location is more convenient to work and serves normal alcohol runs just fine. They accept all credit cards, but if you pay cash or with debit they take 5% off your bill.
Always someone with samples when I’m there. Check out is quick. Parking is a cinch.
If you’re new to Houston, check out Spec’s.

I don’t even drink (any more — NOT a Betty Ford Problem, though) and I still get excited about going to Spec’s. Granted, for all of the «little Spec’s stores» out there — like this one — it is really hard to compete against the Mothership Spec’s downtown. That is the Mac Daddy of getting liquored up for sure. Going to a smaller Spec’s indicates that you have some casual plans for the evening or weekend; going to the Original Spec’s downtown means you are committed to that plan!
This Spec’s has all of the usual liquors and liqueurs as well as an impressive selection of wines from… oh yeah… everywhere. It would hard to think of a country that produces wine that is not represented here. And reasonably priced.
The food and cheese selection here is, forceably, not as grand or imaginative as the big Spec’s; however, if you need black truffle salt or one of 100 kinds of hot sauce to burn the lips off of your face, Spec’s can help you out with that too.
So, here is my favourite Spec’s tip: Their wines are frequently mismarked — under priced at the register. It really DOES pay to simply buy one or two bottles of something that you may want more of and go to the counter and let them scan it; I have had bottles of wine ring up nearly 80% off (high and low end, it makes no difference). If that happens, tell the cashier you need a case and she will give you an additional discount and call for the stockboy. Of course, that WAS the night I spent $ 800.00 at Spec’s (when I was drinking)…and yet, I still think I saved money? Hummmm…
For whenever you want to get your thang on, Spec’s has all of the accessorize your desires.

Arrgghh! Fiends! Villains! Have you no heart? Have you no pride in your work? How do you live with yourselves?
*Sigh*
Okay, now that that’s out of my system, I should clarify my voluble whining. I love cigars. I’m no aficionado in any shape or form, but I crave a good stogie about as much as Amy Winehouse yearns for her next fix. My opinion of Specs is an ambivalent view if anything else, considering that they have a wonderful selection of booze and food, but lack the help and the skills to store and sell cigars.
This past Saturday, I visited the Specs at 5130 Richmond location. My liver was giving me attitude all morning and I figured a fitting punishment of 45% proof or higher would make the right adjustments to an otherwise surly organ.
I’ve never bought cigars at Specs before, but since I was running low on my personal stock, and I was here to rebuke said liver, I figured why not adopt two vices at once, and leave here a happy man.
They have a good selection — from Romeo and Julieta, Mehari, Ashton, Monte Cristo, Upmann, and Macanudo to name just a few, that you would think that they would take better care of their stock. I was wrong. They don’t.
The moment I walked into their glass humidor, red flags were raised. It felt awfully dry inside, which was not a good atmosphere for storing cigars. A Monte Cristo was parched and crumbly in my hands as though I was mishandling a Dead Sea Scroll in my grip.
I know that Specs’ specialty is hootch, and that food and tobacco are side merchandise that makes no difference one way or the other if they sell. It’ll take more than rotten spices, tobacco mummies or even the return of Prohibition to make Specs go belly-​up. But for the love of Havana and all that’s holy, please pretend to care. Their lack of empathy toward hand-​rolled heaven is enough to make a callous man weep — and it did.
For their inventory of firewater, of course, I give Specs four stars. There’s no denying their range and prices of quality intoxicants. But for their mistreatment of cigars, they get one star from a cigar lover simply because Unilocal’s feature won’t allow me to type in negative figures. Go to Specs for the alcohol. If you enjoy cigars, go to a quality cigar shop with a functioning walk-​in humidor and staff that monitors it with care.

Another strip mall, another Spec’s location. They seem to be everywhere.
I needed a bottle of wine for a dinner party. I don’t drink alcohol, but when I need something specific I go to Spec’s because they are huge and have a large selection. I also appreciate that you can show a label or let a staff member know what you need and they can direct you to what you need.
Why only 3 stars? Well, first it’s a huge warehouse and it’s a bit daunting when you first walk in. It doesn’t feel like very personalized service. Most workers appear to be doing something to stock shelves, tidy things up, etc… Today I had a manager check me out by chance. He just seemed unhappy and cranky. No fun.
I do like the 5% discount for cash.