How Far Would You Drive To A LHBS?

[JONNYROTTEN]

Its takes me 20 minutes so an hour round trip with shopping time.Much further and I would order online or load up for multiple brews and go to lunch in the area and make a thing out of it.

 

[TexasDroughtBrewery]

Mine is about 30 mins can be up to 45 depending on traffic. I found another LHBS that is a little over an hour away, but they deliver so I order from them now so its a win win.

 

[RonnieBiggs]

Until recently 90 minutes!!
There is a store a little closer but its worth the extra time it takes for good service.
I have recently been ordering online though, unless I need liquid yeast, which I prefer to pick up rather than have delivered.

 

[Bullhawk]

My home brew shop is part of a brewery so I buy my supplies and have a beer. It makes the 30 minute drive well worth it.

 

[PlexVector]

My home brew shop is part of a brewery so I buy my supplies and have a beer. It makes the 30 minute drive well worth it.

I use the same one. It's on the way home from work. It's great to be able to grab a beer and shop! From home its about 25 min, but I would probably drive up to an hour (if they have beer too).

EDIT: Maybe LHBS' business model should include having a bottleshop/taps...

 

[Kharnynb]

I use the same one. It's on the way home from work. It's great to be able to grab a beer and shop! From home its about 25 min, but I would probably drive up to an hour (if they have beer too).

EDIT: Maybe LHBS' business model should include having a bottleshop/taps...

the taxi fees would start getting rather worse than shipping fees then....

 

[invictusbrew]

The one I use is a 25-30 minute drive from my house, but only 10-15 minutes from work, so I usually try and get over there after work if I need anything, however, when I was living in Florida, the closest one was an hour away and we still ended up using it 40-50% of the time over online... emergencies sucked though, I had to use some Malta Goya for a yeast starter once, haha.

 

[stylus1274]

The one I use is a 25-30 minute drive from my house, but only 10-15 minutes from work, so I usually try and get over there after work if I need anything, however, when I was living in Florida, the closest one was an hour away and we still ended up using it 40-50% of the time over online... emergencies sucked though, I had to use some Malta Goya for a yeast starter once, haha.

Where in Florida were you?

 

[bigplunkett]

We have one in town i only use it if im in a bind there prices and quality or having things in stock has stopped me feom going there. I drive 25 mins i save money even with gas. They have better knowledge and way better selection.

 

[DoctorMemory]

Brutal. Yeah, the one's I've always gone to are open at least til 7 PM during the week. I'm not nearly as interested in something that opens at 9 am on a weekday as something I can swing by after work.

If I ran a HBS, I don't think I'd even open before noon on week days, then stay open until 8 or 9. Then 9am to 10pm on Saturday, 10am to 8pm on Sunday, and closed Mondays.

 

[stylus1274]

If I ran a HBS, I don't think I'd even open before noon on week days, then stay open until 8 or 9. Then 9am to 10pm on Saturday, 10am to 8pm on Sunday, and closed Mondays.

Yeah man, I think you are pretty close with that. Guessing a very few stragglers would be buying beer stuff at 930 am lol.....

 

[kh54s10]

When I started there was one about 30 minutes away and a better one about 45 minutes away. The closer one folded. I visited them about 4-5 times a year. Got a new one about 10 minutes away and visit quite often. If it were not there I would still visit the far one but would do most of my buying online.

 

[brewcat]

If I ran a HBS, I don't think I'd even open before noon on week days, then stay open until 8 or 9. Then 9am to 10pm on Saturday, 10am to 8pm on Sunday, and closed Mondays.

What about the people that want to stop in the morning because they don't have to work until afternoon?

 

[stylus1274]

What about the people that want to stop in the morning because they don't have to work until afternoon?

What would you consider morning time brewcat? 10am? Earlier?

 

[timdillon36]

I find it funny that almost nobody ansered the question that was asked.

Right now i drive 5 miles to a great shop but would drive ~30 if that shop wasnt there.

 

[invictusbrew]

Where in Florida were you?

Eglin AFB/Destin, closest HBS I knew of was in Pensacola.

 

[Maylar]

If I ran a HBS, I don't think I'd even open before noon on week days, then stay open until 8 or 9. Then 9am to 10pm on Saturday, 10am to 8pm on Sunday, and closed Mondays.

Oddly, I just checked the hours of my LHBS and it seems they've changed their hours recently. Used to be 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, now it's 10:00 to 6:00 and 7 PM on Thursday. Maybe the change in seasons?

 

[jcav]

There was never one close enough so I had to order everything online. Then one opened up about 45-55 minutes from me depending on traffic, which is now very do-able. It's nice to have one around (more like a luxury for me) so I think people should support their local home brew store. Good luck with your business.

John

 

[jamorgan3777]

I've driven 30 minutes out of my way to hit a HBS. Much more than that and I will just order online. I usually pre-plan my brewing well enough that I dont need last minute items.

 

[Kampenken]

Mine is ~15min away and well stocked. I have gone to others (great price on bulk grains) about 45min away.

I try to keep the brick & mortar stores in business and avoid on-line ordering, but I am also close to my LHBS.

 

[beernutz]

My LHBS which has existed since 2001 has hours Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays 11:30AM - 6:00PM and Saturdays 10:00AM - 2:00PM. The store was actually opened by the owner's wife as primarily a wine store (hence the name, The Wine Smith) but now she doesn't work there at all and he's retired from one career and runs the store as a second. If I was in his shoes I think I'd be open about those same hours which are enough to sustain the business but not so much that I go crazy being there.

The store is about 15 minutes from my office but about 30 from my house so I almost always visit during work days. There's another LHBS about an hour away which I've never been to and would only visit if I was driving in that area anyway. So for me right now I'd drive up to 30 minutes but not much more than that to shop at a LHBS.

 

[GHBWNY]

Ours is about 45 min., and we usually work it in with a dinner or a movie in the same vicinity.

 

[catdaddy66]

I used to have a 45 minute drive to the closest lhbs but about two years ago one opened up on my side of town. It's about 15 minutes away.

I would drive 15 minutes.

 

[timdillon36]

How far not how long

 

[catdaddy66]

How far not how long

About 15 miles.

 

[govner1]

Since my shop that had been in business for 25 years closed ( only a 6 mi round trip) I now drive 25 miles each way!

 

[beernutz]

How far not how long

Thanks for the clarification, said no one.

 

[jrcrilly]

"How long" is the critical measure. There is a closer HBS than the one I use - but it takes longer to get there so I use this one.

 

[AkTom]

150 miles... about 2.5 hours, assuming no road construction, accidents of avalanches. I try to stock up a bit and have enough for several batches. They also will mail a small box for $10.

 

[C-Rider]

Only one on the island of O`ahu. Takes about an hour to get there depending on traffic...Online shopping is rough since they charge an arm and a leg to get it here.