what's interesting about this places I read the previous reviews in a lot of his seen pretty bad so I kind of went into this place with the expectation of getting messed over or not having the right positive experience like everybody else did so I would say that everything I saw was not as compared to a lot of the other reviewers I thought the prices at this place was pretty decent I thought everything was easy to find as far as types of drinks liquors bottle stuff like that also the people behind the counter were pretty nice from what I gathered in the reviews that everyone was mean I didn't have that type of experience but I did see the signs that after a certain time late in the morning like 1 or 2 in the morning to prices went up a certain percentage so be on the lookout for that if you getting liquor late at night Grade: B read more

Big guy with long hair and beard was rude. They also don't have 1k liquors. False advertising.

Unsafe. Especially for women. They raise their prices by almost half after midnight. Thoroughly unworth it. But if you like being treated like less than human by all means go ahead. They will try and confiscate your legal ID. read more

You have a sign for $17 or a bottle of wine but charge $25 "after midnight@ and are incredibly rude about it? Can't wait to see this place closed down. Don't bother going. read more

The worst customer service you will experience on top of a price point that is hands down higher than any other establishment in the neighborhood by $5-7 on average per item. Dont stop in unless you would like to be harassed by their "bouncer" at the door checking your ID randomly on a week night at 7 pm. Which I have no issue by the way, it's how it was handled. He then proceeded to tell me to go "f*ck myself" for having head phones in, as he did as well. Once telling the guy at the register that they may want to instruct their bouncer to not tell a paying customer to F Off or be just an overall rude asshole, he then proceeded to ask me how old I was (in my 30's by the way) and said well, we have been here for 50 years. I've lived in the neighborhood for almost 10 years and safe to say I won't be spending another dollar here in my life. read more

Can't think of a more 1. Disgusting liquor store: mold inside the refrigerators, smells like piss, and the clerk is coughing into his hands. 2. Everything is incredibly overpriced not to mention a $10 credit card minimum read more

This is a a great local institution that has a wide selection of drinks to choose from and is open late. The staff are friendly and helpful if you treat them with respect. While the prices go up as it gets larger they are still very reasonable especially compared to those at a bar of club. The area nearby is safe as long as you use common sense. The store itself is extremely safe because of the excellent door person/security who actually checks IDs and generally keeps patrons safe & kids from getting themselves into trouble. It is located in a beautiful old Art Deco building You should absolutely come here for all your late night liquor needs. read more

Great late night place for booze! Friendly staff and a wide variety of items to pick from! I didn't have trouble looking for the wine I wanted but the options are robust.! read more

I love this freaki'n place. Incredibly clean, well organized and a great selection of cheap champagne for those who have something to celebrate most every day, but who are on a strict budget, read: freelancing in a terrible economy. The "bouncer" thing is plenty weird. I guess it's the neighborhood, but hasn't Medusa's been gone for years? Don't tell me everyone gets carded here, I love that I must look dewy-fresh at my age, and get carded most times I come in here. Fine, call me Cleopatra, Queen of Denial, but we take our bliss where we can find it, am I wrong? Nice people, but it is a bit overpriced. If you've got the time, pop down to Binny's for significantly better prices. But if you're running late for dinner - and are a good guest that does not arrive empty handed - hop off the Red line at Belmont, this is your stop. read more

All the liquor in the world is here...I didn't stand around to count if it is 1000 actual liquors...lol. Im sure its named after the address; 1000 W Belmont. Prices are standard and they do have a guy at the door that checks ID. I guess thats for the kids that reside on the mean streets of Lakeview that have fake IDs I usually stop here if Im going to Blue Havana Cigar Shop or if I am going to a friend's place nearby...its right off of the Belmont L stop. read more

As I sit here looking at my recently acquired limited edition Absolut Vodka disco ball decanter, several questions occur to me- -When did I purchase this? So far I have it narrowed down to somewhere between 2:30 am and 5 am. -Why did I purchase this? Apparently the gallons of beer and multiple Irish car bombs earlier were not sufficient. -Was it worth a 50% markup? I am willing to bet that I would have pawned my left testicle... so, yes. Granted 1000 Liquors is overpriced, they card hard and the staff can be rude. But, praise the Lord, they are open to serve my irrational alcohol consumption needs until 4 or 5 in the morning. Coming from a state where liquor is only sold at state owned stores until 8 p.m., I feel like I have fell into the looking glass. Gotta run now, I have a feeling I am going to need some cash for the Maker's Mark yule log later. read more

My lord, it's like Fort Knox up in here... Honestly, I've never been ID'ed so hard in all of Chicago. Just short of a frisking at O'Hare. I ain't trying to flee the country man...I just need some wine for dinner! I mean really, drop the bouncer act. This is a liquor store, for chrissakes. I understand trying to keep punk kids out on this stretch, but RELAX. Selection is OK, albiet overpriced. read more

