Store has been completely redesigned and renovated under New ownership. Has the fresh look and feel and its very well organized. read more

Evanston 1st Liquors - New store front - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

See all

Hold off on visiting this location. There is heavy construction going on inside the store -- it looks promsing as this place totally needed an upgrade. I was unable to exit the front door after the construction team -literally- locked the front door in front of my face, turned their back on me, and walked away. Isn't this a fire hazard to not be able to exit? read more

Easy to order. Delivery arrived within an hour of order. Delivery man Paul very nice and willing to take empty bottles to dumpster.

This literally was the first Liquor store in DownTown Evanston. It kinda rather controversial issue for the city and politics. I am rather glad it proceeded forward and "Evanston 1st Liquors" was granted and allowed to serve the community in a fly classy way. The peeps in opposition claimed (with-out research) that All the non-sense and drama that would be created if they received a license to sell beverages of all sorts. They also sell Lottery and Powerball tickets. They also sell Imported Mexican Coca-Cola. There are (2) two entries and exits from the North and South Side respectively. read more

This liquor store has a pretty good variety of alcohol and beers. Prices are a little high but they are in downtown Evanston. I knocked off stars because every time I go in, the woman working at the rear register does not say a word to me. I have used the words hello, goodbye, please, thank you and have a great day. I literally have never once gotten a response back. This is so far beyond rude. Show some respect to your customers! read more

I notice there are no current reviews and wonder why. The selection at this seemingly-small place is staggering, just great. But my judgment criteria begins and ends with customer service. Though I found what I was looking for there, it was not painless. And the young woman at the checkout had a service-only-if-demanded attitude and was unpleasant from the time we entered, she spotted and chose to ignore us and gave us the wrong item until we left and she decided it was best not to offer a receipt, smile or say thanks. I'm sure most folks will get what they need, so that's the bottom line. But I'll not return. read more

Good ol' EV1 served us well for those few years between turning 21 and scattering to the four winds. Since I was the first one of my friends to turn legal, I would often find myself wandering the two aisles with a cart and a long list in my hand. After I moved out of Evanston, I never came in here even though I visit Evanston at least once per month, and my commute passes through there. I much prefer Binny's for price and selection, or occasionally Foremost on Green Bay for convenience to my route home. Now that my drinking tastes are more refined than they were in the 1998-2001 era, I decided to stop in and see whether I could make use of the place. Their domestic microbrew selection is poor, but the import section is very strong for a store of this size. They had tons of Belgians and other European imports. I found a beer here that I hadn't been able to locate in Belgium. Prices seem comparable to other outlets, for the most part. I got two 22-oz Anchor Steam bottles for $3.29 each, which seems reasonable. However, they have another favorite of mine, St Peter's English Ale, for $3.79--sixty cents cheaper than Whole Foods. Hmm, I may have to do some more comparison shopping and start coming here more often. The liquor sections seem limited by comparison to the beer. I'll have to stop in again and check out their whiskies. Oh, and by the way, they sell kegs of some pretty good beer, including Hofbrau. I'll be keeping that in mind for my next party. They still have convenient free parking in the back, plus the curious dual checkout areas--one each in front and back. Makes for a fast getaway. read more

I love E1!! Huti always puts a smile on my face and the whole staff is so helpful. This store has everything you need and everything you didn't know you need. read more

I've been looking everywhere for the Yamazaki single malt whiskey and this place had both a 12 year one and an 18 year one! This place definitely has a good selection of alcohol. The staff are quite nice and give tips on which type of liquor is good enough if you're only trying make cocktails instead of drinking it neat or on the rocks. Pro-tip: if you have something you really want, they can order it for you since they place orders weekly! read more

Evanston 1st Liquors - Yamazaki single malt whiskey, 12 and 18 years - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Oh Evanston First! A brave warrior in the battle against a dry campus. You've saved so many boring evenings with your impressive beer selection, your steady standard liquors, you having the perfect mid-price but tasty bottle of champagne I couldn't find anywhere else on December 31. Oh and they deliver. And yes, they deliver to dorms, but that still doesn't mean you're going to get that keg up to the 4th floor. read more

