User:HilaryJurinak/sandbox

Binny's Beverage Depot, formally Gold Standard Enterprises, was founded in 1949 by Harold Binstein. Binstein opened his first Gold Standard Liquors at Clark and Sheffield in Chicago, Illinois. Binstein was the first liquor retailer in the country to open a self-service store. Binstein continued to open five more Gold Standard Liquor stores and four Chalet Wine and cheese shop locations throughout the Chicago-land area.

Binstein was one of the first beverage retailers to apply the superstore concept to his business. Binstein first experimented with the idea of a large-size store back in 1976. In 1993 Binstein opened the first Binny's Beverage Depot, a 25,000-square-foot store, in Des Plaines, Illinois.

Harold Binstein passed away in August of 1995, but the business has continued to grow and innovate under the guidance of Walter Fornek, Gold Standard Enterprise's long-time president, and Michael Binstein, Harold's son and now the chief executive officer of the company. There are currently 29 Binny's Beverage Depot locations throughout the Chicago-land and central Illinois area.