Spec’s Clearance Center

Friendly staff. Conveniently located off Montrose and westheimer so it’s a good alternative to the midtown specs but not same selection obviously

This is my go-​to neighborhood liquor store as I can walk here from my place but since I have a bit of an alcohol addiction there’s no way I can carry my heavy box of alcohol all the way home. Thank goodness for the big parking lot out front and out back.
The place is a little sketch on the outside but once you walk in it gets better. The store is fairly moderate in size but not overwhelming big and the staff is always very welcoming and readily available to help you if needed.
I’m more of a cocktail/​liquor drinker so I can’t comment on their wine section but every time I’ve visited, in search of a particular liquor to make for a specialty cocktail, I always find it here. They also have a huge selection of beers (craft, local, and national) and fridges if you want a cold brew or cold bottle of wine. They also sell ice, snacks (like crackers and such), and any alcohol related items you may need like bottle openers or ice molds.
Tip: If you use your debit card or pay cash you can get 5% off your purchase.
If you’re ever in the area, it’s a great place to pop in and out if you’re ever in need of a last minute alcohol run.

I was looking to buy a bunch of bombers of a particular beer to get my Dad for Christmas. This particular beer is an IPA that needs to be consumed relatively quickly, and most places had had it sitting for a month or so. I called this Spec’s to see if they had it in stock and how long it had been sitting there, and the guy said «The beer is fresh, if that’s what you’re asking.»
I asked him for clarification — I am willing to drive across town to get it, I would just like to know when they received the shipment. He sighed and said, «I told you the beer is fresh, sir.»
OK — well if you’re not going to answer my question, then I’m not going to drive over there and buy it. It’s just irksome that Spec’s is a place where you go to purchase finer wines and beers, and the guy wouldn’t even give me any information regarding how fresh it is.

This location is now just a regular Spec’s. I came in one night to find my favorite Moscato and they didn’t have it. They kept referring me to a small shelf off in the corner that has most of the Moscato but they failed to mention they were standing right next to a whole other small section in the middle of the wine area that also has opened boxes of about 12 different moscato.
I was looking for them, but didn’t see any sodas at this location… I guess I will have to continue buying those at the warehouse location.
They do have two entrances (front and back) and a pretty cool bottle chiller near the back entrance… so if you buy something room temperature, you can soak it in that for a few seconds and voila, it’s now COLD!

I still prefer the big Specs on Smith if I want to a large variety. This location is just as convenient as the one on Smith, but not as crowded, which I liked. We were able to move around more freely in the store and shop around. The staff was super helpful here. Especially the wine guy. He was awesome. I inquired about a French wine we had recently tried at a restaurant. He not only knew how to pronounce it, bonus, he knew right off he did not have it, but went further to see if he can get it. Gave us all the info and then offered us another wine in that category by a different French maker. It was even a few dollars cheaper, literally a few dollars, but hey everything adds up. The wine was very good, we enjoyed it with our meal a few nights after that.

The guy with the dreds is a dick. Never shopping here again. Terrible customer service.

Not quite it’s impressive big brother on Smith but a liquor store nonetheless. Fairly good wine selection and they have all the regular spirit bottle you’d usually be looking for.
Layout is a no frills open room with low height shelves to see across the whole place while shopping.
Parking can be sketchy at night in that neighborhood so keep your valuables out of sight and be smart about where you are and what you’re doing. It’s not a war zone, but common sense and awareness always helps.
Looking for a place to buy liquor? You’v found one! Looking for that rare bottle of single malt or VSOP? Go to the one on Smith.

Very friendly employees that were willing to help me track down what I needed as well as provide suggestions if they didn’t have what I wanted in stock. It is a large store with an open space layout. To the underage kid who tried to buy alcohol… better luck in a few years when you don’t look sixteen.

I like this location, although I admit that I have nothing else to compare it to. It’s discounted liquor, so it works for me. I come here to find alcohol ingredients for drinks like sangria or rum punch, where top shelf isn’t required, but you want something that’s quality and tastes good. Insert Spec’s. The store isn’t very large, but they have enough variety. The aisles are clean and organized and the staff is knowledgeable and friendly. I’ve tried something new based on recommendations each time, and I was satisfied. My drinks were also well-​received with guests!

The name is a bit misleading. This location definitely doesn’t have the same ambiance as the location in Midtown. It feels less clean and the building itself is not in the best shape. However, if you are needing a bottle of something on the way home, they will have it — just don’t expect a discount.

I like that this Specs is next to a Half Price Books. Quiet with attentive employees. We found a Karbach F.U.N. Series Fra-​Gee-​Lay here along with Wasach Devastator. Great selection of bombers and beers. Even found a nice selection of mead.

