Minibar Delivery
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Alcohol delivery service |
| Founded | 2014 |
| Founder | Lara Crystal, Lindsey Andrews |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
Area served | Over 50 cities in the United States, shipping to 40 states |
Key people | Lara Crystal, Lindsey Andrews |
| Products | Online alcohol delivery, on-demand bartenders, wine concierge services, subscription plans, event planning tool |
| Parent | ReserveBar |
| Website | minibardelivery |
Minibar Delivery is an online alcohol distribution service based in New York City, providing on-demand delivery across more than 50 cities within the United States and shipping to 40 states. Established in 2014 by Lara Crystal and Lindsey Andrews, the company links consumers with local liquor retailers and wineries through its digital platforms, including a mobile application and website.
History
Minibar Delivery was launched in 2014 by Wharton alumni Lara Crystal and Lindsey Andrews after identifying a gap in the online alcohol sales market. Crystal brought experience as a former VP of marketing at Rent the Runway, while Andrews had a background in marketing roles at FreshDirect, Soap.com, and Amazon's Wag.com. Their goal was to develop a streamlined alcohol delivery service, initially focusing on New York City by collaborating with neighborhood liquor stores to provide deliveries within 30 to 60 minutes.
In October 2014, the company broadened its reach to Chicago and San Francisco by forming alliances with local merchants. By 2015, Minibar was active in several metropolitan areas including New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, Miami, and Silicon Valley. That year also saw Minibar acquire Booze Carriage, a competing delivery service based in New York City.
July 2017 marked a milestone when Minibar secured $5 million in seed capital led by Corigin Ventures, with investments from Female Founders Fund and Winklevoss Capital. Concurrently, it teamed up with Total Wine & More to initiate two-hour alcohol delivery services in Arlington, Virginia, later extending to additional Virginian cities such as Richmond and Virginia Beach. The company launched operations in Baltimore by September 2017.
By February 2018, total seed funding reached $6.8 million. In mid-2018, Minibar expanded its presence in California through a partnership with BevMo!.
In November 2021, ReserveBar acquired Minibar Delivery.
Description
Minibar Delivery’s headquarters are located at 79 Madison Avenue, in the Madison Square North area of New York City. The platform operates via its mobile app and website to connect customers with local liquor stores for alcohol delivery typically within 30 to 60 minutes. Its offerings include direct purchases from vineyards, on-demand bartender bookings, access to expert concierge services for wine advice and cocktail recipes, as well as subscription plans featuring automatic renewals every one to four weeks. Deliveries are scheduled only during the operating hours of partner stores.
Additionally, Minibar provides an event planning tool that helps estimate alcohol quantities needed for gatherings. The company’s revenue model includes charging partner stores a modest marketing fee and maintaining collaborations with brands like St-Germain. These partnerships enable distinctive experiences such as delivering bartenders on French-style bicycles within New York City.
In September 2017, Minibar introduced its Vineyard Select service nationwide, facilitating direct wine shipments from vineyards. By 2018, it had established relationships with over 200 partners and was delivering to upwards of 40 cities across the United States.