Side facts: - I'm 24 years old - I carry a national ID with me at all times - I tried to buy a non-alcoholic drink here because it was the only thing that was open Did I get in? No! Apparently having an official national ID of another country is insufficient identification! Way to go, only selling to CITIZENS! The fact that I just wanted to buy a soda and am over 21 and was refused entry to the store based on the fact that I had no US-American ID is just completely laughable. First and only time that's ever happened to me. read more

Okay, like some others I have heard from they hate when you enter 1000 Liquors and get their identification photographed / scanned. I actually stopped going to this store even though is was just around the corner. I felt like the staff could not explain the "why" behind this effort. So I took it one more step and found that the Alderman's office - Tom Tunney - did not find it to be a problem. Still not good enough for my curious bones so I decided to get a hold of the Liquor Control Board of our fine state. Guess what? It is legal!! Or is it? I really thought in this age of identity theft and your information being sold to marketing companies this would not be allowed. It is a little hairy the wording I was provided by the "Board". I really wanted to read in the language they gave me that taking a picture of your i.d. is legal. Here is the wording and you tell me what you think: A newly enacted provision of the Illinois Vehicle Code prohibits the scanning of Illinois driver's licenses. Specifically, Section 5/6-301.2(b-1) of the Illinois Vehicle Code makes it a violation "to possess, use or allow to be used any materials, hardware or software specifically designed for or primarily used in the reading of encrypted language from the bar code or magnetic strip of an official Illinois driver's license." The effective date of the law was June 26, 2006. Question: May Retailers continue to scan State Licenses and State Ids to verify age? Answer: YES The law bans scanning of "encrypted" information contained in the bar codes. According to the Illinois Secretary of States Office, an individual's date of birth, card expiration date and card number are not encrypted, therefore, scanning to obtain this information remains legal. Furthermore, since retailer scanning is done to detect possible fraud and/or to prevent a criminal offense, it is an allowable exception to the law. *********************************** This was the response from a legal eagle at the Liquor Control Board. He actually said "just don't go there man". Wow, that sounds official. In the end, I am still confused because a bar code is on my license and the above sounds like scanning the bar code not taking a photo of my i.d.. Anyone else curious or have knowledge on this? My personal mystery or quest continues . . . read more

raises prices 20% after 2am! DRUNK TAX I only go here because the Binny's on Clark closes at 6pm ON SUNDAY WTF! read more

The guy at the door didn't pass the ethics test to become a prison guard, so he decided to check ID's here. He is ruthless. No "Hello," ...just "Everybody get back by the door!" He takes my ID, looks at it, looks up at me, repeats those two steps about five more times, and then scans it. Yikes... Its not a classy joint, yet kinda charges like one. I didn't see any deals in there. Don't look around too long, or they start giving you the stink eye. Just grab the closest bottle, and for god's sakes DON'T try to leave out of the wrong exit- you'll get shoved. read more

A liquor store with a pricey and crap selection of wine. Don't know about the beer, I didn't check. Stopped in on the way to a BYOB place to pick up a bottle of wine. We toured the wine area, both sides of it. Confused, we toured it again. There is nothing here I want to drink, and they had about 70 bottles, but each one shittier than the next. I told my husband we should scratch the BYOB idea, and just go somewhere with booze, but he told me I'm a pessimist, I bitched a bit more, and he picked out a Cab of Little Black Dress for $13. Would I get it again? No. It was sweet and one dimensional. Did I drink it though? Yes, yes I did. I remember this place back in the day, anytime I went in for smokes or booze it was horrible on the carding. I mean, I get it, you have to card. But it's as if all the bullies from high school decided to open a liquor store, you get this place. This time we went in on a non cubs game weekday, before 7. I almost feel old now, as they carded us (no one at the door this early I guess), but the guy didn't even scan the ID at the register. read more

This place reminds me of the days being under 21 and trying to buy booze at the liquor store. The moment you walk in you'll be cheerfully greeted with "Ids PLEASE", to which I don't think most people are used to. So you scramble for your wallet and pull out your ID which they scan with their fancy fraud detection system to make sure you are legit. Never have I felt so insulted, and rushed to get out of a liquor store. You feel like you are being watched like a hawk the whole time. PLUS, they carded my wife and I AGAIN when we were ready to check out. WTF? There is nothing special about their selection, and there are many other liquor stores in the area. What's the point? read more

This is the absolute least pleasant place to be by choice in the city of Chicago. The carding policies are ridiculous. Not only do they scan your license (at a liquor store), but the bouncer looked at my picture for a full minute and told me I didn't look like the picture. No other bouncer has EVER done this. I have a beard now, dude. It happens. It didn't change every other single thing about me. Don't ever go here. I dream for the day when it closes...for good. read more

