Tiffany Party Store

emerge077

Illinois

3.8/5  rDev -7.3%
quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$$

I have mixed feelings about this place...

When you walk in, it's clear that this is more of a specialty deli & wine shop first. No signs indicate the beer section, I wandered aimlessly for a bit in search of it. There was a lack of beer displays, although there were cases of Arcadia Whitsun stacked in the front window under full sunlight.

The beer aisle (closest to the coolers) was long, and a little confusing. US and imports were mixed up, and not necessarily grouped by brewery. Jolly Pumpkin for instance...there was a few leftover bottles of Fuego on one side, and Roja on the other, but nothing else at all. When I asked, they found a sixer of Calabaza Blanca in the back for me. There were many imports, but not necessarily quality ones. 5 flavors of Warsteiner (mmm, cola & lime), but where's the Rochefort, St Bernardus, Aventinus? They seemed randomly selected and displayed, without regard to quality or country of origin. Some stuff was dusty and shouldn't have been on the shelf (Kolsch & light lagers). That said, there were a handful of gems that seemed to be diamonds in the rough.

Checkout was fine, they were helpful, although there wasn't anyone on the floor while I was there. Prices seemed steep, especially on the local beers (good but not extensive selection). Not sure if i'd return, probably worth a look for travellers, but if you're local I would shop around.

06-09-2008 14:31:29 | More by emerge077

Billolick

New York

4.15/5  rDev +1.2%
quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | $$

First, the staff here was great, especially the guy who helped me find the place over the phone and showed me some stuf they just got in (Stone VE 080808). Nice, well stocked typical MIch. "party store" tons of wine, booze, food and beer. yes tons of beer, mostly on a large two sided shelving unit and also tons cold in coolers along the right side and rear of the store. All the usual Michigan good stuff ( Founders, Arcadia, Bells, jolly P.), nice selection of the national micros, (Avery, Stone, ommegang, Rogue,Great Divide) Respectable collection of pretty typical Belgians, Brit and German imports. Toss in oils, cheese, sauces, breads, olives, spices, etc and you get the idea..Prices seemed pretty reasonable, ..better then average stop..

08-11-2008 12:49:44 | More by Billolick

TurdFurgison

Ohio

4.05/5  rDev -1.2%
quality: 4.5 | service: 3 | selection: 4.5 | $$$$

Easy to find on a major throughfare, west of downtown. This strikes me as an upscale liquor store, lots of wine, fine cheeses, and artisanal foodstuff. Very good selection of beers, maybe 100+ USA craft choices, 60+ Belgians, and 60+ from the rest of Europe. Quite a few singles, although you pay dearly for the convenience. While I'm on price, you seem to pay dearly for everything in the store. This is among the priciest stores I've visited in the entire state.

Bottom line is you'll find something good, maybe even rare. But you will pay.

02-05-2010 01:19:21 | More by TurdFurgison

rhoadsrage

Illinois

4.3/5  rDev +4.9%
quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

I stopped in to look for some regional beers that we can't get in Illinois and I left with several big boxes. They have lots of local beers in the many coolers and a good selection of imports there and on the shelves aswell.

The front of the store is meats cheeses and gourmet crackers but the back is beer, wine and some liquors. In the very back of the store they did sell some singles but not a huge selection.

I talked to the man who was working and he gave me the run down on what just came in, what sells like wildfire and some of his favorites for this season. He was a great help and a beer fan himself.

A great place for locals and imports brews.

07-20-2005 00:51:26 | More by rhoadsrage

shivtim

Georgia

4/5  rDev -2.4%
quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$

Tiffany's specializes in wines, but has a good amount of beer too. There's a big selection of six-packs (mostly from midwestern breweries), and a decent selection of individual bottles from all over the place, both refridgerated and on the shelves. There's a lot of Rogue and Bells, and stuff from Arcadia and Unibroue and Dogfish head.
Service is good, twice employees asked me if I needed help finding anything. Prices vary, some stuff seems expensive and some is on the cheap side. You're likely to find something here of interest to you.

12-28-2006 15:28:39 | More by shivtim

spointon

Illinois

4.35/5  rDev +6.1%
quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $$

I visited this place on 8/29/2009.

With time only to stop at one beer store in Kalamazoo on a recent trip, I chose the Tiffany Party Store and am thrilled that I did.

I think this place draws its name from the fact that it is located in the Tiffany shopping center and not from the name of the owner (grin).
Upon entering, it was apparent that the store had a lot of stuff and it was all well organized. The beers were off to the right and stretched nearly the length of the store. Of greatest interest to me were two very long aisles, one containing Belgian beers and the other containing an impressive selection of single bottles and glass door coolers with a wide assortment of American craft beer six packs. I was happy to see the well known locals as well as smaller more rare Michigan breweries well represented.

