There are liquor stores, and then there are the neighborhood spots where the owners know their inventory, know their customers and somehow manage to track down what you haven’t been able to find anywhere else.
White Eagle Liquor in Riverside has become one of those places.
The family-owned liquor store specializes in limited-release, rare and hard-to-find spirits while also stocking an extensive selection of craft beer, including plenty from local breweries.
But there’s more to White Eagle than what’s on the shelves. The business also carries on the name and a piece of the history of a longtime Riverside establishment that dates back more than 75 years.
White Eagle Liquor: A Small Family Business
White Eagle Liquor is owned by Dhrumant Modi and his sons, Alap and Alok Modi. The Delran family has owned the business for nearly a decade and also operates Riverside Wine & Liquor and Jack’s Liquor in Riverside.
South Jersey Food Scene recently spoke with Alap Modi about White Eagle Liquor and what has helped the store develop such a loyal following.
A big part of it comes down to selection and customer service.
White Eagle specializes in spirits that aren’t necessarily sitting on the shelf at every liquor store. That includes limited releases and rare or difficult-to-find bottles that can sometimes require a little hunting.
And if they don’t have what you’re looking for? There’s a pretty good chance they can find it.
The family has developed relationships with distributors and suppliers over the years, allowing them to help customers track down products that may be difficult to locate elsewhere.
Beer drinkers aren’t left out, either. White Eagle carries a large craft beer selection with an emphasis on supporting local breweries from New Jersey and the surrounding region.
White Eagle also makes an effort to give customers reasons to stop in beyond simply replenishing the beer fridge or liquor cabinet.
The store regularly hosts product tastings, sometimes with representatives from the brands themselves and sometimes organized by the store. It’s a chance for customers to discover something new before committing to an entire bottle.
White Eagle also frequently runs merchandise giveaways and other promotions through its social media channels.
That combination of selection, product knowledge and customer interaction has earned the store plenty of positive feedback online, with customers frequently praising the variety and service.
The White Eagle Has Been in Riverside Since 1949
The name White Eagle goes back much further than the current liquor store.
Longtime Riverside residents may remember the property as White Eagle Tavern, a neighborhood watering hole that dated back to 1949.
The tavern operated for decades before eventually closing around 2015, when the property transitioned into the liquor store that customers know today.
Fortunately, one particularly cool piece of the old tavern didn’t disappear. Look outside, and you’ll see the distinctive White Eagle neon sign.
The Modi family had the vintage sign restored, preserving a visual connection to the building’s days as White Eagle Tavern. It’s the kind of detail that gives the store more character than your typical package-goods shop and keeps a little piece of Riverside history glowing.
The White Eagle Endures
For the Modi family, White Eagle Liquor isn’t simply another liquor store.
It’s a family business with deep Riverside roots operating from a location that has been part of the community since the middle of the last century.
The tavern may be gone, but more than 75 years after White Eagle first arrived in Riverside, that familiar eagle is still watching over the neighborhood — neon lights and all.
SJFS is dedicated to food, dining, restaurants, and drinking in South Jersey. Got a news tip? Email southjerseyfoodscene@gmail.com.