Imperial Square Liquors

This is a locally owned business located right at the edge of the tenderloin.
Like pretty much everything in san francisco there is limited parking, but the hotel across the street has a public parking garage.
This place is a little strange. Originally this was two separate businesses –a liquor store and a Indian grocery, but now it’s…both. So there’s coolers of ice cold beer, wine, whisky, vodka etc., the expected lottery and smokes behind the counter… and 20 pound sacks of besan flour and basmati rice along with the full range of shah spices.
As an indian grocery it has no fresh items-​no vegatables no meats, but does have all the basics as far as dry goods for you to cook indian style with. Love the thumbs up and limca in a can in the cooler. Also they have Kulfi in the ice cream cooler. Nice.
As a liquor store it has a limited but good selection of wines, beers, and both premium and well drink selections. Better yet the pricing on these items is at least a dollar or two less then any other nearby location.
Really the only reason this escaped a five star rating is that, well this place has negative curb appeal. It’s more or less by itself in the middle of your typical tenderloin sketch block. I’ve passed by this place lots of times and went «Nah, that doesn’t look like anything I want to be a part of».
It’s better on the inside and if you are needing some fixin’s for Indian cooking or a decently priced bottle of wine/​beer this is a great spot.

This place has almost everything you need! And it absorbed the Indian market next to it! So if you want Indian spices or cooking materials go here!

Not the best neighborhood but if you’re staying at one of the Union Square hotels looking for an inexpensive bottle of wine, this is the place. Limited selection of decent wines up to $ 10 per bottle cheaper than any where else in the area. Definitely not a $$$$ business.