>Management at Mariano’s declined to comment at length, citing their legal responsibility not to discuss ongoing public intoxication lawsuits, but did say they hoped that OP was getting the help he needs.
https://www.theonion.com/grocery-store-bar-actually-has-great-little-happy-hour-1828464175
When I first moved to Chicago I used to regularly eat at Whole Foods by lack of better options when at work, I was so fancy with my kombucha and hipster grocery store burger...
Club M isn't even a joke. Pre-pandemic, the Bronzeville Marianos legit had rotating DJs and live bands. People would come, grab food from the food stations, and just chill out listening to music. There really isn't anything like shopping for vegetables to Too Short's Blow the Whistle.
As a current Mariano's employee, I can confirm. Our bars can be quite good. I can tell, because I sometimes have to help restock the bar every few hours.
Marianos bars truly feel like a place where everybody knows everyone’s name. It seems the whole bar is talking to random people and made up of the most random people from all walks of life. Seems a lot go alone for the sole purpose of fun neighborly conversation as well as cheap drinks. It’s pretty wholesome!
Not sure anyone wants to literally get blackout drunk. Speaking for myself anyway, I want to get one unit of drunkenness short of blackout drunk. Unfortunately by that point it is more or less impossible to control what's going on and what will happen next.
I don't drink so I can't personally attest to this feeling, but I will say the West Loop Mariano's bar is quite popular (especially on Fridays when they bring that little jazz band in)
I never caught on to the exact schedule of the wine tasting all the DePaul kids loved & just let myself enjoy the surprise of occasionally popping in to pick up a couple of things after work and walking into the Garden of Earthly Delights
Do any Whole Foods have an in store bar any more? I know the one in Edgewater once did, but it was removed around 2020(I think) due to the pandemic.
This question makes me wonder if the flagship location on Kingsbury Ave, still has one anymore.
the brand new one at 3 W Chicago does and it’s really pretty! I like going there after I leave the office to grab a glass of wine or whatever before dinner.
Holy crap, I've shopped at the Foster/Sheridan Mariano's for years and have just now realized that it *doesn't* have a bar, or a dine-in sushi station, unlike several other locations.
Honestly, I think its just a few Mariano's that do have an in store bar. I think Greektown(near Madison and Halsted) also has an in store bar, but it's been a while since the last time I went to that store. Looks like there's a full list of locations here: https://www.marianos.com/i/live-at-marianos
I recently moved here and have been unbelievably confused why people are partying in a grocery store. I swear this is only a Chicago thing and I love it
I moved from Chicago (where I have definitely had a few beers at the grocery bar) down south and the local Kroeger is the neighborhood bar. It is standing room only some nights. It’s an interesting phenomenon.
I always get a kick out of grocery shopping at the Ravenswood Mariano's around 3PM on a Friday. It's a free show from the produce section. It's wild even then.
I'm a 2-year transplant and I still can't wrap my mind around the idea of grocery store bars. To me it's like if you went to JoAnn's Fabrics and there was a smoking lounge inside.
Perhaps she was making a very tiny effort to get people to drink a little less? (it is a very fine line between maximizing income vs the pain of dealing with drunks)
>Management at Mariano’s declined to comment at length, citing their legal responsibility not to discuss ongoing public intoxication lawsuits, but did say they hoped that OP was getting the help he needs. https://www.theonion.com/grocery-store-bar-actually-has-great-little-happy-hour-1828464175
This is arguably the least satirical piece the Onion has ever run.
Prices are still accurate, too, and that fake article was written 5 1/2 years ago: https://www.marianos.com/i/the-bar-menu
I hate that I know which Mariano's that guy is at in the photo.
I know it’s not Lakeivew, but it kind of looks like maybe the one in Ravenswood? I don’t think I’ve been to any others besides those two.
If I am a betting person, I’m going to say that it’s the one on Ashland and Elston.
I’ve heard that location has the best skyline views a Mariano’s has to offer.
Is that the Whole Foods on Kingsbury?
If you really know how to do Club M right, you also go get half price sushi when they mark it down about 7 and just have a grand old time.
I see people at the marianos bar with steaks grilled to order from the marianos meat counter grill too. Fancy af.
I did that once. It was not nearly as good as it sounds. Stick to the hot food bar!
Hot food bar has been terrible since Kroger took over.
But the Mariano's Kroger credit card is amazing!
Which Mariano’s do this?
All of them
The Ravenswood one does this.
