Armanetti Wine Shoppe & Beverage Mart

Hey all you NYC Transplants Our quest is over!!!

THEY HAVE BROOKLYN LAGER AND BROOKLYN IPA!!!

oh how i have missed this awesome beer.

This is by far one of the cleanest well stocked beverage stores i have ever been to. The owner Steve is very helpful and willing to search for your favorite beverage to put amongst his already ample stock of wines, liquors, and beers.

They have wine tastings from 2-5 on Saturdays
And are now having Beer Tastings next one is coming up Friday April 27 and it will be all about the Belgians.

Give Steve a call to find out more about tastings.

Tip: Parking in front is 15 min loading zone and there is a parking lot you can use Next Door.

Taking the EL Brown line it to Paulina and walk north on Lincoln left (west) side of street just before Addison

DO NOT GO HERE! As a man who knows and loves his craft beer, this could have been a solid addition to my craft beer store arsenal, especially being just two blocks from home. But with the horrid service, I avoid coming here altogether and strongly recommend you do the same.

The first time I came in, I had headphones on while I was checking out the store. Being my first time there, I wanted to look through the entire stock of beer to see what kind of stock they had and if they had any special releases. As soon as I walked in the door, I saw the large man at the counter (the owner?) put down his newspaper and could sense him watching me the entire time. He never asked if I needed help but just looked at me like I was about to steal something. Thanks.

Thinking that experience was a fluke, I came back looking for Bell's 25th anniversary a little while later. They were selling it by the bottle with a one bottle limit at a marked up price. I wanted to try it, so I grabbed one and another bottle of a limited distribution beer. I would have picked up more, but the prices just did not justify buying anything else. At the register, the owner gave me an irritated look, clearly annoyed that I was not buying more. "Just these two, huh?" Yes, I am just buying the beer I want to buy, thanks.

Being a glutton for punishment, I came back yet again, this time looking for Bourbon County Vanilla when it came out. I called ahead of time, asking very politely if they could please hold a bottle for me. No, I'm sorry, it's first come first serve. When would they be getting it in? When the truck gets there. Today? Maybe. Thanks.

When I walk in, the display is somewhat out of the way to really discourage people from getting to it, unlike the fanfare the special releases get at Binny's. It's like they don't want walk in customers to be able to buy "the best stuff." So I grab a bottle, walk around, and end up picking up two more single bottles of beer, a 12 oz. and a 22 oz. When I go to check out, the owner says, "Just the Bourbon County Vanilla and a couple of limited releases? I shouldn't even sell you these, I never see you in here." Shocked, I responded that I had stopped in a few times. "Oh yea, I think I remember you coming in to buy other limited releases. You never buy any of the regular stuff."

Wow. Maybe the reason that I only stop in for the limited releases is that I can only stomach dealing with this flagrantly offensive customer service when there is a new beer I really want to try. Oh, and when the prices are 10-20% over what you pay at Binny's, is there really a choice?

At this point I have made the firm commitment never to come back. After just a quick glance at some other reviews, the owner has sworn and kicked out customers and several were afraid of violence. Even without seeing that side of him myself, I had a good idea it was lurking. If you need a good beer store recommendation, message me, but please, for everyone's sake, do not go here.

Well, I've been back twice since my last review a little over a year ago. If you want to get chastised for not buying more than you want, this is the place for you. When I asked for a recommendation on a bottle of Cabernet under $15, they showed me bottles for $30 and up. After reminding them of the price requirement, I was told "there are no good bottles for $15." Ok, fine, you lost a customer, I'll go to Bodega Ramos and get a fantastic bottle in my price range that Mateo recommends.

If you have questions about limited craft beer releases or craft beer in general, avoid the owner. You'll get a snarky response about how you are privileged to be shopping there and then he'll be of no use to you at all. Their selection is good, as long as you like paying a markup of 20% on six-packs and bombers. I've taken my business to other smaller shops (Lush, Bodega Ramos) as well as larger ones (Binny's) and will never go back to this establishment.

I was once a regular customer to Armanetti's. It's close, clean, and had what I thought was friendly staff. I STAND CORRECTED.

One night, some friends and I stopped by to pick up an inexpensive bottle of wine. We were asked what we were looking for and the man continuously attempted to sell us more expensive wine than we wanted. During this time, he asked 2 of us to quiet our other friend down. Now, we are the only customers in the store, and it's only 8pm on a Friday night.

