Story

Maria’s Packaged Goods & Community Bar has been operating in Bridgeport since 1986 as a classic slashie – half liquor store, half neighborhood tavern.

It was formerly known as Kaplan’s Liquors in homage to the original owners who founded it in 1939. In the summer of 2010, Maria handed over the reins of the business to her two sons, Ed and Mike, who have worked the counter and stuck with her these past two decades. They reopened the bar and officially dubbed it Maria’s to honor their mother.

Maria’s expanded in 2016, creating a new beer hall space/ bar and launched Kimski, our Polish/ Korean Street food joint.

Maria’s is the only beer and liquor store in the neighborhood that focuses specifically on offering artisanal and craft beers, hemp drinks and spirits for sale both on and of premise. And our offerings change weekly! We serve hundreds of products in bottles, cans, and on tap.

The bar also features traditional and remixed classic cocktails as well as many liquors, spirits, NA drinks and hemp beverages distilled and brewed locally and regionally.

Maria’s is part of the Buddy System, an ecosystem of businesses, non-profits, publications, products and people working towards a community-driven future.