This is the location I visit ONLY when I am in a hurry and need to get in and out very quickly. Otherwise, you will find me at the midtown location ⁹⁄₁₀ times.
It is still a good store with a decent selection. They may not have the amazing selection that midtown has, but you can generally find what you need. Staff is always helpful as well.

When this first opened, it used to be a fun place to browse, a true «clearance center» where you could occasionally hit on a true find. Now it’s a depressing warehouse that carries the second-​rate wines that you can find at any other Specs. They do have a random rack of high-​end product in the middle of the wine section, you know, in case you went to the $ 20-​and-​under store to buy a $ 50-​and-​up bottle of wine. Odd. The location – a desperate strip mall that seems to be clinging to Half-​Price Books’ coattails for dear life – doesn’t help matters. The «real» Specs is less than 2 miles away, has a much better selection of everything on offer here (including the «clearance» selections on offer at this location).
What would be great is if Specs would actually clear some of its aged-​but-​non-​age-​worthy selection (you know, like those oxidized, orange-​ing bottles of pre-​2004 pinot grigio haunting the shelves) out of its main and other locations and sold those items here at a healthy discount.

rude staff n no selection. Skip this Spec’s and go to the real deal downtown!!!

Wine good, beer good, liquor good!
If you are a little intimidated by the Mother Ship of Spec’s on Smith Street, or just need to run in for a quick bottle of red for dinner this is your lucky day!
This is my GO-​TO for parties, holidays, and well, just a regular Wednesday night! I can’t always handle the madness in Midtown. They are fully stocked with a great selection of wine and beer (mostly already chilled!). They of course also offer liquor! But yes, this is an «outlet» clearance center, so of course they cannot even hold a candle to the Smith Street warehouse… just like most other outlets of any kind; the selection is a little smaller. But I have been lucky and scored limited editions of certain local brews!
Staff is just as helpful and just as knowledgeable… I have tried to just run in for some wine, and came out 30 minutes later well-​educated on the regions of France and grapes.

Spec’s on the discount?
Count me in!

Not all Spec’s are created equal.
This one is a clearance center, which works in your favor if you’re searching for a discount. But if you’re on the hunt for something in particular, call ahead. Their selection is a fraction of the «Granddaddy Of Them All» Midtown location.
I learned the hard way when I found out they didn’t carry a bottle of red I wanted. And in another instance, I unknowingly purchased expired beer. I bought a case of Pyramid Hefeweizen in early Jan 2011 for a beer swap, and later noticed it expired September 2010. I should have realized something was sketchy about bottles covered in dust — and I grabbed it from their cooler. I ended up buying another case from another liquor store moments before the beer swap, and the expired case just rotted in my truck before I could return it to Spec’s. I’m sure they would have refunded my money, but I just trashed it.

This place is a waste of space with the real store a half mile away.
The combination of low staffing levels and skimpy regular inventory makes it virtually useless to me. I went in and got less than I would have from my local neighborhood liquor store, because at least I can tell them what I would like stocked.
I took a quick look around the supposed clearance stock, and I can honestly say I have seen worse for more money, but it is not enough to make up for the lacks.
Service is good and friendly, I just think the concept is flawed and I must remind myself not to go there whenever I am at the Half Priced Books next door.

Wow, dont judge a book from its cover.
From the way this specs looks on the outside I was expecting the inside to look really run down and messy but to my surprise everything was really organized and clean.
They had a really big wine selection as well, but I am not too sure why this place is called a clearance center? The prices of the liquor seem to be around the same as you would find at other specs.

I’ll admit I’ve never been to the «mother ship» Spec’s on Smith – half because I don’t want to deal with the crowds, and half because there’s this clearance center right down the street from me. Though it may be called a «clearance center», the stock doesn’t vary all that much and you’ll be able to find most everything beer, wine or liquor related you could want here, including glasses, garnishes and a selection of nibbles. Prices on their wine, beer and bubbly compare favorably with grocery store prices, and are sometimes a little bit less.
And make sure you bring the ol’ debit card with you – if you use your debit or pay in cash, you receive 5% off on your total purchases. (I pay in cash because I’m a balla like that.) The Specs Key Card also provides further discounts. Staff have always been friendly and helpful when I have any questions to ask – on New Years’ Eve they even had a police officer directing «traffic» inside the store and making sure everyone got to a cash register in good time. So until I get a hankerin’ to venture out of the ‘Trose and have my mind blown by the warehouse store, the Spec’s Clearance Center will do just fine for now.