[ibimage==47567==Original==none==self==ibimage_align-center]Starting today, more Chicagoans can get their favorite booze delivered to them in 60 minutes.
Drizly, the Boston-based technology company whose app offers curated alcoholic beverages for on-demand delivery, expanded its Chicago service by 15 cities and neighborhoods in the area, good for a 300 percent increase of its Windy City footprint.
Legal-age drinkers will now be able to use the service in Andersonville, Edgewater, Evanston, Glenview, Hyde Park, Kenilworth, Kenwood, Lincoln Square, North Center, Pilsen, Ravenswood, Rogers Park, Skokie, Wilmette, and Winnetka. For the last year, Drizly has operated in Bucktown, Gold Coast, Lakeview, Lincoln Park, Loop, South Loop, West Loop, North Center, Old Town, River North, Roscoe Village, Streeterville, Wicker Park and Wrigleyville. The expansion increases Drizly’s scope to more than 76 square miles of the Chicago metropolitan area.
“The Chicago market is such a vibrant market for us,” Mike DiLorenzo, SVP of Marketing at Drizly, said. “The demographic and the psychographic indexes really high against whom our core consumer is, which tends to be — with of course exception — a young urban professional.”
DiLorenzo said Chicago is one of Drizly’s fastest-growing markets, adding that it's unsurprising given the concentration of college graduates, not to mention Chicago’s great food and beverage scene.
In addition to expanding its service to new neighborhoods, Drizly also announced new partnerships with the following retailers: Schaefer’s Wines, Foods & Spirits; Rayans Beers, Wine & Spirits; South Loop Market, Kimbark Beverage Shoppe; and Hops & Grapes.
To celebrate the expansion, Drizly is waiving the $5 delivery fee on first orders for first-time users who enter the code “NEWCHI”. The promotion lasts through May 31. DiLorenzo said consumers should not expect a hike in the delivery fee.
The expansion comes on the heels of yesterday’s news that Drizly closed a $13 million Series A round. Drizly plans to use the round — led by Polaris Partners — primarily to bring its service to more people. Since its founding in 2012, Drizly has developed a presence in 15 markets.
The Chicago growth, DiLorenzo said, is indicative of increased demand for such a service among consumers and retailers alike.
“On the consumer side, it’s sort of validating that there is demand for mobile lifestyle conveniences like Drizly,” he said. “And on the other side of that same coin — on the business side, the retailer side — you’re seeing growing recognition on the part of retailers that ecommerce can be a strategic part of their business and, in fact, can be an important and differentiating part of their business.”
Drizly has a field team of three employees in Chicago, according to DiLorenzo, who added that Drizly will look to grow all its operations teams as its retail footprint continues to expand.
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