Friday Free-For-All: Liquor Stores
I noticed in last week’s Gazette that there was an article about Franklin Liquors rebuilding and expecting to reopen in April (I could have sworn I wrote a post about the fire that burned the store down two years ago but I guess I didn’t). For those of you who aren’t familiar with Franklin Liquors, it’s located on 355, South of Urbana at Dr. Perry Road.
Franklin Liquors could open earlier than expected
According to business owner Manish Desai, a faster-than-expected construction schedule may allow his fire-devastated liquor store to reopen sooner than expected.
Franklin Liquors shut down in January 2008 after a 27-year-old electrical wire sparked a fire that consumed the building.
However, despite cold weather, the reconstruction of the building, which began in January, is proceeding ahead of schedule, Desai said.
He and his partner, Fred Ridgeway, whose family has owned the property on which Franklin Liquors sits for decades, expected to be able to open the store by May 1. Desai said that with any luck, the store would more likely open before April 15 because of the quick construction.
We used to go there a couple times a month. They had a pretty decent wine and beer selection and, while it wasn’t the most pleasant place in appearance, the people who worked there were friendly and helpful. I’m looking forward to their reopening because it’s pretty convenient to where we live. How about you? Do you have a favorite liquor store? Is it Ye Old Spirit Shop (always voted #1 in Frederick Magazine)? I’m also a fan of Hilltop Convenience and Liquor Store in New Market. They have a great wine selection and their prices are pretty good too.
For sheer convenience, we go to the Classic Cigars & British Goodies on Market Street since we can walk there from our apartment. Not a great selection (and they only have wine and beer), BUT they are moving down Market Street into the old Market Street Cafe (14 N. Market) and they swear that they’re going to have a lot more wine and beer (the move is supposed to take place within the next couple of weeks).
When we don’t mind getting in the car, we drive to Westridge Liquors next to Giant and Il Forno. They have a large wine selection and good prices. We shopped around when we first moved here (I was out of work so had lots of free time) and found they had the best prices on wine.
In fact, my husband just went and bought a bottle and I can’t wait to get off work and pour a glass (or two).
I think Old Farm is great and I like the big selection of microbrews at Urbana Liquor store.
But have to agree that Ye Old Spirits sets the standard in town.
My favorite by far is Old Farm Liquors out near Bloom Grocery store off of Rosemont. They are generous with the coupons and discounts, and they’re the only liquor store in the area (that we’ve found) that has pisco, which my husband and I fell in love with on our trip to Peru. They also stock several wines we haven’t been able to find anywhere else, and they’re consistently the cheapest place to buy Moet and Chandon White Star.
Here’s some more info on Old Farm (with coupons!! The coupons I clicked on expire tomorrow so you may want to check them out!)
http://www.frederick.com/index.php?action=sponsor&id=3995-2190
Sara – I searched everywhere in Frederick for Pisco also thinking I was going to have to go somewhere out of town to get it and found that the only place that has it is Old Farm. Had a coworker that was from Peru and made us Pisco Sours. They were not a lovely sight but one of the best drinks I have had had.
Great people that work there too – always nice.
Well, it’s not a liquor store – it’s a wine store – and I just love Frederick Wine House on the corner of Toll House & 7th St. across from the hospital. They have an amazing selection of wines that you can’t find anywhere else in Frederick.
From a nice light $8 sauvignon blanc to a heady pricey Pinot Noir – you can find it here.
What you won’t find are the standard, regular, find it anywhere wines like the Mondavi, Gallo, Kendall-Jackson, etc.
So – if you’re looking for something different where the folks working there can direct you to something you may like – make sure to stop in.
Plus – I think they have free wine tastings every Friday and Saturday evenings…
I also found Pisco at the liquor store on 40 near the Giant. Discovered I really really hated it – so Becky – if we can find it other – you can HAVE my bottle!! Plus the container of pasteurized egg whites I bought so that my Pisco Sours would be perfectly authentic…
For my money, Ye Olde Spirit Shoppe can’t be beat (overall.)
The Frederick Wine Cellars near the Hospital is excellent, but Ye Olde has people just as knowledgeable about wine, and also has a fantastic selection of microbrews. I haven’t fonud one of my favorite beers (Lancaster Milk Stout) anywhere else in Frederick
Old Farm is my favorite.
If you want to get Flying Dog cheap, try Village Market in the Whittier development.
Also a great place is Rite Aid Liquors in Westminster, MD.
It’s almost worth the time/gas for some of their prices.
I’ll agree Hilltop can’t be beat for its prices (20 dollar cases of shiner > * )
for beer selection, I end up heading to Mt Airy and if Anita’s Liquor doesn’t have it, then Castle Liquor (right above it) will. (I found Troeg’s Mad Elf there this past weekend, I had been been searching for that all over the DMV for 2 months with no luck).
I live close to Franklin’s and was shocked to drive past it the day after the fire and am pleased to see it seems to be close to rebuilt. The old place wasn’t much to look at and cramped to say the least but it had a nice selection of beers and an excellent selection of single malt scotch. It was painful to think of some of the bottles that were lost in the fire. I hope that the ghosts of those bottles went to the spirit world to be drunk by the spirits of drinkers.
It was a great place for Christmas shopping and birthdays.