Angry Otter Liquor - Parkcrest (Jaks)

Like most others who imbibe, I go to a private liquor store, over a BCL, exclusively for convenience… Naturally, I made the mistake of going to the BCL at Kensington on a Sunday night, only to find it closed. Saddened, I open up google maps, and type in liquor store, on the off chance that there is something closer than the Hop and Vine, or the Angry Otter… Lo and behold, JAK’s appears. “This is incredible!” I think to myself. Truly, a Christmas miracle! How could I have lived in this neighbourhood for so long, and not known about this place? It must be new! I take a left down Kensington, a right on broadway, and I’m there in two minutes. I pull in to find an overabundance of free parking. “Beautiful!” I say under my breath, as I pull back on the emergency brake. I walk in to find a bright, clean, and spacious store, with a respectable selection of whatever type of drink you happen to be in the mood for. “Impressive!” I look around, pick something, and as I’m walking to the register to pay, I think to myself, “I might just make this the exclusive private liquor store I shop at.” Then the cashier scanned my item, passed me the card reader, and my stomach sank… instant prompt for tip… as fast as I could, I hit #1 (No Tip) on the machine. While trying not to make eye contact with the cashier. I fumble putting my card back in my wallet, say thanks, and quickly leave. It was an uncomfortable and awkward experience, as it always is. In none of the infinite universes that exist, is there a version of me where I tip a cashier in this situation… I think I speak for a statistically significant portion of the population as well. Myself, and many others I know, who used to near exclusively shop at private liquor stores, have stopped, and started exclusively shopping at BCLs, except for when we cant… Purely over the incredibly awkward and uncomfortable experience of having to deal with the tip prompt at POS. Times are tough for everyone right now, money is tight. We’re already paying a premium at these shops, the tip prompt really is adding insult to injury… I’ve never written a review before, and this is in fact a positive one. The shop is very nice, great location, I will no doubt end up shopping here again… It begs the question though, how much more money could private liquor stores be making, or, how much are they losing, from the incorporation of this policy? The whole premise on which the success of private liquor stores is based, is convenience, in whatever that may entail. Convenience of time (shorter distance from homes). Convenience of selection… the overall experience has to be more convenient, than the competition. It’s simply not ALWAYS more convenient to go to a private liquor store anymore, for me anyways. Something to think about.

I love my local Jak's. They have cider selection that BC Liquour doesn't. The people who work there are friendly but can we please get rid of tipping?? I walk to the store, grab my bottles, and get out. Why am I being asked to tip 15%? 😓 I just drink less cider now rather than have to go into this store and be prompted to tip. Thanks, Jaks.

Got a chance to visit this place as It was too close from my work. They have enough display and the sales lady was so nice and she help me to find the right cider that I was looking for. .

Very knowledgeable staff here and a good selection especially the beer and gins. Price point is not unreasonable either.

Cashier yelled at me while after I purchase my bottle of wine, was screaming at me because I was taking a phone call. Extremely poor service, definitely would not recommend that customer service.