Binny's Is Expanding.

[cowdery]

According to the Shanken News Daily, Chicago-based beverages retailer Binny's is expanding, first outside the Chicago-area into other Illinois markets, then across the border into Wisconsin.

The newest Binny's, number 28, opened last week in Arlington Heights. A new store in LaGrange will open after the first of the year. So will one in Champaign, the first outside Chicagoland. After that, they're looking at Rockford, Madison, and Milwaukee.

"Once we set up the internal infrastructure to expand to Wisconsin, we can use that as a springboard to go national," said CEO Michael Binstein.

[fishnbowljoe]

According to the Shanken News Daily, Chicago-based beverages retailer Binny's is expanding, first outside the Chicago-area into other Illinois markets, then across the border into Wisconsin.

The newest Binny's, number 28, opened last week in Arlington Heights. A new store in LaGrange will open after the first of the year. So will one in Champaign, the first outside Chicagoland. After that, they're looking at Rockford, Madison, and Milwaukee.

"Once we set up the internal infrastructure to expand to Wisconsin, we can use that as a springboard to go national," said CEO Michael Binstein.

[timd]

I will be among the first to welcome them to Texas, when they arrive.

I have a feeling it's going to be a race between Binny's and Spec's to see who can take over the country first!

[clingman71]

I'd welcome them to SW Ohio, but it isn't the retailers that are lacking, it is the state.

[stevegoz]

Aggressive. There are already a few great stores in towns adjacent to LaGrange. I hope that Binny's doesn't spell their doom.

I'm trying to figure where the LaGrange location will be. I'm guessing where the Border's was, right along the tracks on LG Road.

The Binny's buyout of Sam's was a letdown for me personally. When they first announced that Binny's was coming to Downers Grove, they were going to move into a former Circuit City and have a tap room. Then they switched up, bought and moved into the former Sam's location out here, and never did open said tap room. Such high hopes, dashed.

[Jono]

There a lot of closed Circuit City ....and Borders....locations around the nation. They were usually well situated

in their local market with drive by traffic etc.

[BFerguson]

I'd welcome them to SW Ohio, but it isn't the retailers that are lacking, it is the state.

[Vosgar]

After that, they're looking at Rockford

Geez Chuck, on one hand I hope you're not teasing me. On the other hand I'm concerned about my financial health if they do come to town.

P.S. Fishnbowljoe - they should locate further east (closer to my house!)

Gary

[ebo]

I'd welcome them to SW Ohio, but it isn't the retailers that are lacking, it is the state.

Aint that the truth!

[trumpstylz]

This would be a interesting question to pose to them. Binny's is Binny's because of the amazingly great product selection for everything.

The excitement of shopping there in controlled state wholesaler deal, just wouldn't make it Binny's anymore- it would be like any other store.

B

To me what makes binny's truly special is their hand picked barrel program.

[ILLfarmboy]

Dang. I held my breath while quickly reading the opining post. I was hoping for something in Peoria or the QC area.

[Jonny.Applebury]

I think this is great news. I live in Madison, WI. I hope that Binny's will bring extra allocations of the limited whiskies into the state.

No longer using a trip to Binny's as an excuse to go to Chicago is a drawback. Now, Giordano's will need to expand into Madison. Yes, I know they're in dire financial straits.

[stevegoz]

Wait a minute -- here I'm always going to Wisconsin on beer runs....

[White Dog]

I think this is great news. I live in Madison, WI. I hope that Binny's will bring extra allocations of the limited whiskies into the state.

No longer using a trip to Binny's as an excuse to go to Chicago is a drawback. Now, Giordano's will need to expand into Madison. Yes, I know they're in dire financial straits.

It won't, unless Binny's figures out how to drastically increase the sales of everyday Sazerac products, the amount of BTAC that WI is allocated won't really change that much. (And you can always find BTAC sitting around this state, if you know where to look.)

And Julian ain't gonna have more Rye for us, either.

I can only see other WI retailers lose some of their allocation as Binny's steals their market share. You'll see a shift, but not much total increase. So Maybe Riley's and Steve's get less, as Binny's gets some of their cut.

I am looking forward to their barrel purchases. Having a wide selection of FR1B will be fun.

[Jonny.Applebury]

It won't, unless Binny's figures out how to drastically increase the sales of everyday Sazerac products, the amount of BTAC that WI is allocated won't really change that much. (And you can always find BTAC sitting around this state, if you know where to look.)

And Julian ain't gonna have more Rye for us, either.

I can only see other WI retailers lose some of their allocation as Binny's steals their market share. You'll see a shift, but not much total increase. So Maybe Riley's and Steve's get less, as Binny's gets some of their cut.

I am looking forward to their barrel purchases. Having a wide selection of FR1B will be fun.

[Moretorque05]

I'd love to have a Bonney close to Milwaukee! This is great news!

[White Dog]

I'd love to have a Bonney close to Milwaukee! This is great news!

Just out of curiosity, what does Binny's bring to the table that you're not getting from Ray's/Sendik's/Discount/Otto's, besides the wide array of 4R single barrels?

[trumpstylz]

Just out of curiosity, what does Binny's bring to the table that you're not getting from Ray's/Sendik's/Discount/Otto's, besides the wide array of 4R single barrels?

I'm not sure if this is the case with the other 4, but binny's is a big proponent of the hand picked/personally selected barrel program.

Elmer, buffalo trace, tons of 4 roses bottlings, rock hill farms, blantons, elijah craig, knob creek single barrel, weller, willett and eagle are all available in bottlings that were personally selected by binnys. Usually, but not always, the binny's bottling is better than the standard bottlings you find at the store.

[Moretorque05]

Just out of curiosity, what does Binny's bring to the table that you're not getting from Ray's/Sendik's/Discount/Otto's, besides the wide array of 4R single barrels?

just another place to go really. Rays is by far my favorite, but it is always fun for me to stop by the others.

[White Dog]

I'm not sure if this is the case with the other 4, but binny's is a big proponent of the hand picked/personally selected barrel program.

Elmer, buffalo trace, tons of 4 roses bottlings, rock hill farms, blantons, elijah craig, knob creek single barrel, weller, willett and eagle are all available in bottlings that were personally selected by binnys. Usually, but not always, the binny's bottling is better than the standard bottlings you find at the store.

I agree. The private bottlings are the one plus.

[trumpstylz]

And according to Jdodso3, Big star Chicago Bar on Milwaukee and Damen also has some great single barrels, especially their hand picked 4 roses and weller antique single barrel.

[BFerguson]

selection, selection, selection.

Binny's for bourbon, or for anything else that you can think of, is the tops. Granted, i haven't been to many other stores that compare, but there just aren't many in the same league.

B

[cowdery]

My prediction is that Binny's will move into WI by buying one of the existing chains. There are many legal challenges involved in crossing state lines in the liquor business. The primary benefit is extending the brand, so that especially those WI markets that consume Illinois media can be marketed to more efficiently. I can imagine an arrangement where it's not so much a buy-out as a merger, allowing an existing chain to benefit from the power of the Binny's brand. That's how I think it will go down.