Retailer check: Canals Mount Ephraim in NJ

Peter_C · October 20, 2012, 11:55pm

Bueller?

Brent_C_l_a_y_t_o_n · October 21, 2012, 1:09am

Mark Ricca used to work at one of their stores, not sure if it’s the same one.

cjsavino · October 21, 2012, 1:32am

They are a chain in NJ, should be good.

Peter_Kleban · October 21, 2012, 1:57am

Haven’t been to that one, but I go to the Lawrenceville one often. No problems ever. Very large selection (weighted toward the low end, but there is high-end stuff too), good prices, staff is fine. Close-out bin that sometimes has interesting things. They even allow you to return unopened wine if you want to (but not close-outs IIRC).

Edit:
Just notice this post is wrong–the Lawrenceville store is Joe Canal’s, no connection with Canal’s

Ian_Dorin · October 23, 2012, 12:26pm

He worked for Joe Canal’s, not Canal’s. No affiliation to each other (obviously competitor’s though).

If I’m not mistaken, this store isn’t that old either. Never been there though.

Chris_Presutti · October 23, 2012, 5:57pm

The Canal’s Discount Liquor Mart about a mile south on Black Horse Pike is better but my favorite Canal’s in the area is on 70 in Marlton. The Canal’s in Pennsauken is small and disorganized but they have some good finds once in a while. However, the new WineWorks across 70 from Canal’s is becoming my go-to wine and liquor store whenever I’m back east. Check it out if you can. Good hunting.

Peter_Kleban · October 23, 2012, 6:12pm

Sorry, my post above is wrong–the one I go to is Joe Canal’s. I didn’t realize that there is a completely separate Canal’s wine store.

Tom_G_l_a_s_g_o_w · October 23, 2012, 7:42pm

You’re referring to Joe Canal’s in Bellmawr along the Black Horse Pike, just south of I-295. That has the best selection of Joe Canal’s that I’ve been to, besides the West Deptford branch.
The OP refers to Canals’ in Mt. Ephraim, I’ve only been there once but they seem to have some interesting choices. Temperature control might be a concern for anything that oversummered there.
The Pennsauken location is the original Canal’s afaik. I think the Canal principals were brothers and then split with the yellowed signed Canal’s being “original”. I think all the Joe Canal’s are now independently owned. Every Canal’s has different inventory.

Peter_Kleban · October 23, 2012, 7:49pm

Actually, the one I go to is in Lawrenceville, on Rte. 1 no Bellmawr. There are four or five Joe Canal’s, and their inventories overlap at least somewhat (I don’t know how much). Unfortunately the Law. one doesn’t have it’s inventory online–you can call them, but it’s a nuisance to find out if they have something or not.

Tom_G_l_a_s_g_o_w · October 23, 2012, 7:59pm

Sorry may have confused your post with Chris. There’s so many Canal’s, usually located near one another. 13 Joe Canal’s and maybe a dozen Canal’s.

Chris_Presutti · October 23, 2012, 9:14pm

No two Canal’s are the same whether they are both Canal’s or Joe Canals’ so I don’t bother distinguishing any of the by their full names. The Canal’s in Bellmawr has a very good liquor selection, by the way.

Tom_G_l_a_s_g_o_w · October 23, 2012, 9:34pm

What do you mean same?

Ian_Dorin · October 23, 2012, 9:56pm

I think he is implying similar business models.

Tom_G_l_a_s_g_o_w · October 23, 2012, 10:48pm

I misread the post. Chris is right there is no consistency. I’ll need to swing by Bellmawr.

Chris_Presutti · October 23, 2012, 10:49pm

Yes. Sorry if I wasn’t clear. Although “Canal’s [whatever or not]” is in the name, it’s like twenty McDonald’s restaurants each with a different menu.