Let me begin by saying that I don't want to sound pretentious but like everyone else's reviews I'm reading I find it REAL hard to give such a standout score to a chain. Yet everytime I walk into this place (which is conveniently located a couple of blocks from my house) I feel like quoting Randall from Clerks. You know the scene where he asks Dante if he can borrow his car keys so he can go to the video store and Dante says "you work in a video store"and he replies "yeah but I work in a shitty video store" and then they show him walking into the other video store with angelic music as if he is ascending into heaven ... that's the feeling I get when I walk into this place. A major plus is it doesn't FEEL like a chain ... the aforementioned staff recommendations scattered throughout the store give it a cozy feel and make you forget its a chain. Unlike other reviewers I disagree in that the staff is helpful and attentive ...To me however this is a plus as I'm allowed to peruse at my own pace and search on my own...yet the only time I asked for assistance (the 8 pack of guiness rack was empty) they promptly filled my request. I'm more of a beer and irish whiskey guy as a rule and their choices here are varied and appropriately priced. One of the only places I've found where you can grab a bottle of powers and I also find the locally brewed cave creek chile beer to be a surprising treat (think a non-shitty corona with a chile floating in the bottom instead of a lime floating on top). This place has soooo much wine to choose from I've been experimenting again lately ... current faves are zen of zin zinfandel and renwood syrah If you like booze, cigars and cheap prices this place can't be beat even if it is a chain.