Balboa Liquor and Deli

I give 1 star NOT for the regular man who usually there and is always nice, and this one star is not for the store which I never had any problem going to this store before. He is usually very friendly and helpful, and nice to the kids.
This is for the rude man. This is the first one I saw him, he’s older than the regular man I always see in the afternoon.
On the way to dinner with my family I stopped by and wanted to buy lotto. There were 3 ladies getting the scratchers and also were talking to this man. I guess maybe they are regular customers. I waited with my two little girls patienty and someone (a regular also) were cutting my line and asking to get a pack of cigarette. I didn’t say anything. Then after they are done with the cigarette I told him about the lotto, $ 2 please I said the handed 2 one dollar bills to him. Then my girls want to get two pieces of small mint chocolate. I asked him how much and he said 40 cents, I was looking at my purse for some coints when he put 60 cents on the counter. I didn’t understand what he meant and asked him. He kind of yelled at me and said,“no, no, no, give me a dollar and this is for you!“
I was confused but gave him one dollar anyway. I said,” I was going to give you 40 cents in coins!“
Then he talked in a different language and his hand made a gesture of shooing me out the store!
I said to him before I left, «you are rude!»
And who decide to give the change first before the customer pays???
I am not sure he is the owner or an employee I never saw before, but when he is there, I will gladly take my business somewhere else.

This is just to say this place stocks soy sauce. Who wouldn’t love that? One night Kitaro forgot to give us soy sauce with our order, Balboa Liquor saved my sushi.

Balboa Liquor is just 2 long aisles cramped high goodies on all sides.
noticed beers priced reasonably, stone @4.49
gourmet chocolate @3ish
grab a lotto pic initially, perused rest of store later, pleasantly surprised at fair pricing.

Big Toine is the man. His store has basic necessities and he’s always courteous. I’ve heard good things about his BBQ too.

I went to Big Toine’s Store and I must say I had a very good experience. Toine was very helpful and kind. If there was not a product in his store he took the information down and promise to work hard to get the items. He’s also willing to match prices. I wish it was more stores in the neighbor-​hood like Big Toine’s Liquor Store. Oh and his BBQ Ribs are so good meat falling right off the bone, make you want to slap ya momma!!! They are awesome… If you are ever in the area stop by and pick up a slap trust me you wont be dissatisfied.
Nanky From SM

so, my honey and i were walking down the street towards the beach and all of a sudden we hear someone screaming «hey you guys! you guys!» and we turn around and big toine is standing outside of his shop and he says «you’ve gotta try these ribs.» he has his smoker set up and we resist at first, but he offers us each one for free, and they were fatty ribby ambrosia, as my honey just said. so we bought a rack and brought them with us to our bonfire and it was great. that must have been the best idea we ever had.
so, if you ever see big toine with his smoker out, get the ribs.

I got to know my share of little SF liquor stores in Highschool, and I just wish I’d had this one then. Prices are typical for neighborhood store, but it’s only a block away, and there is a fine selection of gummy candy to hide in people’s couches.
The icecream fridge is still broken. The beer selection is always changing. I mentioned to ‘Toine that there wasn’t OE or Mickey’s 40’s and then I dindn’t go back for a month. Went in last week and he’d bought seven cases for us., but they had three kinds of OE tallcans and every kind of Chimay. There’s always something good on the TV and ‘Toine’s been asking me how much I paid for stuff at the liquor store down the street.
Funny story: about a week ago I was smoking outside the Hockey Haven down the street with the bartender and a buddy and this tricked out Corvette pulls up in across the street, does a quick U-​turn and a slow cruise by the bar slow enough for us to recognize ‘Toine at the wheel. We said ‘Hey’ to him, but he took off, ran the stop sign at the corner, and pulled a squealing left turn up 37^th Ave.