I have not been ID'd upon entering a liquor store since college, until this past Saturday. But not only ID'd, but stared at for at least 15 seconds before my my license was thrown into some futuristic blue-lighted scanning device that made all sorts of sounds before I was finally "cleared for entrace". Old ladies would probably be flattered; I just find the entrace to Club 1000 Liquors to be a little intense. A few more minutes and I may have missed all the good food at my friend's birthday dinner! It's overpriced, too. They do have one thing right, though. Next to the cash register is a rack full of condoms, which hopefully will prevent the making of any poor decisions after events involving beer bongs and tequila shots. read more

Quick FYI- 1000 liquors refers to the address not the different types of booze they have. Decent beer selection and a good amount of wine. I was able to pick up Bourbon County here this year, so that was a plus. Prices are fair, but not great. It's pretty much your average liquor store. read more

Most people cannot stand buying liquor here due to the high level of security along with their 20% jackage of prices past midnight. That being said, it is not very easy to get liquor past midnight in certain areas of Chicago and impossible past last call in the bars. That being said, 1000 Island is open late as late can be and does stock a nifty selection as your local Dominick's or Jewels but falls short of Binny's On my last outing I grabbed a fifth of Bacardi for under $15 and was glad to at least get a bottle at a few winks past midnight. Is it the cheapest liquor store in the world? Nah, but it'll do the trick and get you out of a tight spot. read more

This place should have been pushed out by competition ages ago. They're not exactly friendly, they swipe your card in an electric reader at the door, and they don't let you exit through the door you came in. What's with that? UPDATE: Promoted from 1 star to 3. The owner has been making a concerted effort to be a better neighbor by improving the store and attending neighborhood meetings. He's remodeled a bit inside and removed the posters covering the windows to create much friendlier and nicer looking window displays. Also, after visiting this place more times earlier in the evening, I've found they're friendlier and don't scan your card when it's still light out! read more

I have always loathed the fat guy at the checkout counter. One day I decided to buy a six pack of beer... It turns out shortly before, some guy had come into the store and broken and refused to pay for the same brand of six pack that I was buying. The checkout guy told me with a mouth full of slop that he wouldn't sell to me, because i must have been trying to buy it for the guy that had broken the six pack. The conversation lasted awhile because I was thoroughly confused at first, but anyway, this guy is a total dick unless you have boobies; then he'll be really creepy to you. Ask my friend. And like everyone previously has said, they think they are law enforcement. It's a little ridiculous here. read more

Ehh, like others said; it's over priced. I understand jacking up the price after 2am, but during regular sale hours. . .ehh. no thanks. It's the only place that i've ever been to to buy alch & scan your card the way they do. it's such a hassle & annoying. YOU'RE JUST A LIQUOR STORE! NOT A CLUB! heck. I never come here unless i have to. . .which would only be to buy alch after 2AM which is very very very rare. & i'm happy that i don't have to. read more

Unless it is for convenience, I really dont understand why you would purchase alcohol from this store. Well I suppose if you like getting ripped off right in front of your own eyes, this is a great establishment. You get your ID checked by a rather large black man with shoes the size of my entire body. You get zero customer service. And for all of that, you pay ridiciulous prices that are not competitive with any other liquor store. You also get nice inflation prices after midnight. Desperate times call for desperate measures I suppose. In the meantime, go to Jewel Osco or Binnys for your beverage needs (better selection, service, and prices!). read more

Hey .. all's I have to say is this place is a Chicago Punk Rock ~ New Wave to Rave landmark . I can trace sooo many memories( good and drunken') back to this place .. we'd b here for hour's. I currently live in Los Angeles, but I'll always have a soft spot to 1000 Liquor's XOXO read more

Once again- One star too many. Hardest Card in Chicago. I also ask the question, why is this place still open? Outisde the fact that the door people are complete asshole, their liquior IS NOT properly priced, It is like 15% higher then all other stores I've been to. I dont know what their business model is and truly can not understand how this place is still open. They must own the building or something. I can understand a jaded doorman, but does he not judge people by presentation? I've seen them card an ederly man! I can understand, location location and higher prices through that, but when the liqour store down the street sells the same shit at a lower price, theres something wrong. I suggest, going there ( with a real i.d, as i've had a friend get hers taken away.) and just go through the carding, dont buy anything. Just experience the hardest card in chicago. read more

Many reviews give this place bad scores for poor service late at night. Make no mistake- they are bad during the day too. I used to go every week to pick up wine or beer after work. Went again a little bit ago, 5 in the evening on a Friday. Guy at the door checking id, which I have no issue with. He looked at it and back to me 4 or 5 times, asked if I had any other identification. I told him no, it's a state id from Ohio. He kept looking, and after 30 seconds I asked for it back and just went over to Walgreens for even cheaper wine. Go here only if you are drunk enough to not remember the service. Otherwise, go anywhere else. read more

