Sam’s Quik Shop

Neat place! I first found Sam’s when I moved to the Triangle in the early 90’s and loved it immediately, due to the selections offered. Way more interesting variety that you’d expect from the size of the store when viewed from the outside. Just a heads up, you don’t go to Sam’s for the oymvionce. It looks like exactly what it is, a bare bones beer shop built inside an old gas station. That being said, definitely check it out if you just want some good beer that you won’t find elsewhere. Last time I was in a couple of weeks ago, it looked like they were expanding it a bit /​remolding the interior in some way. Looking forward to seeing if that translates into even more rare finds!

Much more than just a convenience store, for a beer lover, no visit to Durham would be complete without a trip to the legendary Sam’s Blue Light. They have a fantastic selection of beers and occasionally some very good deals. Their wine selection is worth a glance, too. The surly, tattooed, and pierced staff, with death metal playing in the background, add to the ambience! Don’t expect polite service — it’s all part of the Sam’s experience. This is serious beer. Beer with an attitude. The store is currently undergoing a major renovation inside, making things a little more confusing, but they’ve still got all the good stuff!

Oh, man, I’m glad I found this.
I was actually looking for odd root beers, and locals suggested checking here. They didn’t have much. However, they had a few hard root beers, and more real beer than I imagined.
We have some good shops in Ohio, but this equals or passes them. So. Many. Beers. I built a six-​pack, and could have gotten dozens more. Service was knowledgeable and helpful. Prices are reasonable. Selection is amazing. There is even some wine, some mead, and a wall of cigars.
I’ll be back someday.

I used to live up the street from this place and would walk here every weekend to pick up some brews. This place is awesome… Great selection of beers. Love how you can drink at the store and taste the wide selection. Great way to try a variety without committing to a whole case just for taste. The people there are very helpful and definitely know their beers.

Craft Beer Nerd Alert… this place is AWESOME! I love that you can get singles of basically anything they have. This worked out so great for my husband and I. The craft beer selection isn’t so awesome in Hawaii (It is getting better!)… so when we go on trips we try and bring some local beer/​craft beers from other US places we can’t get back home back with us. Sam’s was amazing — we could bring home so many different options because we could get singles and we were not stuck bringing just a couple 6 packs home.
Service was super friendly too!

Bottom Line: With so many awesome choices of beer there is nothing «quik» about a stop here.
I was in town visiting friends who were gracious enough to encourage my beer buying hobby. Sam’s Quik Stop was one of the places my best buddy took me and it didn’t disappoint! The exterior is lackluster but the interior is like a candy shop for craft beer aficionados. Although I was mostly on the hunt for NC beers and beers that I can’t otherwise get in Maryland or San Diego, I was impressed with the overall collection. Like another Unilocaler noted, the layout was a tad confusing but since I was there to peruse the entire store, rather than just grab something quickly, that was ok for me on this particular visit.

#1 beer store in the Triangle. Sam’s is absolutely ridiculous. First off, it is literally a gas station convenience store and sells 2% gas station crap and 98% craft beer with literally aisles and aisles to peruse. Loads of Allagash, Bear Republic, Ballast Point, Unibroue, Dieu du Ciel, Rogue, Bells, Founders, Nogne O, Mikkeller, Trappists, random German and English things. You get super cheap glassware to match with the beer you buy! I have come into Sam’s with a tasting group and racked up a $ 250 tab easily. Yeah, it’s that awesome. Also, the guys that work there know just about everything about beer so ask them questions!

The staff are all fantastic — super nice, helpful, and fun to chat with. The beer selection is the best in Durham, and it continually gets better over time.
It’s also fantastic to be able to get a pint while you browse, or to just take to sip outside the shop.

This place is like Nirvana for the beer lover! The selection is fantastic, and if you’re a beer lover and can’t find something you like there, then there’s got to be something wrong with you.
You know the place is going to be good when you walk in and you’re confronted with shelf after shelf stacked high tons of different craft brews and a good selection of imports, too. I found one of my favorites from my business travels to the UK – Old Speckled Hen. They also had a 4-​pack of other «Hen» brews from the same brewery to try, and, needless to say, I bought one.
The staff are knowledgeable about where to find a particular beer if you are looking for something specific, and if you have a lot of beer you’re purchasing (my wife and I got a few cases of various brews), they even offer to help you carry it to your car.
The next time I’m in Durham, we’ll be stopping in to stock up on stuff we can’t find locally.

The staff must have received some training or maybe the good employees were there yesterday because I had a really good experience.
I was in town for a concert and stopped in to buy some beer that isn’t available in my city. I was going to get a case but by the end of my visit I had three cases and several different 6 packs. There is just so much to choose from!
I asked the guy who was working the floor a couple of questions and he answered like he had plenty of sense. The lady at the cash register was super friendly and asked us if we needed help to the car with our purchases.
I think Sam’s will be a regular stop for us anytime we are visiting the area.

WOW, the beer selection here is intense! There are so many beers here, I mean just beers upon beers. My craft beer loving boyfriend was probably in heaven here. And of course they also have a few beers on tap if you wish to sip and browse. The prices aren’t bad either!
The location here looks nothing like «Sam’s Bottle Shop» closer to Southpoint. This gas station-​esque place has an older, grungier sort of feel (don’t worry it’s clean though)!
The ONLY reason I’m not giving it 5 stars is because on my first visit here, the staff here didn’t approach us when we walked in or asked us if we needed help. But if you decide to ask them for help they’ll definitely help you and in a friendly manner as well.
And they also have a humidified cigar cabinet and even a few bottles of wine!

