By Thomas Sellers Jr.
Last fall a huge step as taken in the future of the Millington Liquor Store.
The Patel family shutdown operation at the longtime location of 5077 Navy Road to set up shop just down the road. Staff and inventory were cleared out to make way for the demolition and ground breaking for the new Millington Liquor Store scheduled to open at the beginning of 2022.
“Construction started today,” Millington Liquor Store Manager Mitesh Patel said Feb. 4. “We’ve been talking about this for the last three or four years. It’s finally happening now.”
Millington Liquor Store Owner Bharatbi Patel gave the green light and got the wheels in motion toward a new mega complex being built on the former site of the business.
“The buildings were old — well one of them,” Mitesh noted. “We decided to tear it down and rebuild it. Push back so we’ll have a lot of parking. We’re going to have gas pumps. We’re going to cook food in the convenience store/gas station part. We’re going to have a drive-thru for the liquor and tobacco stores.
“Everybody in Millington is spending money on Highway 51,” he added. “Nobody is making any kind of improvements on Navy Road. We’re the first business investing money onto Navy Road. The building will be nice and beautiful. It’s going to be about 25 feet tall. It will be noticeable.”
The new Millington Liquors will feature new amenities, more space, improved parking and give Navy Road a visual boost. According to the construction crew, the project should take about 9 months. Patel said moving merchandise, products and training will move the target opening date to around the middle of January next year.
For now loyal customers to the Millington Liquor Store can take care of special event, holiday and just-because needs at the current location.
“We’re operating from here at 5016 Navy Road,” Patel said. “We’ve been here since September 22. This is temporary. We did not want to lose the traffic. We did not want to lose the revenue. So that’s why we moved here. Business has been steady.”
The Patel family has owned Millington Liquor Store for 14 years. Patel said this transition will make the business stronger for years to come and contribute to the future of Navy Road.
“We welcome you now and into 2022,” he concluded. “Please come shop with us like you have before. Thank you for all you’ve done in the past and we appreciate your support.”
For more information about Millington Liquor Store, call 873-0063.