As a clarification, they are, in fact, photographing your ID for the purpose of retaining customer information. I was talking to one of the door guys at Big City (same establishment, same ID readers), and he told me that it takes a photograph. A couple of weeks ago, a guy went into 1000 Liquors and smashed a bunch of top shelf bottles. The cops got him because his ID had been photographed. Again, as has been said, with the crackheads coming from the Diplomat, who can blame them? read more

My house is equidistant between here and Binny's. And I still come here. That says something. The bouncers can look bored, but the whole id'ing thing doesn't bother me. Uh, it's a controlled substance. They are businessmen covering their asses in a hood where there are dozens of teens. Seems reasonable to me. They have an oddly good liquor selection for pretty high end stuff. The workers have always been pretty pleasant to me, even to the point of telling me WAY too many details about their relationship with their boss. It's decent & super convenient & they obey the law. Fine by me. read more

I swear if I could give this trash bag store zero stars, I would in a heartbeat. Not only are their prices super escalated, but the attitudes here are DISGUSTING. I asked the cashier how he was and he grunted at me. When he scanned in a particular bottle I had that was marked as being on sale, it rang up a much higher price. When I told him about the tag, he says "Well it rang up as...". McScuse' me?! When he actually came from behind the counter to look at the price tag, he goes "this ended June 4th". Okay?! So take the tag down and give me the advertised pricing! It's called customer service! Smh. I left. I refuse to support any business that looks at their customers as less than important. read more

NEVER GO BEFORE 2 AM..THERE ARE MANY OTHER OPTIONS. This is a place to only go to if you are in desperation mode for alcohol after 2am because it is the only place selling. Prices are also raised 20% after 2am..but again..only go here if you are extremely desperate. Also keep in mind it is very sketchy in front of the place so be very cautious..I've seen multiple fights, muggings, and people just bothering me for cash or to buy them alcohol because they have no ID. Absolutely have to have an ID to get in no matter your age. I'm surprised this place has not been shut down yet. I'm giving them 3 stars simply because they are open till 4am daily and 5am on Saturday. read more

My first boyfriend (who was 7 years older than me) took my underage ass here back in 199*ahem*. I got to pick out what I wanted and he paid for it, that was awesome and for that memory alone they get four stars. read more

ok, screw the service and price gauging this place is known for. I admit all that and dislike it too. BUT it is open late in an area where nobody other than grocery stores seems to sell liquor late. That earns them 5 stars in my book. read more

Good service, and if you feel they're lacking in that area, they make up for it with their selection of everything. If you have a craving for a new drink but not sure what, peruse the aisles of organized alcohol, with clean bottles and clean store, and you'll no longer question what it is you should have, but how the hell to narrow down all of the ways your cravings have been answered. I recommend this as a one stop shop for all you need. Open until 4, because as you know, we all need to get our fix at that hour, especially when you have to work the next day. Yes. I'm guilty. Have your ID ready, they do a really good job at humbling you when an 18 year old is carding you to even get in the door. read more

YES, my prayers (if I had any) have been answered. This place stays open way past my drunken bed time...what? over priced? I never noticed. Although, you do feel like you're entering a court house when you walk in....what's up with the futuristic id card swiping?....this place has a nice selection of liquor me up liquor till oh, probably 5am. I don't care if they strip search you....they're open till 5am!!! I really wish they delivered. The check out dude is always polite. And why are there always cops across the street? ...or is that just my illusion? read more

I entered 1000 Liquors and was immediately confronted by a man who requested to see my ID, I presume to check that I am of age to purchase alcoholic beverages. I retrieved my IL driver's license from my wallet and showed it to the gentlemen being careful not to obscure any of the information or picture. He grabbed my ID and started walking towards the door. I asked the gentleman why he grabbed my ID and he said he was going to take a photo of it. I said I preferred that he did not and requested my ID back. He handed my ID back to me and told me to leave. He spoke very softly and I was unsure if I heard him correctly so I asked him to repeat himself. He said "please step outside." At which point I exited the same door I entered. While I understand why the business needs to verify my identity for purchases, I do not want my identification information seized by this business. If my information was lost or stolen by this business, I would be at a grave financial loss due to their poor and irresponsible business practices. read more

The guy who asks for the id at the door, incredibly rude. I will never shop here. I think you can be nicer even when the other person do not understand you at first. read more

I used to understand the stingy operation when Belmont/Sheffield had a shitty transient hotel and other questionable establishments, but now Einstein Bagels is across the street and the trendy vegan place across the other, I'm not sure why it's still run as if there are shootings outside every night. In any event, it's your standard liquor store. It's not a day spa. It's run on a simple premise. They have booze. You have money. They would like to sell you that booze. ...end of experience. read more