I am by no means a big drinker. In fact, in recent years, I probably could have counted the instances I drank on my hands (both of them). Blame it on my fear of hangovers or falling asleep after half a beer, but until recently, I did not know that beer could actually taste good! Lucky for me, I live with someone who is always eager to indulge my alcoholic curiosities and who turned me onto my current beer of choice: Flying Dog Tire Bite (it's so good!!!!!!), after a night spent gorging at The Cellar down the street. Also lucky for me: EV1 is 10 seconds away from me (as in, I could be evil and throw water balloons at people buying their booze from my parking garage, but not to worry, I am nice) and carries a nice selection of beverages for me to try. Lots of names that I've heard my beer drinking friends throw out: Three Floyds, Stone, Lagunitas, Flying Dog, Magic Hat, Great Lakes, etc etc. EV1 also carries my sweet alcoholic beverages of choice: large bottles of lambics for around $11 and 6-packs of Magner's cider already chilled! No BabyCham though... :( They have this spiffy little wine chiller in the store. Perfect for those of you heading across the street for some BYOB Thai at Cozy Noodle. They also deliver, sell Kegs, ping pong balls, and I like their collection of diet soda. So let's raise a glass to EV1 and their role in helping Yanyao educate herself about beer. Hip hip hooray! read more

Good selection of domestic, local and micro brews but in my opinion not that good for wine. I would say that they are $2 more on everything. They close at 10/10:30pm, which I think is very early. read more

Am I really going to review my liquor store? Well, okay, why not. Dear Evanston 1st, You have been there for me for many years through the good times and the bad. Here are some things I've been meaning to tell you: 1) You are so close to my house. God forbid I ever try to go straight-edge. 2) You have a good selection of wine and beer (I am forbidden to drink anything else). 3) When you have long lines, they move fast. 4) Employees are nice and helpful and laugh at my silly dogs tied up outside. 5) You always give my daughter a lollipop so she is learning early on to associate the liquor store with good things. But... 1) I find cheaper wine occasionally at Whole Paycheck (your cheapest wine is usually $8 or $9) or Cost Plus World Market. 2) Your hours are disappointing. I know, I know, it's not your fault (the fault lies with the City of Evanston), but I don't know how many times I have walked over at 5 past 10 and you're closed. read more

Attention beer afficionados: Evanston 1st has now greatly expanded their craft and regular beer selection! They're almost all the the fridge selection along one wall of the store. Other things that have been added include: -a "for sale" table for spirits and mixers -a chiller which can make your drink ice cold in less than 10 minutes The wine and spirits selections haven't changed much in terms of size and organization, but they seem to carry more brands which I know are good. I definitely plan to come back for a closer look. This place isn't Binny's when it comes to price or selection, but if you don't feel like making the trek out to Skokie, then this place should do the job. read more

Two stories sum up my opinion of EV1. First, I was trying to check out with a line behind me when the lady who is usually in the back says "Sorry you ID is expired." I said it wasn't, and she she again said it was and handed it back to me. I pointed out to where it precisely showed a non-expired date, and she took it back. She then studies the image for a while and looks at me back and forth (Are you kidding? This is EV1) and then questions whether or not it's me. So I show her my credit card, which I then pay with. About time. Then just tonight, I go in to get a Bordeaux (among their crappy Bordeaux selection) for the BYOB place, pay, and head to the restaurant. I notice mold on the cork and the cork is soft. I open the wine, and yep, bad. I bring it back, and the jerk grudgingly says "go get another one. same price." So I do, try that one, and lo and hold -- moldyass cork. I bring it back and this time say I want my money back. He's visibly frustrated, but gimme a break. Your distributor will eat the cost for a bad case, stop getting pissed at me. Shitty, shitty customer service. EV1 can suck a fat one. read more

I haven't been here since high school -- we could always count on E1 to fill our liquor needs. Whether it was the stereotypical bum-buys-it-for-you or the oldest looking of the bunch going in for a run.... we were usually triumphant.* *this "review" in no way condones underage drinking or using deception to obtain alcohol. bad teenagers bad! read more

