Binny's Beverage Depot - Rockford — Attraction in Rockford Township

I’ve really enjoyed coming here based on their recommendations.. but today they made the best recommendation of all. The recommended i make my beverage purchases at a competitor across the street. They even mentioned their excellent selection and pricing. To my surprise, they were actually cheaper!

They reason they asked me to leave and refused my purchase is because I declined their offer of a mask. Shockingly this is the first time I have been asked to wear one in probably 4+ months. It is 100% their right to refuse service to people who don’t wear a mask, and I’m not judging them for that. But it’s clear by their google and Facebook reviews that they are doing it in an extreme and uncomfortable way.

What’s funny is I would have absolutely accepted the mask if it was offered when I walked in. But the manager/employee helped me for a good 5 minutes picking out wine for my wife. He waited til my hands were full with 3 bottles, and I started to move towards the register before offering. I declined and said my hands were full, but i am on my way out.. He then mentioned that it was a requirement for purchase. So it’s not a requirement to shop, just purchase?. Well I was curious why I was be challenged for the first time and asked whose requirement was it. He stated it’s company policy. So I asked if the masks were more important than future business, and that’s when he made his very condescending remark that he recommended making my purchase across the street instead.

Clearly the companies have their own priorities, And good for the company for standing up for what they believe in. I just hope it’s really the company policy and not some rogue employees running off customers.

Either way, I will no longer support the company. I’m actually writing this as I’m picking up more wine in a competitors parking lot and reliving the experience...

I love their selection & usually have excellent service-however I went in the other day without a mask. I understand IL is 1 of 9 states (out of 50!) that has a mask mandate but most businesses let it be the customers choice so long as they are keeping a safe distance from other patrons. I was asked to put one on to which I politely replied “No thank you.” This escalated into the employee shouting at me like I was a child in a crowded store. I grabbed the one item I wanted to get as a gift & headed to the checkout instead of also getting a box full of wine bottles just to get the hell out of there quickly. I was approached by another employee with a box of masks who did politely say I needed to put one on or leave, that I would not be waited on without one. I just gave him my cart & started walking out to which HE started shouting my other options at me! I do not plan on returning not because I was asked to wear a mask but because of the horrible way it was handled. It’s awful that you give your employees the go ahead to shout at...

Jason rocks! Three days ago, I called Binny's on Grand St. in Chicago to inquire if they had a box of Goose Is. Bourbon County Stout. The gentleman on the phone said that they had a couple. I asked him to put one aside and I would pick it up three days hence i.e. today, Wednesday. He called me back to correct himself and say that they had only one box of the stout left but that he would put it aside for me. So, I went to pick the box up today, three days later. Without looking at the computer or paperwork, Jason (The manager of the store), knew of the order and even knew my name, which is not an easy one to remember (He knew the first and last name!). He went and got the box of beer, processed the payment himself and carried the box to the car for me. He also suggested and I bought another Goose Island beer. He gave me lots of information on it. I was extremely impressed with the friendly and amazing professionalism of Jason. Binny's should feel lucky to have someone like Jason as part...