Incredible beer selection. Even enjoy a tap beer while you browse. Must visit for beer lovers.

Good enough for a local beer shop. They don’t have quite the thorough enough collection of Texas beer as I’d like, and there always seem to be sketchy people lingering around. The organization of the store also confuses me; I’m not sure where to look for the kinds of beer I want. Yesterday, though, one of the guys working there gave me two beers for free because I asked if they had anything smaller than a case of Shiner Ruby Redbird and he said no but they had two extra cans in the back!

Is it just a coincidence that as I scroll through the reviews for Sam’s Quik Shop that sexism and unprofessional employees keep popping up? Certainly not, and honestly the only good experiences I’ve had at Sam’s at when I walked in and saw the last case of Beer Camp sitting on the floor next to a lady giving out samples (yes, people thought it was a display). I, of course, had to purchase immediately because the employee at the front said he couldn’t hold it for five minutes while I grabbed the six pack I came in for. Honestly, every experience I’ve had interacting with the employees at Sam’s has left a sour taste in my mouth. This in addition to the unorganized cases (sometimes leaving beer cases so soggy that they break!) and just a dirty environment (I’m begging you not to go into the bathroom – oh the stories any Durhamite could tell about the stories they’ve heard!) leave Sam’s very lacking. In addition, there is no «bar» space to sit at Sam’s, only outside seating consisting of about three old metal tables.
The other unfortunate part is that many people think that there is no other option in the area to pick up a six pack you won’t find at the grocery store or to grab a decent craft beer in a beer lovers environment. Friends, I’m happy to say that because of us (probably) this has changed! There are bottle shops popping up monthly all over Durham (Bull Durham, Growler Girls, The Glass Jug, Bull Craft Bottle Shop… the list goes on!) Sam’s needs to make some major changes to gain my business again but fortunately I really don’t need to worry about it as I now have many other bottle shop to support (both the staff and the beer!) So the answer is yes, I’ve experienced better!

Awesome beer selection, very friendly service.

This is a 5-​star place doing itself a serious disservice with aloof, unprofessional staff. But I’ll keep coming back anyway because of the amazing selection.
I like Sam’s and will continue coming back because of the incredible selection of beers. Though I wish the store was better organized – maybe by style, or something – I can always find something new and interesting to pick up.
I also appreciate that they post on Facebook when they get new beers. That way, when I’m looking for a particular seasonal or limited release thing, I can know exactly when they get it in and can swing by after class and pick it up. Really convenient.
My serious grievance with Sam’s is the staff. At most bottle shops of this caliber, the staff is friendly, knowledgeable about beer, and eager to help you pick something out. Sam’s staff is not like this. I’ve been to Sams probably a dozen times over the last four months and I think I’ve been asked if I need help only once. And even then, I got the impression that he hoped I wouldn’t need help. Often when I walk in the staff seems to be gossiping amongst themselves and seems annoyed that I’m there. And the incident that really annoyed me: The other day when I came in to buy a case of a seasonal beer that I love, I was really excited about it and told the guy at the register that Sam’s had made my day by having this hard-​to-​find beer in stock. He sort of just grunted in reply. Get some enthusiasm, beer is supposed to be fun!
I think Sam’s needs to watch its back. Right now they are everyone’s favorite because they’re the biggest and best known bottle shop around. But, honestly, I’ve been lured away from Sam’s recently by places with a smaller selection but friendlier staff. I was really impressed, for example, with the just-​opened store The Glass Jug. Their selection is not as impressive, but it’s well-​organized, changes frequently, and the people who work there are eager to help. Same with Growler Grlz. They don’t have bottles at all, but they have tons of great beer on tap for filling growlers and the staff there offered me tons of recommendations without even being asked.
Overall, Sam’s is convenient and a good place to pick up beers that are harder to find. Just don’t expect the staff to help you find anything. Or talk to you.

I thought this place was a gas station. Au contraire! It’s is a beer lovers haven!
Every beer you could want is there. They even have beers on tap for your enjoyment. They don’t serve food but a food truck often takes up shop in their lot.
On a hot day it a great to grab a beer and sit outside. Or drink it in their AC!

I really like this place because there are so many options. I also really get stressed because there are so many options. It’s always been pretty busy, andI haven’t really had much interaction with staff other than to be checked out. I’ve observed them being helpful with others, though.
I would recommend that they have some more signage or other materials to help recommend different beers or promote what they are like. With so many options, it’s hard to choose. Something like a «If you like X BEER EVERYONE KNOWS, you will love Y CRAFT BEER YOU’VE NEVER SEEN UNTIL YOU CAME TO SAM’S!» would be perfect, especially for when it’s busy or the shopper who is a little shy to interact or admit they don’t know much about the beer scene.

I love the selection, but the employees there are always such douchebags to me. Their store is huge and every nook & cranny is stuffed with beer. They might have a system, but I don’t know what it is.
They have a couple of employees who man the cash registrars that are usually nice. The ones roaming the store make me feel like the world’s biggest idiot for not being able to find the stuff I’m looking for. Whatever, it’s not like there’s anywhere else near downtown Durham to go for the selection that Sam’s has so this review won’t hurt them. They might just read it and be even bigger dicks to me.
Catch 22, maaaaaan.

I wish I liked beer, because this place is crazy. I’m pretty sure there isn’t a brand they don’t carry. We’re from Michigan originally and there’s a great selection. We went here as part of my husband’s beerfest birthday. It was a blast and with each couple picking up a 6 pack, we had a great selection!
Definitely worth a stop — secret gem in Durham!