Binny’s Beverage Depot: the next regional liquor store chain?
In October, the Chicago Tribune reported that large beverage retailer, Binny’s would expand outside of the Chicago market. Then, Shanken Daily News reports this yesterday:
Binny’s CEO Michael Binstein says he’s seeking sites in other downstate Illinois markets and is preparing a push into neighboring Wisconsin. “We’re looking at moving into both Madison and Milwaukee,” Binstein told Shanken News Daily. “There are some exceptional opportunities in Wisconsin.” Binstein also disclosed clear ambitions to expand regionally and then nationally. “Once we set up the internal infrastructure to expand to Wisconsin, we can use that as a springboard to go national,” he said.
via Binny’s Maps Plans To Expand In Downstate Illinois And Wisconsin | Shanken News Daily.
So would that allow Binny’s to sell certain brands of beer in Wisconsin that are currently available in Illinois? Say, Stone for example, which pulled out of Wisconsin in 2010, but is available in the Chicago area, etc. How does that work with a national liquor store, compared to what a state’s distributors can sell?
Not necessarily. Binny’s is still operating at just the retail tier. Stone would need to re-sign with the WI distributor(s) that it dropped (or maybe they’d be free to sign with someone else? not sure how it works in WI) in order to send beer back into the WI market. It’s really the distribution tier that has a direct effect on where a brewery is available. That said, the addition of chain liquor stores that embrace craft certainly helps WI’s case for more breweries to be interested in shipping product there.
Not a huge fan of Binny’s so this makes me cringe. Their prices are high as compared to other local beer stores that they haven’t bought out and they seem to put the pressure on receiving short releases so the small guys can’t. I hope this doesn’t go over well.
Don’t need it in Milwaukee but it would be nice to see one in kenosha.
and maybe one in gurnee or something, that area is a beer store wasteland
I think Binny’s is great. It’s the front line for people interested in venturing into craft beer but without the knowledge and motivation to do so on their own. The staff is helpful, the selection is enormous… People will still go to their local independent package store for the sake of loyalty and convenience. But if you’re looking to host a beer-centric gathering and you want to have an extremely diverse array of options, Binny’s is your best bet. Total Wine, BevMo, Binny’s… they are all furthering the growth of craft beer.