A little over a year ago this establishment began to 'bundle' above average 'sought after' beer together to take advantage of those willing to pay a bit more for a premium brew. This has lead us to the present day where they are now bundling a bottle of Founders KBS with another random bomber, for a price of $22. When asked to separate the two, customers are being told that "it came that way." Their business practices and unethical behavior when it comes to selling well above retail for better than average brews should steer you far away from this place. As other reviewers have recently posted, if you want a specific beer not on the shelf, chances are they have it in back so long as you are willing to pay an incredibly marked up price. Take your business elsewhere and don't play their games. Additionally, a lot of the beer in this place has sat on the same shelf for months and are collecting dust - good luck trying to return your stale and skunky brew after you get home and open them up. Stay away...stay far, far away. read more

Evanston 1st Liquors was surprisingly Evanston's very FIRST liquor store. Surprise surprise! The prices are higher than Jewel or Dominicks for alcohol. Anywhere from $2-$10. I usually go to Jewel to buy alcohol as EV1 also closes at 10pm. But they are the only place nearby with Kegs available and they sell ping pong balls, soda for chasers, and everything else needed for a night of drinking. It is literally a one stop shop. And yes, they also deliver so now, drunken hazy memories are a simple phone call away. read more

A very solid beer, wine and liquor store within a veritable booze desert. Evanston still hasn't completely shaken its teetotaling roots so there aren't many options for buying beer, wine and liquor outside of the bland chain supermarkets. I always find something interesting here, whether a new variety of wine or perhaps a 22-oz. "bomber" of that new craft brew. My major gripe about many craft beer stores is that most of the "good" beer is never already in the refrigerators and is sold at room temperature. Not good if you're stopping for a couple sixers right before a party. Fortunately, Evanston First sells quite a few of their craft beers cold and this makes me a happy camper. The staff are always helpful and are eager to help me pick a good wine that fits my budget. Bravo, Evanston First! QUICK TIP: Small FREE private lot in back (off the alley) if you don't want to feed the meter out front! read more

I like the fact that I can count on Evanston 1st Liquors to have either the bottle I want or something close enough to get the job done. They certainly save me a trip to some store either further away or less convenient. I only really have an issue with the prices. Buying beer there may be fine price wise but buying scotch there is like buying it with Peapod. I think EV1 is priced for folks who have already been out drinking and who wouldn't notice the difference. Love the selection though. read more

Holy crap!! This place has the best selection of Three Floyd's I've ever seen! I wandered in since I live very close and was pleasantly surprised at all of the delicious brews they have -- I will certainly be back from now on, as this place is WAY closer than Binny's :) read more

I definitely don't know that much (read: anything) about alcohol, but I needed a gift for a friend's 21st birthday, and this seemed like the place to get it. The selection was incredible/totally overwhelming, and I had a great time looking through everything and trying to pick the prettiest bottle (ended up getting Nuvo). The one thing that I didn't like was that the cashier clearly didn't believe I was 21. I have an under-21 bar on my driver's license because I haven't gotten around to getting a new one yet, and they don't take those at a lot of places, so I had my passport on me as well. I asked the man at the counter whether or not they could take my driver's license, and so he takes it, stares at it for a while, and asks me whether or not I'm 21. Yes. Yes, I am, as it clearly states on my ID. I offer my passport, he refuses, and then he scrutinizes my ID for a while longer before finally scanning it. Then he tells me that it has to be my ID - well, yes, obviously, it would have to be my ID. And then he clarifies that it has to match the name on my credit card. YES. I KNOW. And then he finally let me buy my stuff. read more

5 stars if you are here for beer, the selection is unparalleled. The liquor on the other hand was akin to being at a Jewel-Osco but with the high Evanston taxes. Definitely an average 3 star for non-beer beverages. read more

I was at Evanston 1st Liquors today, 12/28/2020, and while I was inside, for the duration of the time I was there, all three employees were not wearing masks. During the worst of the pandemic. They have signs on the front door saying they care about masks and social distancing, but do not follow the guidelines themselves. Who knows what virus aerosols are floating around in that small space? I walked straight out. You shouldn't even go in. read more