After selecting some bottles, more than we wanted to spend, we decided not to give this rude man our business, so we put the wine back and started to leave. He asked why we were leaving and we said that we were a little offended by his rude comment. He proceeded to yell at us and tell us to get the FUCK out of his store. We were bitches, fat, ugly, you name it! It was ridiculously uncalled for.

I'm quite sad that this incident spoiled all the wonderful experiences I have had with other Armanetti employees and my overall opinion of the store. I will continue to boycott and will continue spreading the word to the many other friends I have in the neighborhood. A nice store and selection does not make up for uncalled for rudeness.

A truly awful experience - and judging from other reviews on here, I'm not alone.

The prices here are very high - a couple dollars more per large-format beer bottle than larger stores - but the extensive selection and convenient location seemed to make up for it. And, I thought I was paying for a higher level of service than the bigger chains.

A couple weeks ago, I spent over $100 on about a dozen high-end beers. It turned out the cork on one of them had dried out and hardened, and wouldn't budge. Even with a corkscrew and trying to carve through it with a knife, I could only get through it enough to get a bit of foam. The next day I brought it back, expecting a refund, or even just an exchange. When you're paying $11 for a beer retail, it's standard to expect this if there's any problem. For reference, Trader Joe's or Costco will take them back no questions asked even with nothing wrong - even an empty bottle if you just didn't like it.

The owner looked at the disintegrated cork, and tried to say there was no problem. He got a corkscrew and tried to open it himself, and was unable to get it out. Then he told me he wouldn't take it back because the cork wasn't intact. Umm, that's the problem, sir!

I expressed my disbelief at this policy, as the bottle was clearly defective and undrinkable. I explained that I have spent close to $1000 in his store. He said that since I am such a good customer, he wants to keep me happy and he'd make an exception and take it back - if I produce all my past receipts, on the spot, proving how much I've spent!

Then - I couldn't make this up - he said that I "must be a drunk if I've spent that much", and that his customers aren't drunks so none of them spend that much. Are you serious? You're a liquor store owner! And one who specializes in middle to high-end beer and wine at that!

I laughed, and he asked me to the leave the store. My girlfriend spoke up at this point and suggested that he wouldn't be in business long treating customers so poorly.

He laughed at her and said he hears things like that everyday. I believe it.

UPDATE #2 (5/30/12): Their license was revoked on May 16, 2012. If this is the end of this establishment, all the better. Redirect all of your business to West Lakeview Liquors, around the corner. You will be all the better for it, and you'll be supporting a great local bottle shop.

UPDATE (2/3/12): Originally gave 3 stars, but after having visited last night, unfortunately, I had to factor in the 'value' component of this establishment. Not sure what exactly happened over the last few months, but it seems that every recent major release has jumped in price at least 10% from what I remember being charged previously. Example: Boogoop - here, the price was either $16.99 or $17.99 a bottle (I was too shocked to recall the price with exact specificity). Around the corner, at West Lakeview Liquors, the price was $12.99. $4-5 more, two blocks away. Wow.

On the one hand, there are a number of things that this place does very well that surpasses what similar stores (Bodega Ramos, West Lakeview Liquors, Binny's) provide to their customers in the area. On the other hand, there are times when the little things and the way they are handled by the staff of Armanetti's make you think that you may be better off taking your business elsewhere - as noted in the numerous negative reviews posted over the course of the past few years.

With a carefully maintained beer selection that seems to be in constant rotation (this is a good thing), the variety that you can find here is only matched by Binny's and Lakeview Liquors in the area. What you won't get from the other places is the great communication that Armanetti's provides to those on their mailing list, detailing when certain 'rare' or new release beers are released. Does this lead to times when the staff are not on the same page as the owner? Yes. (This sometimes leads to potential 'snarkiness' as mentioned by fellow Yelpers). However, the mere fact that they provide a date (and, in the case of Bourbon County Coffee Stout, a time) when beer will be released does not mean that they should be derided for not having a particular beer at a particular time, or for the fact that they limit quantities (just like every other similar store in the area).

