Wine Works
1700 West Street
Southington, CT 06489

Square footage: 3,000

Years in operation: 3 years under current ownership

By Sara Capozzi

A family visit to Connecticut prompted former New York convenience store owner Tushar Patel to shift industries and purchase Wine Works in August 2023.

Patel, who owned a gas station and convenience store in New York for more than a decade, decided to buy the West Street liquor store after a conversation with his uncle, a successful package store owner in the state. At the time of the sale, the business had operated for about 10 years and maintained an established local clientele.

The Patel family renovated Wine Works with new shelving to maximize floor space and expand the inventory. Well-organized and offering a curated selection across all categories, the store is well into its successful new incarnation under Patel’s leadership.

The shop features a broad selection of wines, spirits, and craft beers, building a loyal customer base of local regulars. Its location draws commuters leaving work at ESPN, as well as visitors returning from regional destinations like Cava Italian Restaurant and Lake Compounce.

At Wine Works, ready-to-drink cocktails and THC-seltzers sell well and seem to be taking over some craft beer sales, Patel noted. In wine, customers tend to reach for premium wines, with spirits led by well-known, volume brands.

Reflecting on work he’s done over the past three years, Patel is happy with the new direction his career has taken. “I like it, it’s a really good industry,” he said. “I like dealing with the customers and salespeople and I’m working fewer hours than in the gas station business, which frees up more time to spend with family.”

Patel leveraged past experience to navigate the new inventory, drawing on his time selling convenience store beer and a package-store job from 15 years ago. Patel explained that his philosophy on customer service is to invest in each member of his clientele for the long term.

“We build relationships not as if this will be a one-time customer, but for relationships that will last for a long time, like they’re a family member. We take care of the customer properly, if there are any issues we take care of them right away and solve the problem,” Patel said.

The Patels don’t hesitate to place special orders, as customers often request items they see on social media and there are so many new products entering the market, he said. Wine Works also regularly offers case discounts and competitive prices, bringing back more happy repeat customers.