Oades Big Ten fills libation needs for Spartans and government alike

Nestled between college town and the state capitol, Oades Big Ten Party Store keeps Lansing craft beer fanatics from going thirsty.

Oades Big Ten, along with the East Lansing Big Ten party store, opened in 1991 shortly followed by the Okemos, and then later, the Holt locations. By the time that Oades Big Ten general manager, Kevin Albery, began as a clerk in 2000, the store was already well known for their wall of beer.

“As far as I know, we have been selling individual bottles for as long as we have been selling microbrews,” Albery said.

That wall of beer currently holds between 600 and 700 different varieties of craft beer, spilling over to another wall of ciders. Oades Big Ten also carries a sizable wine selection and the largest liquor assortment in the area.

“We’ve accommodated the craft beer boom by staying true to our original business plan for this location, carrying as much of the product that’s available to us as possible,” Albery said.

Even with a recent addition of extra co

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