Living on the north side of Chicago there are a lot of good spots to buy craft beer, but I keep coming out of my way to come here, so they must be doing something right. They tend to get almost all of the more limited or rare releases, and they sit on the floor much longer than they would at a larger chain. The prices are decent, but they certainly aren't the cheapest option in town. Also, don't expect a whole lot in the customer service department. Everyone there is nice and accommodating, but don't expect to chat it up with the employees about beer releases or anything. However, they do update their BeerMenus page regularly, which I do appreciate. Long story short: if you're looking for something specific and Binny's sold out of it right away, give this place a shot... they might have what you want. But, don't expect a bargain. read more

EV1 has been there for my so many times, in so many different ways. In college, I loved hitting up the sale table for great deals on something new I hadn't tried yet, and now that I work nearby, it's my go-to spot for cans of pop or little snacks during the work day. They've got a great selection for the size, well organized and dependable. read more

This liquor store is the schizness! It even looks pretty - rather than a haven for alcoholics like certain South Side liquor stores. The wine is the best. read more

Evanston 1st Liquors - the outside of the building - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

See all

"Solid"...meaning a decent selection at a decent price point....place is nice and clean and well - laid out; employees are polite. Every week they have a decent vodka on sale for $9.99, which is happy happy happy for vodka drinkers. Liquor stores can be kinda skeevy, this one has no "skeeve factor"...a huge plus! read more

This is THE liquor store in Evanston. No other place in town even comes close. Huge craft beer selection (both cased and chilled), good wines at different price points (high end to low), nice variety of gins, bourbons, scotches, vodkas, cordials and on and on. Plus, I get to torture Pierre, the jocular Parisian ex-pat salesman, with my awful French. Ça va bien! read more

Evanston 1st is the best local liquor store with an absolutely fantastic selection. They have a beer selection that rivals Binny's, without the drive. I love that they always have St. Germain in stock, and I've gotten great wine recommendations. read more

Yes, for its place in the hearts of so many students, it gets an extra star. EV1 has a solid selection and when Whole Foods and World Market have closed their doors for the night, EV1 is always there to save the night. Even if it means robbing you blind with that liquor tax. read more

As it is the only liquor store within walking distance of my apartment, I have been to EV1 many times over the past couple of years. I swear there are only two employees, the friendly wine guy and the silent register man. I love the wine buyer, he's nice & talkative and always willing to help you pick something out (without steering you towards the most expensive bottle, either). The register guy is pretty nondescript, but does his job. 4 stars just because they could spruce the place up a little bit. Overall, great selection of liquors to match any taste or budget. read more

I recently took my friend here and the joy on his face should probably warrant a five star review, but I simply hate they layout of the store and do not find the employees to be helpful. As for the alcohol, which is what you are coming for anyway, they have an incredible beer selection, by far the best in Evanston (possibly Chicago), but are a little lacking on the quality hard liquor. I really should only buy my alcohol from here, but for the most part Jewel and Whole Foods are sufficed for my needs. read more

The best! From wine to beer to liquor they have the best selection I've seen. They even carry my favorite Limoncello!! They know their product and they know their customers!! read more

I love that I'm walking distance from this store. It a surprisingly big store with a whole lotta alcohol in it! They have an extensive collection of wine and beer and everything else in between. I may not know much about alcohol, but I can definitely see myself learning soon! And if I'm not mistaken, I believe they have parking in the back alley. read more

I'm giving them 5 for carrying CO2 tank refills for Homebrewing - a lifesaver! Thanks!

Huge, almost overwhelming selection, which I did not need because I know nothing about alcohol. Prices seemed to be cheaper for some things on sale and the same price as Jewel for others. read more

Centrally located in an area a little short on liquor stores so I wasn't expecting the world but...... This place is awesome. Staff is sooooooooo friendly. Selection is really amazing. I like cider, most places have 3 or 4 to choose from. I would estimate they had about 25. I was also looking for sours, they had a few of those too! Staff was really overly helpful. I hear they deliver, as well. I wish they were open until midnight or later, but I can't withhold a 5 star review based on that. Check it out. read more

Such a random little spot but they had what I had been searching all around Chicago for: Rogue Voodoo Donuts special edition beer. They had a great variety of beers and liquors and couldn't help but stock up on a few things even though I was further from home. Whether you live in Evanston or are just in search of a random beer, don't forget about Evanston 1st Liquors. read more

If you are having a party, these guys will rent you glasses. They'll drop them off and pick them up for you. You don't need to do any washing! read more