PISSING OFF THE COMPETITION SINCE 1959

Since the very beginning, Chicago Lake Liquors has had a rebellious spirit and a clear goal: to provide a one-of-a-kind liquor store experience while offering the lowest prices in town. You see, we believe that buying spirits should be fun. And it should leave you happy with money in your pocket. It’s that mission to provide an unparalleled experience that drives everything we do. From our crazy low prices to our rock star staff – your visit to Chicago Lake Liquors is sure to be memorable.

Founded in 1959, Chicago Lake Liquors has grown into one of the largest volume retailers in Minnesota. But we weren’t always located in the iconic red building on the corner of Chicago and Lake. In fact, when we originally opened we were located 9 blocks away on the corner of Chicago + Franklin, at which time we were called Chicago Franklin Liquors (clever, right?). When we moved down the street (into our current location) in 1972, we acquired over twice the capacity while only having to change half of our name. Chicago Lake Liquors was born.

Our long history is filled with memorable moments, from our quirky advertising campaigns (including the popular TV commercials featuring Jesse The Body Ventura) to appearances by celebrities like 50 Cent. However, nothing has been quite as memorable in 60+ years of business as the violence + destruction that descended upon our community in May of 2020. Over the course of three nights, the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul erupted in the worst civil unrest seen in decades. Hit especially hard by these awful events was the Lake Street neighborhood, including Chicago Lake Liquors. Night after night, the store was looted and vandalized, resulting in over $3M in vandalism and theft. But through it all, we have always believed in the amazing Chicago + Lake Street neighborhood and we are committed to continuing to lead the way in making it a strong and vibrant community.  

Over the years, we’ve made a name for ourselves by doing one thing + doing it well: We buy product in large quantities, negotiating the best possible deals, then we pass that savings along to you. And while shoppers visit us from all over Minnesota, we’ve never strayed from who we are: A neighborhood destination liquor store with great service and everyday low prices. 

We could go on, but you really won’t believe it until you experience it for yourself. Stop in for a visit and you’ll find no haggling + no waiting for sales. Just great prices and amazing customer service, every single day.