The prices were getting up there but still fair. They have a deal where you can mix your own six pack of singles and they take 10% off the price. With such an impressively huge selection, I get leery of the age on the beer but everything I picked up has been in great shape / fresh. Service was great and friendly (they were there when I needed them and left me alone when I didn't. Its also worth mentioning that they have a great selection of party foods on hand as well - everything from prepared dips to humus to salsa, etc.

Overall a great place that could easily be a one stop shop if you are in the area.

09-01-2009 04:27:41 | More by spointon

AleWatcher

Illinois

4.65/5  rDev +13.4%
quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $$$$

This place had a great selection!! My buddy and I stopped here on our way through town. Walking in, beer is straight ahead on the right. A giant cooler lines the wall with more than half devoted to craft beer... The shelves facing the cooler are mostly mix and match singles-- huge selection, with some beers being cellared for a year or two already. The singles prices were really high ($9 for a KBS, and $6 for a Founders IS, etc.). The next aisle over is filled with bombers. Overall, the store had all of the MI brewers I was hoping to find, and lots more.

They did have all the beers I was hoping to find, except for Nemesis... The kid tht helped me was awesome- very friendly and knowledgable. He checked the downstairs cellar/storage area for me 4 or 5 tomes and kept returning with stuff I couldn't pass up.

If you're looking for your daily drinker, you might be well-advised to head elsewhere, but if you're looking for rarities, especially if you're from out of state, this place is a must.

04-11-2010 12:33:24 | More by AleWatcher

SpeedwayJim

New York

4.08/5  rDev -0.5%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $$$

Visited this place at the recommendation of a Bell's bartender on a recent roadtrip.

Tiffany's is actually a large liquor store/deli type place. Its pretty spacious but the entire area is made use of. Shelves are a bit cramped and hard to peruse but that could be a good thing. Otherwise pretty friendly and really, your run-of-the-mill liquor store.

Quality is pretty good. They have almost all of their 6-ers at room temperature and in the fridge. As well as refridgerated IPAs. Beers kept on the shelves are all to date too. These guys obviously know what they're doing.

Service overall is pretty good. I was helped and given a little tour of the place and they made a couple of nice recommendations. The service people were nice as were the cashiers who made light conversation.

Selection is really good. Rivals some of the best beers stores in NYC and I was impressed to see that almost everything they had in 6-ers were also available as singles in a pick-6 type of deal. That's always appreciated. A very solid selection of locals, imports, and other offerings around the US.

Tiffany is a bit expensive. Bottles in both 6ers and bombers and 750s were more expensive than in NYC... considering that pints around the locals bars were much cheaper than what I'm used to paying, I'm inclined to think this place is overcharging a bit.

Worth a visit to get a comprehensive idea of what is distributed to MI. And about a 5 minute drive from Bell's so its a nice, convenient pit stop for the craft beer enthusiast.

08-01-2011 14:22:10 | More by SpeedwayJim

CRJMellor

Arkansas

4.35/5  rDev +6.1%
quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5

Excellent beer store near the Western Michigan compus and 3 or 4 miles up the hill from Bell's. In the 6 months I've lived in the area has imrpoved and already good selection. All the big midwestern breweries present. Large coolers fully stocked. Also have a sinlges cooler in the back of the store. Real strong point is the expanding selection of Belgians they have going. Really stock an almost ful line of Unibroue also. Only thing they didn't have seemed to be Weste.
Service can leave a little bit to desired but the majority of the stock is on the shelves so you can decide for yourself. I'd be a little concerned about how fast so of the more esoteric or unique beers move but they seem to od a pretty good job

12-19-2003 17:41:09 | More by CRJMellor

mentor

Colorado

4/5  rDev -2.4%
quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4

I stop by Tiffany's every time I drive by Kalamazoo enroute to visit family in Michigan. This review was written in November 2004. Tiffany's is located in a strip mall off Main Street a few miles west of Bell's Brewery (which I visit after stopping in at Tiffany's). It's a bit out of the way for me, passing by on the expressway, so it's a credit that I continue to stop in. Also of note, they are not open late, so don't expect to visit Tiffany's at night. The inside is non-assuming, with metal racks forming the aisles. 6-packs are available in coolers to the right and singles in coolers to the back. I think they have a good wine selection (to the left), but haven't wandered around in that part of the store. They have a large international beer selection and a good selection of American craft brews, mostly from Mid-west regional breweries. My impression is that limited or premium beers move quickly, but that some other selections may hang around quite a while. The cashier is friendly and quite knowledgable about the beers and even knows what seasonal beers will soon be arriving. This is a great place to stop in order to pick up a sampling of regional beers (my purpose). Most of the international selections can be found at many beer specialty stores across the country, but Tiffany's may be the only place to find such selections in Kalamazoo. Prices are competitive with other such establishments. If you are in the area, stop by Tiffany's for a visit.

12-01-2004 21:08:19 | More by mentor