Meet the New Spec’s!

Growing up in Houston, I saw Spec’s (@specs1962) liquor stores (with their bespectacled rabbit logo) all over town. The same Houston family has owned and operated the chain since 1962. They opened their first San Antonio store about a year ago at IH-35 and Loop 1604, but wow, what a pain it is to get to. But their newest store opened nearby….in the old Conn’s building at DeZavala and Vance Jackson (on the northwest corner).

They have many neatly aligned rows full of a wide-ranging wine selection. Spirits, too, of course. They arrange their beer selection by state so you can try some non-local brews. As with most of their stores, this location also has finer foods (including Bruce’s favorite German coffee, difficult to find in these parts), a humidor, and a cheese case (Central Market offers a better selection, though). I made a mental note for entertaining—they have the best barware section I’ve seen in town and lots (and *lots*) of Riedel glassware, including some gorgeous, sinuous decanters I’ve never seen elsewhere. And some fun items too (like Angry Birds gummies).

To my surprise, I found a deli at the back of the store (there’s a small seating area up front). They serve made-to-order burgers, sandwiches, and salads, with several selections for vegetarians. The turkey we sampled tasted smoky and tender.

Conn’s occupied a large space, so the new Spec’s feels open and airy, despite the vast selection available.

They offer a 5% discount if you pay with cash, so stop by the ATM before you visit.

The New Twin Liquors Marketplace

Twin Liquors recently opened its newest Marketplace in the old Conn’s building (on the west side of 281 between Bitters and Nakoma). This impressive 15,000-square foot store provides an excellent selection of beer, wine, liquor, cigars, and barkeeping tools and accessories.

We began shopping at the Twin Liquors at the Alon Center when it opened a few months ago. Their pricing can’t be beat; on most items, “case pricing” applies if you buy two of any item. They also have weekend specials .The staff at both locations is very friendly and helpful, without being intrusive.

The large, open entry area at the Marketplace invites you in; on the first visit, it’s difficult to know where to start browsing. (Oddly, both stores, the Marketplace and Alon, smell of insecticide.) The many racks of wine line up smartly in straight rows, like a squad of marching Marines.



The humidor stocks a wide variety of cigars, as well as premium scotches (arranged on high shelves to prevent accidental breakage). I can’t abide cigarettes, but the aromas of cigar and pipe tobacco take me back to my grandfather’s house. The Marketplace hosts “Wine 101” classes in their spacious classroom (separated by a glass wall) on the first and third Wednesdays of the month from 6:30-8:00. On Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 3:00-8:00, they sample a variety of wines and liquors at their tasting bar (which even has a little seating area).

They stock “fine wines” (roughly $75/bottle and up) in a glassed-off room at the right rear of the store. Their current selection is a little thin (especially from France), but they plan to add more. Frankly, we just can’t see spending several hundred dollars on one bottle of wine or scotch, I don’t care how rare or divine it is.

Some up-front displays of Texas liquors would be a nice addition. Ranger Creek .36 anyone?

The building holds an additional 7,000-sf of storage, and they plan to open wholesale operations after the first of the year.

I always like to see a big, long-vacant building claim a new tenant. Driving by the near-deserted Olmos Creek Center (NW Military and Huebner, where the old H-E-B used to be) is just a bit depressing.

I highly recommend a stop at the Marketplace!