Empire Wine & Spirits — Local services in Middletown

Sadly, im a normal customer here. I came here 17 minutes before close... saw a bunch of young young kids wandering around inside... Several ADULTS PULLED UP ATTEMPTED TO GO INSIDE, BUT DOORS WHERE LOCKED N CLOSED!!!! I called multiple times ... of course, no answer .... they then let out a very YOUNG kids and locked the doors behind them. As I watched these very young kids get into 5 separate cars with even younger teens. Several cars pulled up and attempted to enter the business that states it is open for business until midnight and can not be reached by phone, may I add, only to not open their doors for now 9 ppl !!!!!! Separate vehicles, not 9 as a group... sadly you alll will NOT be receiving my business and I will be REPORTING your business to middletown police department for serving under aged minors that were clearly MINORS coming out of your business at 11:44 pm this evening Saturday 07/12/25. Oh, as I was posting sitting out front, there 2 come strolling out at 1202am, and one is carrying an alcoholic beverage....... it sad the one n only business open late n local patrons want to pur have from can't even do so because they wanna serve little kids and dip out early..... if I cut corners so badly at my job, I wouldn't have one.... Idc that u closed approx 20 minutes early. My problem was the blatant disregard... u had all those kids running around ur store n then let them out n locked right back up....... I hope they were worth it.... I'd like to email the owner... not to just report the gentleman who was in charge but to show the business owner that he is losing out double time.... think about it... when I arrived, 6 cars tried to approach, and 2 gentlemen walked from around the side of the building (behind me, i was pulled up outfront) .... that's let's be generous 200 worth of sales they lost in 16mins on a Saturday night closing early.... I goggle it ... there isn't a store open for spirits for at least 16.2 miles... 22 mins away... pretty competitive considering no one else is open that late within 20 minutes of the area... kudos sir 👏 but u have poor employees costing u gravely.... Not only are u paying them two gentlemen and your overhead, but now u r missing out on, let's say, 200 300 within 16mins of closing... the folks whom get off at 11 and are trying to enjoy their Saturday night at home with a few drinks but unfortunately your establishment who's close by their homes decided they didnt feel like staying open to their actual closing time. Sir, I can not imagine how often this is happening on a weekly basis, and I wonder how many ppl pulled up before me and couldn't enter.... those kids were ready to leave when I arrived so that tells me u must of closed several minutes prior to my arrival and again 8 ppl total attempted to enter besides myself so 9 within 16 mins so id say your employees attempted to close atleast 25 30 mins early... so let's say ummmmm 3 to 4 more ppl before me came .... wow, so on one Saturday night, u probably lost that one helpers' entire weeks paycheck in patronage in 30 minutes. So essentially every week u r probably losing several thousand dollars and I can't even begin to think how long these two employees have worked for you and how much the closing early 20 30 mins every night heck even just on the weekend has cost you......... 😳 ouch !!!!!!!! Wow..... it pains me, and it isn't even my company taking that hit. If you don't believe me, sir.... take a look at your cameras.... u will see i am not fooling around or exaggerating my numbers...... when I post reviews, I post TRUTH...... hard facts.... experience!!!! THAT IS VERIFIABLE.... and i say, sir, because I already googled the owner of this establishment........ I know ppl will still come because, again, you r the only place open till midnight or so it's supposed to be...... but tighten up and stop the bs... you shouldn't knowingly serving minors nor closing early. Again..... u r losing money all around, and if I did so poorly at managing my company, I wouldn't have a job!!!...

Decided to try Empire after reading some good reviews about selection. Selectiin was pretty good. But it was not a good experience. First regarding in stock. There wasn't a bottle of Canadian club in any size. I chalked that up to 'these things happen'. Maybe distributor was out. Then I asked about a liqueur I could not find. Hoped to special order a case but was told the item has been discontinued, which seemed odd. Just looked at a competitors website and see it available for pick up in store.

Most frustrating I had a 3 case order. I checked my receipt, as I was putting it away. I was charged for 3 bottles of something I bought two of. Out $26 I called and made them aware. Lady was nice and said she would talk to manager and call me right back, so I could stop in for a refund. That was over 2 days ago so not holding my breath. But trying them became a pricey experiment. Guess I am back to old supplier. Have placed a lot of large orders there and never...

I shop here 3-4 times a month. My most recent trip was not a good one. I saw that they had a new Yuengling, so I thought I would try it since it was on sale. I got up to the register to find out that the sign was wrong, I took a picture of course and showed the gentleman at the register. He said the sign is wrong, I explained that they advertised and that price should be honoured for me and then they can change the sign. He said No, the sign was wrong. When I was in retail, the sign price would have been honoured. I will now take my business down the street, there are many stores in Middletown these days. So for $14.99, they will lose all my business from here on out. - Update, just sent the owner a message in Facebook and he said if I come in he will honor the price. I will...