(Shopped 11/24/14 M @ 5:30pm and many times before and certainly after): Mo bevvies...mo bevvies...mo bevvies!
I found myself at the BevMo in Glendale days before Thanksgiving with one of their kick-arse $10 off $50 purchase coupons for those who signed-up to be on their mailing list. It was perfect timing too, since my wine rack was nearly dry and I wanted to bring a few bottles to Thanksgiving lunch. As was usually the case, I searched for wines I'd never tried before (variety was the spice of life, right?), and as long as I spent close to $50 as possible I would've saved close to 20%. So, let's see how the haul was on this particular trip http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=ipZFOXnWMY23NNeLWZRWWw:
2011 Craftwork Sauvignon Blanc x 2 ($17.95 + $0.05 Sale) - I've been on a Sauvignon Blanc kick since I vacationed in New Zealand in 2012 and chugged this sweet white wine. From the Monterey, CA region, this had a yellow color, subtle nose and sweetness with a refreshing finish.
2010 Tormaresca Neprica ($11.99) - I loved Italian wine and this baby from the Puglia region was no exception. A ruby color with an aromatic nose, half-body yet robust taste and a lingering finish.
2011 Las Vascos Cabernet Sauvignon ($9.99) - For some reason my palate wasn't a fan of Chilean wines, like this one from the Colchagua region. A deep dark color, strong nose, full-body taste with high tannins and a chalky finish.
2011 V.No Malbec ($9.99) - I didn't always have a palate for Malbecs but I have grown to appreciate them now, and this one from the Argentina's Mendoza region was a bargain at this price! Ruby dark color, bold nose, full-body with slight tannins and somehow a pleasant clean finish.
2011 Para El Alma Chardonnay ($8.99) - I've found that Chardonnays are a bit dry for me now, but this one from the Buellton, CA region was decent. A light yellow color, lilting nose, casual-body with fruity overtures and a oak finish.
Service - I usually didn't need any assistance since I knew my booze, brews and wines, so it was simply a kind greeting from the cheery youthful staff and the quick way they got me through checkout. They seemed to have a penchant at this particular location to constantly ask for my ID - what gives!? It was all good especially when I saw their reaction. Wonderful training job; keep up the good work!
Parking (Free) - They had their own small lot in the back with six spots total http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=0-CYmUgeU1NuQYnBFXA9yA. Otherwise, there was metered parking in a nearby lot as well as along the main drag of Brand Blvd. and all surrounding streets. But Glendale has become parking structure central these days which offered 90-minutes free parking and whatever rate after that.
Atmosphere, décor, ambience - A smallish yet standard liquor store with 50% dedicated to liquor and mixers and about 25% each to beers and champagnes/wines. There was a tiny tasting area in the center of the store, registers at both back and front entrances/exits, refrigerated section for mostly beer (Champagnes and white wines, too), and a plethora of aisles that housed all the adult goodies and libations. They had a few snacks as well as a quaint selection of cigars and stogies. Of course promotional ads hung from the walls as well as strategically-placed POP displays. A fair amount of natural (and street) lighting came through all the windows and glass doors mixed with the primarily soul-sucking fluorescent lighting. There were no TVs but there was Top-40 background music. http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=zlqmfz0heJwjZOTclrOVRw
Attire - Totally casual, so I would normally be in a t-shirt, boardshorts, and flip-flops.
Overall, I liked BevMo's Glendale location even with its limitations of location, size, and variety. The customer service - although I rarely needed help - has always been great, and generally speaking the prices very competitive with member benefit rewards. I found very good value based on the prices, service, and experience noted above (total paid experience was around $54.00 AFTER discounts; no tip required). And, they accepted my credit card of choice...AMEX! 4.0 STARS read more