Where in this city do bars buy booze? (Houston, Dallas: to buy, live)

[monicapies]

Is it Sams Club/Costco? Because I am looking for a non-chain wholesale liquor store, preferably a smaller (about 10,000 SF) one, that hopefully is run like a good old small business by friendly folks.

[Oildog]

4th largest city in America. Try Spec's.

[monicapies]

I know Specs is a local/regional chain, but again, its a chain! There are plenty of non-chain liquor stores in and around Houston, so it being the fourth largest city in the USA shouldnt matter. And actually I suspect the liquor store next to the Randalls (was Albertsons years ago) in The Woodlands is a wholesale store, because the hours are very limited and the windows are obscured. I live just a few miles away from this location but I almost never need to go anywhere near it, and traffic is awful in and around it, so I dont want to make a special trip.

[tstone]

What "city", The Woodlands or Houston?

I know in the dry areas of DFW they have some distribution points in unmarked, warehouse-like strip malls, almost like the mob controls that market. Never really seen that in Houston. I'm sure the Specs chain distributes plenty around here, considering no one beats or even matches their prices.

[txdemo]

Bars buy their liquor from distributors like Glazer's that are authorized to put the TABC stamps on the bottles. Almost every liquor store in Houston is Mom & Pop but few, if any, are wholesale.

[predatorprey]

I don't think you're are even allowed to buy wholesale liquor. Only via retail and restaurant/bar establishments.

[HoustonBornNRaised]

Originally Posted by txdemo

Bars buy their liquor from distributors like Glazer's that are authorized to put the TABC stamps on the bottles. Almost every liquor store in Houston is Mom & Pop but few, if any, are wholesale.

This.

Glazers and Republic are the wholesalers, and they don't sell to the public.

[monicapies]

Originally Posted by tstone

What "city", The Woodlands or Houston?

I know in the dry areas of DFW they have some distribution points in unmarked, warehouse-like strip malls, almost like the mob controls that market. Never really seen that in Houston.

I was asking about anywhere in Greater Houston (in which The Woodlands is the most prominent suburb) but now that you mention it, could you name some specific examples of the Dallas stores you speak of? If you could provide addresses, I would be very happy. While it isnt a gem aesthetically, I have shopped at a wholesale liquor store matching this description in Pennsylvania. My only complaint is that it doesnt have the chilled wine section that the regular state-run liquor stores in PA have. And yes, this is a state-run store. I wouldnt call it unmarked, but it has only a PLCB (Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board) sign on the front of the store and not the usual Wine & Spirits signage that most of the state stores have, perhaps to prevent confusion with the non-wholesale stores, but only a fool would mistake this establishment for a non-wholesale store from the outside. Funnily enough the store has a very old, broken Pepsi/7Up vending machine that is just sitting, taking up space. I wish they could scrap it and replace it with a chilled wine fridge. Or better yet, fix it and fill it with beer cans for the employees.

[monicapies]

I hate to derail this thread but I was also wondering... is the RadioShack (Tandy) clearance store at 1960 and Jones Rd still open? There was one at that intersection as of 2000, which coexisted with a regular RadioShack across the parking lot. Not sure but I suspect this store may have started as a clearance store for another retailer, maybe Sears, Montgomery Ward/Wards, Service Merchandise, or Jewelcor (part of Giant/Bradlees/Stop & Shop). This store screamed 70s when I was there. And is the Hancock Fabrics still in this center?

[Oildog]

closed...more 'random thoughts' from this poster.