The Cork Shop
317 E Main Street
Branford, CT

Square footage: 1,000

Years in operation: 11 years

By Sara Capozzi

Conveniently located off East Main Street, The Cork Shop has been serving Branford’s Pine Orchard neighborhood for more than a decade. The bustling shop is owned and run by entrepreneur Jay Patel; this was his first venture into the package store industry.

A veteran of the Marine Corps, Patel was living in his native New Jersey with his then-fiancée, now wife, and looking for a new business opportunity. It was through his wife’s parents, who have been involved in the package store industry for decades, that it became a possible career path and one that he ultimately chose.

“My in-laws were originally looking at this store, and there was a question about me shifting into it,” he said. “They introduced me to the idea, and I said, ‘Why not, we’ll give it a chance,’ and we wound up investing together and seized the opportunity.”

At the same time, Patel’s wife had also recently taken a job in Connecticut, so the move made sense for the couple. Patel said that this location appealed to him for a variety of reasons.

“I liked the fact that I was able to buy the property with it, the community is outstanding and the opportunity I had to renovate the place, give it a little facelift was a plus and just the business opportunity in general — it’s a very good demographic here.”

The Cork Shop has accrued a strong local clientele in its 11 years, known as a beloved package store among its regulars from the Pine Orchard neighborhood. Friendly, personalized service from Patel and his team has built great relationships with shoppers over the years.

“Every customer for me is a name, not a number,” Patel said. “So, while I do focus on the sales, I want to make sure the customer feels welcomed and that they know that we know they’re here. Apart from the customer service, I want to make sure that especially if I hand select a product for them, that they’re happy with it.”

Wine is The Cork Shop’s top-selling category, with shoppers gravitating toward Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc varietals. The shop carries bottles from smaller, boutique wineries and family-owned vineyards, along with best-selling brands. In spirits, vodka and bourbon sell well, with a focus on craft spirits from smaller producers.

“Most of my bourbons are mom-and-pop boutique bourbons and we have a few that are big name,” Patel said. He works with boutique companies and state distributors to curate the store’s unique selection, which differentiates The Cork Shop from other stores in the area. “You can get the big-name brands anywhere,” he said. “I want to have a different selection.”

For shoppers in search of craft beer, The Cork Shop has all the most in-demand selections from local breweries, stocked in a spacious walk-in cooler, along with seltzers and ready-to-drink cocktails.

“I’m pretty confident that we have the biggest beer walk-in cave in town and the coldest beer walk in cave in town as well,” Patel said.

Customer perks include delivery through DoorDash and in-store tastings every weekend. Patel stays in touch with the shop’s dedicated customer base through social media.