In my experience, most college students care most about three things: food, money, and booze. What better way to help out with two of these than to create a condensed list of my top five liquor stores to go to in Laramie? Since it is primarily a college town, there is a plethora of liquor stores so the choice can be overwhelming! Here, any college student or visitor in need of a pick-me-up should find this list beneficial!
Before getting started, there were a few factors that went into selecting the top five.
First, the selection. Supporting local is great, but it can also be nice to get something that is far reaching, so a place that covers both gets boosted while a place that only does one or the other gets downgraded. Secondly, how are the hours/customer service? When a place has finicky hours that may not be accurate online, you run the risk of showing up and it being closed. With that, willingness of the employees to help you out once you get there is a major factor. And thirdly, pricing. Most college students run on a limited fund, so this is definitely a big factor!
Take a look at the interactive map here for a quick condensed pros/cons list for each place and why it received the ranking it did!
5. Mingles Lounge
Mingles Lounge is last on this list for a few reasons. Firstly, as my friend Ty Wedl says, “it is connected to a bar.” If you’re looking to pick up some beers on the way home, having to interact with a bunch of inebriated lounge-goers is not the most appealing. However, it does have a drive-thru option along with a free bag of ice for every $10 spent. While it does have a local selection, the store is so small that the whole selection is limited and it is one of the most expensive on this list. Also, while it is open until 2 a.m., since it is locally owned, there are less consistent overall hours.
| Pros: | Cons: |
|---|---|
| Drive-thru, free ice with purchases, local selection | Limited overall selection, noisy environment inside, more expensive |
4. Safeway Liquor
Safeway Liquor has one saving grace: the build-a-6-pack. In their story, you can bring your own six pack holder or use one of theirs to mix and match a selection of bottled beverages from beers to hard lemonades. However, “I think the hours are good but the selection is pretty poor,” says Ty. It is such a small store that you are unlikely to find a specialty brand and there is no local selection, but the corporate hours mean it is open every day for consistent hours. It also means that the employee is not necessarily versed in beverage selection, so take advice with caution.
| Pros: | Cons: |
|---|---|
| Cheaper, reliable, open regularly, build a 6-pack | Limited overall selection, some items are more expensive, limited customer service, no local selection |
3. Ridley’s Liquor
Ridley’s is really built for college life. They have a student discount on certain days with a school ID and are attached to the grocery store. They have a great selection and great local representation as well. Plus, a massive walk-in beer cooler! The same issue comes up with Ridley’s employees, though, as they are mainly cashiers, and though their hours are more consistent, they close earlier than some others on this list.
This would Ty’s number one choice. He says, “I usually go to Ridley’s because they have a better beer selection, but they close an hour earlier than the store which is inconvenient.” Between a great selection and reasonable prices, Ridley’s Liquor is a pretty solid choice for any need!
| Pros: | Cons: |
|---|---|
| Good selection, fairly cheap, UW student discount certain days, walk-in beer cooler, consistent hours, local selection | Larger price than Walmart, popularity can have limited stock, closes earlier than the grocery section |
2. Walmart Liquor
Walmart wins its esteemed second place due, almost primarily, to its pricing. By far the cheapest on this list, it is easily one of the most popular liquor stores in Laramie. Pair that with the accessibility when grocery shopping to grab something really quick and it is a resounding success.
The same cashier wants are present here as well. Some employees can be rude at times, but are generally acceptable. The resounding popularity does, however, mean it is frequently running low on certain items. It is also a corporate location, so local selections are not a possibility here, “they aren’t local so that’s a downside”, says Ty.
| Pros: | Cons: |
|---|---|
| Cheapest, medium selection, consistent hours, very convenient | No local support, popularity drains stock, minimal customer service |
1. Northridge Liquor
Northridge Discount Liquor is a favorite place of mine. They have an incredible selection, featured items, and an astounding amount of local products. They have a rewards program, delivery, pick-up, tastings, and a boozy-slushy machine. Along with this, they have incredible personnel who are super helpful and personable. “North ridge has the best selection I think, I am not sure of their hours, but I’ve always had a good experience”, according to Ty.
Does this sound too good to be true? Well, since they are family owned since 1987, the hours can differ a bit, but their constant social media presence will notify anyone of closures or specials. The main drawback, however, is pricing. They are the most expensive on the list, but to me their selection, community support, and personality more than make up for it!
| Pros: | Cons: |
|---|---|
| Focus on local selection, delivery, massive selection, featured spirits, rewards program, great customer service, and a slushy machine | Most expensive, minimum delivery fee, less consistent hours |
Overall, there are plenty of liquor stores, bars, lounges, and distilleries to meet anyone’s need, so go out and explore Laramie! This has just been a quick rundown of the places I frequent the most, and I hope it helped you out!
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