Are there better, more affordable options for wine and beer in the area? Yes. Does Mateo and his staff at Bodega Ramos provide a more welcoming and better customer experience (as well as better recommendations for affordable wine pairings) in the store? Absolutely. The competitive advantage this place has however is that they have the key relationships with their suppliers to get what people in the area want. For that, it is worth timing your visit to coincide with the latest releases. Above the supply advantage, simply avoid asking the owner questions about availability or craft beer in general (one must understand that the sarcastic responses you get are the result of he and his employees being asked dozens of times a day similar questions about the same rare releases) and you will find your experience here will be OK.

The place has gone way downhill in my book over the last year. Not sure who the kid is at the counter, but I hadn't had to deal with him before this summer and I am not impressed. The guy in the back room who used to be helpful apparently must not like the way I look any more, or something since he never seems willing to help out when the kid has no idea what is going on.

Here are my last few experiences:
I was looking for a specific beer and they didn't carry it and the kid made a comment that he'd ask the distributor about it next time. I asked if he wanted my phone number or something so he could let me know. He said no. I asked about it next time I came in, he remembered nothing about our previous conversation.

Next trip in I'm looking for a 12 of Shandy and didn't realize that Lieni' switched the 12 packs to cans. I asked if they had bottles and got a short 'no, they don't exist'. Confused since I had had them the previous year I said, that they had existed last year. He said all that exists in cans. It wasn't until I got my Lieni's newsletter that explained the change that I knew why. You'd think the dude could have spent 30 seconds to explain this to me. My guess is 1. he didn't know and 2. he didn't care to help me.

A couple days later I bought two mini-kegs of Two Hearted on sale. The were both spoiled to the point where we couldn't drink them. If they are that old, an apparently stored that poorly, don't just put them on sale, throw them out. That same trip, I also bought a few other 12 packs and a couple other mini-kegs. I was never asked for my Armanetti's card during the transaction. As soon as I realized it, I pointed it out and the kid said it was too late, but I "only had a little over $100 worth of stuff I was eligible to get credit on. So, no big deal." After that visit I tossed my card since my loyalty there was now no big deal.

My latest and probably last trip there I was looking for three very simple things that could be found at any corner market or Jewel: Summer Shandy, Honey Moon, and Founders Centennial. They had none of them. No apologies, no offer to help me find a substitute, nothing. Just a short and arrogant 'no'.

So, I can no longer in good conscious leave my previously good review up. Walk the extra couple blocks to Pelly's if you have to. As much as it doesn't look as nice at least you know what you're getting. In fact, you can get essentially the same selection and prices at Whole Foods with a much better attitude. Why shop local when it just isn't as good?

I live quite literally across the street from this place - I would much rather walk a little farther to Pelly's than shop here.

The owner/shopkeeper has weird eyebrows and is very rude. Their prices are high.

I don't think I should feel privileged to spend my money at a liquor store. And you selling me a bottle of wine that's been sitting on the shelf for way too long doesn't amount to you doing me a service.

Stay away.

I've been curious about this store for months. I finally went in and was pleasantly surprised. A pretty darn good selection of not only your hard liquor but some really great selections of wine and beer. Honestly the prices seemed fair, to good, nothing seems really outrageous. When I went the place seemed a bit empty, but after perusing the selection I settled on two imported reds, one for me one for a friend. I do wish they would have some more information on the wines like a few other shops I've been to have, or a rating or something. If you are slightly clueless as what to purchases, it helps. However if you have questions ask them, they are friendly and were happy to give me their opinion on my purchase. They also have a chilling area for some whites and champagne and a few cheeses, but not a huge selection of the cheeses. Plus they have a small free parking lot too, bonus!

I do have to say that some yelpers have said you can find cheaper prices at Sam's and Costco, hmmm I just have to say, I have found cheaper prices on some same items at Whole Foods versus Sam's. You can always find cheaper prices for stuff everywhere if you look hard enough. I don't like to scour the city seeing where I can buy the cheapest, I don't have that amount of time. If anything some things may be a buck or two more, but nothing horrible.

I used to live a couple blocks away from Armanetti's and would stop by every other weekend to pick up some beer or wine. It has been a couple years, and wasn't aware that the father and son had sold it. They were absolutely great. Super friendly and knowledgeable.

You can find some very unique beers there and the prices weren't too outrageous. Yeah, some products you can probably find cheaper at other stores, but I consider Armanetti's like a boutique liquor store - some things are fairly inexpensive, while others are more.

I think it's worth paying a little more for great service and great recommendations.