Total Wine & More

gopens44

Virginia

3.85/5  rDev +6.6%
quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | $$

I had a feeling that this store wouldn't be all that different from the Robious location in terms of location, but I was a little bit wrong. The number of singles may have been a little less than the other store, but it wasn't by any stretch a disappointment either. They had a few beers on hand that I hadn't noticed at the other store in both small bottles and bombers.

The store is laid out drastically different from the other location, but once I got my bearings straight, I was off to the races. Bit more crowded than I had expected, but it was a Friday afternoon. Overall, the store seemed a little more cluttered than the other location, but not to the point where I felt it was a dingy or untidy location - just busting at the seams with all types of product (wine, beer, etc.)

Service was friendly and relatively quick considering the crowd at the time. No complaints at all over the service.

I can't stand traveling down Broad at most any point of the day, but I am glad that this place has a stop light conveniently located at teh exit of the strip mall that it's located in. Makes even the worst rush hour navigation a little less frustrating!

10-12-2010 15:49:03 | More by gopens44

nandemo1

Virginia

3.68/5  rDev +1.9%
vibe: 2.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4.5 | $$

This store is located at Parham and Broad, in an old strip mall. The store is ok, yes they have a pretty good selection, but there have been a few drawbacks:

1) the usual issue of freshness. Bottles can sit around a while so you need to look out for dates.

2) staff is pretty indifferent. Haven't found anyone that knowledgeable or friendly for that matter.

3) store is getting pretty tired. After 10+ years without a remodel, the appearance is old and uninviting.

I stop by looking for new releases, but I prefer Wine & Beer Westpark.

07-27-2011 10:48:48 | More by nandemo1

keifffff

Virginia

2.85/5  rDev -21.1%
quality: 3 | service: 2.5 | selection: 3

This place is more about wine than beer. The selection of wine is extensive, yet the beer selection is just average. Some prices are reasonable, but most are pretty inflated. Its hard to find cases of beer worth buying. Most beer selection is either singles, 6 pack, or 12 pack variety. Not a bad place to buy kegs. But again, domestic macro is the option. I was pleasently surprised they had iron city, cans though. I asked about bottles and got a look of horror.

In summary, good place for a quick purchase if your passing by, if not, spend the extra few minutes and go elsewhere.

01-16-2004 20:02:06 | More by keifffff

RealityDeviant

Virginia

3.65/5  rDev +1.1%
quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | $$

Ah, the old tried and true. Before I turned twenty-one I would go here with my parents and pick out beer and wine. It certainly isn’t my favorite place in Richmond to pick up beer, but I appreciate it for its convenience and the fact that it can serve as a good starting place for aspiring beer aficionados.

The ambience is inadequate, but you aren’t expected to go there for it. The shopping center is located to the failing Books-A-Million, which is surely destined to die out within the next five years. The parking lot isn’t in the best condition and the turn into the shopping center from Broad St. is a disaster waiting to happen. The store has the feel of a warehouse, which is not unexpected of a Total Wine & More. Beyond this, many members of the staff don’t have a clue about the beer they carry. Then again, you’ll occasionally hit a wine expert that happens to know a little about beer and you may feel better.

Over the past three years, I’ve noticed that their selection of singles has dwindled a bit. They seem to have fewer Belgians than they used to, whereas their mainstream stock has widened somewhat; of course, this is probably due to the clientele that come in and purchase beer from the store. Many of the beers that they carry in six packs can be found at Kroger, but they have a decent assortment of singles. I’ve heard about problems with some of their singles, but I’ve never had a problem with one of my purchases being skunky.

If you want to support Virginia-based breweries, this is a great place to go. They seem to have a greater selection of Old Dominion, Williamsburg, St. George’s, and Mobjack products than you can find elsewhere. I was pretty pleased to find several sixers of Old Dominion Spring Ale still sitting in the cooler. You can sometimes go here and find something you haven’t had before, but if rarity is your objective, I suggest going to Carytown or Once Upon a Vine.

05-25-2005 06:42:59 | More by RealityDeviant

boxofepilepsy

Virginia

4/5  rDev +10.8%
quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$

This is a great place to go on the west end of town. In the middle of things on Broad street, which is a plus. Store is predominantly wine, which I've never taken the time to look at. But it carries two and a half aisles of sixers and cases of beer, in addition to a very respectable aisle of singles. You can find pretty much any local beer, a good bit of dogfish, etc. The Belgians aren't overly numerous, but they have a good few German and British brews. They have some stuff I've had a hard time finding elsewhere, like Mendocino's stuff.

Not too much service walking around the beer section, but nearly all of the people in the front of the store are knowledgeable about beer and they're all really friendly. Most of the time they don't have Bell's or Stoudt's in singles and will break up a sixer if you ask. Good people. This isn't my favorite store ever, but it's definitely solid and great location-wise. Worth a visit, definitely.

05-18-2007 01:09:29 | More by boxofepilepsy

hoppyoldsoul

Massachusetts

2.79/5  rDev -22.7%
vibe: 1.5 | quality: 2.5 | service: 2 | selection: 4.5 | $

Remarkably large selection of craft and imported beers, although the emphasis here is on wines and commercial brews. The prices are excellent compared to my neighborhood stores in Boston, MA, but I don't know how they relate to other stores in Richmond. The place looks like a warehouse club layout, in a partly vacant strip mall; nevertheless, selection is excellent, and offerings are up-to-date (e.g., seasonal brews are available as expected). I don't know how fresh they are, though, as it may be the warmest wine/ beer store I've ever been in given that the temperature outdoors is 63F today.

04-18-2012 19:35:18 | More by hoppyoldsoul

HopHeadCnK

Virginia

2.41/5  rDev -33.2%
vibe: 2 | quality: 2 | service: 1 | selection: 4.5 | $$

This is the walmart of beer/wine shops. There is a ton of inventory, stacked aimlessly and this is only amplified by the fact that the staff knows less about what beer than you do, because you know the name. If you have an hour to waste and don't want any help finding something that may, or may not be there, this is the shop for you. Go to Corks and Kegs or Once Upon a Vine.

01-07-2013 17:58:32 | More by HopHeadCnK

Crazyale

Virginia

3.71/5  rDev +2.8%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

I hate to admit it, but this is probably my favorite overall place to buy beer in Richmond. I enjoy shopping at other stores once in a while, but Total Wine has a great American singles collection, and most importantly for me, the prices are often quite a bit lower than some of the competitors.

The store is bursting at the seams with inventory, more so than the Midlothian location which often has lots of empty space on the shelves. You have to check dates, as there are certainly some older beers sitting around. But that's true at most places in Richmond.

They get big releases - this is where I got my Hopslam this year for instance. They also have as good as, if not better, selection of local beers as some of the non-chain shops in the city.

The service isn't great, although it's not as bad as some seem to think. Most employees aren't terribly knowledgable about beer, but a few are very helpful, and everyone I've talked to is at least friendly and does their best - no one has an attitude or anything.

02-09-2012 05:45:47 | More by Crazyale