OBJECTIVELY: I don't think you should go to this place unless you're in a pinch. 12-packs of beer are routinely $15-16 or more and 6-packs are routinely $9. True, they do have a decent selection of craft beers, but why not just save your money and go to Kappy's where the selection is even better? My main point is that you shouldn't do your regular shopping here solely based on prices.
SUBJECTIVELY: I strongly dislike the guy in charge and he wronged me. Let me tell you a story:
I live close to this place on Highland Ave. Soon after moving in, I realized that getting packages delivered was going to be nightmare. Not a single delivery service would leave a package in front of my building because it's not safe. Thus, I get one of those nice slips telling me when they tried to deliver.
So, I talk to AJ, the tall Indian guy who's always there. I ask him if he'll sign packages for me so that I don't have to drive to the UPS store. He agrees. We do this for 9 months. I get a package, track it to see when delivered, then go to right after work to pick it up. Truthfully, I was getting a lot of packages. Some months, I'd get 4-7 of them. However, I didn't let them sit there in his store- I always picked them up right away. One day, I go to get a package from him and he tells me he can't sign packages for me any more. I'm frustrated, but okay, I'll figure it out.
A couple weeks later, i got in to pick up a six pack. AJ looks at me as I'm checking out and says
"You know why I don't accept your packages any more?"
"Why?"
"You bought beer from someone else. You should only buy beer from me."
"Wait, so you stopped signing for my packages because I bought beer from someone else?"
nods his head..
I was still trying to wrap my head around this. I walked out with my six pack super angry. I don't drink a lot, but during that 9-month period I would make sure I bought from AJ because he was signing packages for me. I went to my credit card statements, searched for "Somerville wine and spirits" and pulled up all the times I had shopped there. It turned out I was spending $20-30 per month (enough for 1-2 12 packs). I had shopped at other' liquor stores 2 times in 9 months. Once while in Maine and once when taking a 12 pack to friend's house. It turns out though that AJ saw me carrying the remainder of a 12-pack from my car to the apartment and must've gotten jealous.
I decided to confront him. I walked into the store, showed him my credit card statement, showed him the total I'd spent in 9 months, and pointed out the times I'd shopped at other liquor stores. He told me I should always be shopping at his store, no exceptions. Okayyy, I thought. But I ask him, "how much do you think I should be spending in your store each month in order for you to continue signing my packages?"
"$100 each month."
"AJ, I don't drink that much alcohol, how am I supposed to spend $100 per month here?"
"We have a guy who comes in here every day to buy a soda."
I laugh. Okay, we're done. Never shopping here again.
Look I understand, it can be annoying to find space in his liquor store for my package and everyone else's, but how petty is it to tell me that I can't shop at any other liquor store?
SUMMARY: Get alcohol here if you must, but just know AJ's a scumbag, you're paying way too much for whatever you're buying, and you're supporting the whole operation. read more