Alcohol-delivery startup Minibar expands to Chicago

Minibar, a startup one-hour delivery system for wine, spirits and beer, has arrived in Chicago.

Minibar says it connects users with local vendors who can deliver within an hour. Orders are placed via the company’s website, www.minibardelivery.com, or its mobile app (iOS and Android). Minibar also offers recommended pairings, cocktail recipes and the option to send gifts.

The New York company, founded in February, simultaneously launched here and in San Francisco on Monday. The company looks to win a piece of the Chicago market that’s served by several delivery companies, including Drizly, Foxtrot, GrubHub, Instacart and Peapod.

“We are incredibly excited to expand our national reach and offer consumers a new way to purchase and enjoy wine, spirits and beer in San Francisco and Chicago,” Minibar co-founder and co-CEO Lara Crystal said in a news release. “With a combination of an incredible tech and cocktail culture, Minibar will undoubtedly resonate in both markets with our incredible selection, excellent service and intuitive user experience.”

Minibar says users must confirm they are of legal drinking age prior to ordering. Then, the vendor is responsible for verifying the customer’s ID upon delivery.

The company recently raised $1.8 million in financing to support its expansion.

The Latest
Here’s how Kamala Harris and the Democratic National Convention are embracing Charli XCX’s social media post that sparked a cultural movement.
Thousands gathered in Union Park for the Pitchfork Music Festival, the Chicago Bears started training camp at Halas Hall, and Vice President Kamala Harris kicked off her presidential campaign.
Williams got in defensive end DeMarcus Walker’s face as he went after tight end Gerald Everett on Friday.
Bielema still needs to prove the Illini can win in a conference that just got even better with Oregon, USC, Washington and UCLA on board and has done away with divisions, the days of a weaker West now over.
Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company of TNT Sports, is seeking a judgment that it matched Amazon Prime Video’s offer and an order seeking to delay the new media rights deal from taking effect beginning with the 2025-26 season.