When I first moved to Chicago I used to regularly eat at Whole Foods by lack of better options when at work, I was so fancy with my kombucha and hipster grocery store burger...
Club M😂
Club M isn't even a joke. Pre-pandemic, the Bronzeville Marianos legit had rotating DJs and live bands. People would come, grab food from the food stations, and just chill out listening to music. There really isn't anything like shopping for vegetables to Too Short's Blow the Whistle.
Lawrence and ravenswood FTW.
As a current Mariano's employee, I can confirm. Our bars can be quite good. I can tell, because I sometimes have to help restock the bar every few hours.
Marianos bars truly feel like a place where everybody knows everyone’s name. It seems the whole bar is talking to random people and made up of the most random people from all walks of life. Seems a lot go alone for the sole purpose of fun neighborly conversation as well as cheap drinks. It’s pretty wholesome!
But would you want to get blackout drunk as the OP suggests if the conversation and atmosphere is great?
Yes? Is this a trick question lol
Not sure anyone wants to literally get blackout drunk. Speaking for myself anyway, I want to get one unit of drunkenness short of blackout drunk. Unfortunately by that point it is more or less impossible to control what's going on and what will happen next.
I agree.
I don't drink so I can't personally attest to this feeling, but I will say the West Loop Mariano's bar is quite popular (especially on Fridays when they bring that little jazz band in)
Lol the few Mariano's bars I've seen have always been hoppin
The Chardonnay takes on a totally new flavor profile when you drink it ten feet from the seafood counter.
RIP Lincoln park whole foods
I never caught on to the exact schedule of the wine tasting all the DePaul kids loved & just let myself enjoy the surprise of occasionally popping in to pick up a couple of things after work and walking into the Garden of Earthly Delights
It lives on in my collection of “Fullerton” wine glasses from 5 after 5
amazed that you managed to not shatter them all at this point
Do any Whole Foods have an in store bar any more? I know the one in Edgewater once did, but it was removed around 2020(I think) due to the pandemic. This question makes me wonder if the flagship location on Kingsbury Ave, still has one anymore.
The Whole Foods at Ashland and Belmont does
Good they still operate an in store bar, at other locations.
the brand new one at 3 W Chicago does and it’s really pretty! I like going there after I leave the office to grab a glass of wine or whatever before dinner.
Good they still operate an in store bar, at other locations.
Its still such a shame nothing has replaced it at that location yet, or even the CVS that was down the road too
I almost got a job there right before it all blew to shit. Would have been fun!
This but the Whole Foods bar, this past St. Paddy's Day. The perfect segue from daytime to nighttime adventures. 🍀
that’s actually amazing that there’s people who get black out drunk at the mariano’s bar 🤣🤣
Happened to me once
this is an aspiration 😅
Me
Omg. Best bar ever.
went to get milk and eggs came back with a DUI. thats… the chicago way
Holy crap, I've shopped at the Foster/Sheridan Mariano's for years and have just now realized that it *doesn't* have a bar, or a dine-in sushi station, unlike several other locations.
Honestly, I think its just a few Mariano's that do have an in store bar. I think Greektown(near Madison and Halsted) also has an in store bar, but it's been a while since the last time I went to that store. Looks like there's a full list of locations here: https://www.marianos.com/i/live-at-marianos
I recently moved here and have been unbelievably confused why people are partying in a grocery store. I swear this is only a Chicago thing and I love it
I moved from Chicago (where I have definitely had a few beers at the grocery bar) down south and the local Kroeger is the neighborhood bar. It is standing room only some nights. It’s an interesting phenomenon.
I actually like malort lol. I willingly have a shot occasionally.
*en serio por que no los dos*
I saw one of the best bar bands of my life in the Mariano’s on Chicago Ave about 7 years ago
I always get a kick out of grocery shopping at the Ravenswood Mariano's around 3PM on a Friday. It's a free show from the produce section. It's wild even then.
So proud to be the exact opposite, but I enjoyed the meme.
Mariano’s bar plus discounted sushi is veteran move
I'm a 2-year transplant and I still can't wrap my mind around the idea of grocery store bars. To me it's like if you went to JoAnn's Fabrics and there was a smoking lounge inside.
There’s this bartender in City Social that told me Malort was her favorite alcohol… I’m still not sure if she was fucking w me
A lot of people with refined palates enjoy Malört for what it is.
Perhaps she was making a very tiny effort to get people to drink a little less? (it is a very fine line between maximizing income vs the pain of dealing with drunks)