I C Liquors Inc

Tucked into a stretch of First Avenue better known for its storefronts than its bodegas, I C Liquors Inc keeps the weekends flowing for a changing stretch of Manhattan. The store quietly anchors a diagonal corner at 2249 1st Ave, in an overlap of stroller traffic and night owls heading to smaller bars nearby.

Once the freight traffic of the corridor fades after five, the liquor selection steps up. Look for wine bottles laid out in boxes and spirits lined along the back wall—reds and whites sit side-by-side, with the local craft six-packs sharing shelf space with the bigger brands. Orders get wrapped quickly and the register sits close to the door, so shoppers rarely have to double back.

Call 212-360-6882 before swinging by, and if the block feels too crowded after sunset it’s easy to pull up the directions on a phone: https://www.google.com/maps/place?ftid=0x89c2f5fd7ccbadf3:0xa74