Zee's Wines & Liquors

"Also they have all the home brewing equipment and most of the ingredients you’ll ever need. I almost exclusively shop here for home brewing supplies!"

"I've been a customer at Zee's for nearly two years, having chatted with the owner about recommendations and such. Tonight I went in and bought a bottle of Chilean red. $17.99. I got it home and poured a glass but it tasted off. Having been a wine drinker as well as a server for quite some time, I'm aware that a small percentage of all wines go bad, regardless of brand. I've returned bottles to the grocery store a couple of times and even sent a bottle back once in a restaurant. It's never been a issue. Until tonight. I returned to Zee's an hour or so after purchasing the bottle and explained the situation, asking if I could grab a bottle of something equal or less in price. "Okay, but you can't return the next one." I looked at him, surprised by his chippiness and said, "If it's not bad, I won't bring it back." "You're the only one who has ever brought THAT bottle back," he replied. I grabbed a bottle of something a couple of bucks cheaper. When I got back to the register, he had reopened the first bottle and was pouring himself a taste. "You think THIS wine is bad? There's nothing wrong with this wine." I said, "There is something wrong with it if I can't drink it." He held up the bottle and said, "well, you drank half the bottle so it must not be that bad!" I'd poured a single glass. BTW, I'm no connoisseur, nor am I that picky, but I know enough to know that I shouldn't have to choke down an $18 wine. By this point, I was pissed. He was implying I knew nothing of wine and that I was trying to get away with something. I said, "Why don't you keep both bottles and just give me my money back." "No, there's no money back but there's nothing wrong with that wine," followed by a very insincere, "you enjoy that other bottle. You probably like California wines better." I have no issues with being sold the occasionally off bottle. I have no issue having to return it to the store. I have a huge issue with a supposed wine expert acting like his bottles can't be bad and that I'm being ridiculous. It's too bad, because I enjoyed his selection and up until now, his personality. But I can buy wine elsewhere.... nobody needs that BS from a shopkeeper they frequent. "You enjoy your weekend and one less customer.""

"I entered into this liquor store this afternoon to purchase some wine. I have lived in the Kew Gardens neighborhood for over seven years and I shop from this store quite often whether it be in person or through drizzly. I am a woman of color I entered the store along with two other Caucasian women; each of us purchasing individually. there was a gentleman at the register and another gentleman standing in the aisle. As I proceeded to search through the different brands of wine I looked over my shoulder and saw the same man staring at me intently from the aisle across. I kept on shopping regardless after a few moments I turned to my left and saw the same gentleman staring at me intently from the aisle across from me. I then turned down a completely different isle and he followed right along. He was following me around the store. It was at that moment that I exited the store due to how uncomfortable he was going out of his way to make me feel - inherently following and staring at me all while completely ignoring the other customers. Before I left the store I turned to the gentleman at the register and asked if he was the manager he replied yes. I expressed to him that it was very clear that the gentleman was racially profiling me. He intently following me around the store and staring at me consistently While not treating any of the other patrons in the store the same way. I expressed to him that I have been living in this neighborhood for a long time and purchase from the store quite frequently this level of disrespect it’s unacceptable especially in this day and age. For both men in the shop to be men of color racially profiling a black woman in this climate of times is unacceptable. As I turn to the man who was following me around the store awaiting an explanation or apology the gentleman pictured below jumped in and aggressively told me too “drop it” claiming that the other guy was not following me - his words exactly where “there are kids around the store and stuff he’s watching to make sure no one gets hurt”. That was his explanation for why – the only woman of color in the store present at the time was being followed and stared at - because there are children running around a wine and liquor store. He then proceeded to say “I already heard you out do you want more do you want do you want me to get down on my knees and apologize?” This is how he spoke to me as I stood there voicing my discomfort in being followed around the store while trying to make a purchase. His response to why I alone was being followed and watched is because sometimes there are children in the store and he does not want anyone to get hurt. I obviously will not be returning to this liquor store to make any purchases and it is a shame that business owners in this neighborhood of such a variety of cultures and races is racially profiling a black women. In addition to being refilled profile to be disrespected and lied to it’s just ridiculous. Seriously unacceptable, please shop at other liquor stores in the neighborhood like 123 liquor or Queensberry wine and liquor. Businesses of this nature should not be supported."

"The have all type of wine, all qualities, all prices. I am very selective when it comes to wine. Super friendly and approachable. I called to know what time they were closing and he said he will wait for me to get there. So cool."

"I went in for a bottle of wine that they only had in a small size for 599. I bought it to the counter they would not take my credit card because it was under $10. I said, Will you just do it this one time because I don't have cash and this doesn't come in a bigger bottle if I did I would buy it. And she refused. I will never ever go back there. Horrible Costomer service."