I've driven past GoodSpirits Fine Wine Liquor on Minnesota Avenue probably a hundred times before I actually walked in — it's one of those places that looks more intimidating from the outside than it actually is. The building sits just south of 33rd, a standalone brick structure that could be anything from a credit union to a medical office if not for the modest signage.
Inside, it's bigger than you'd think. The wine section runs the length of the west wall, organized by region in a way that makes sense if you know what you're looking for but feels slightly opaque if you don't. I've seen the same bottles at other Sioux Falls liquor stores marked up by five or six dollars, which tells me something about how they're running the business here — low overhead, volume over margin, the kind of math that works when you're not paying Louise Avenue rent.
The staff knows their inventory. I asked about a specific Willamette Valley pinot last month and the guy behind the counter walked me straight to it, then suggested two alternatives in case I wanted something earthier. That's the thing about independent shops — they hire people who actually drink wine, not just stock it.
The whiskey selection leans heavily bourbon, which tracks for South Dakota. I think they could expand the rye and the Islay scotches, but I'm probably not their core customer. Most people coming in off Minnesota Avenue want something reliable for a dinner party or a bottle of Tito's for the weekend, and GoodSpirits handles that traffic efficiently without making you feel like you're shopping at a warehouse.
It's not a boutique experience — the lighting is functional, the displays are practical — but sometimes that's exactly what you need. A place that knows what it is and does it well enough that you keep coming back.
— Grace
I think they could expand the rye and the Islay scotches, but I'm probably not their core customer.