New Haven Independent

Booted Liquor Store Owner Has Last Laugh

by Melissa Bailey | July 30, 2008 12:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (13)

The downtown liquor wars are over, and Sanjay Patil — booted from one site, fought in court at another — has found a new home. Two homes, actually.

Patil, who owns College Wine on College Street, has been searching for a new place to move his store ever since he was told that Hartford-based developer Bob Landino plans to raze the building to erect a 19-story luxury condo tower.

After a two-year roller-coaster ride of ups and downs, Patil has secured spots for two new, upscale stores — one in the heart of Westville and another downtown on Church Street, at the site of the old Chapel Square Mall.

In his downtown struggle ended with an ironic twist: The store ended up being just a few doors down from a competitor who tried to block him from relocating downtown.

Just a few months ago, Patil was being reviled by some downtowners as a peddler of downscale “loosies” and “nips,” unfit for a spot across from the New Haven Green. In his new digs in Westville, he’s being welcomed with open arms by those who are revitalizing the neighborhood’s main street.

Patil smiled wide as he stood behind the counter at the new Westville Wines at the corner of Whalley and West Rock Avenues Tuesday afternoon. The store opened in May. It’s a big step up from the humble digs on College Street, where students would step into cramped quarters to pick up a six-pack.

A freshly vacuumed carpet still smelled new. In the front of the store, where natural light pours in around a small liquor sign — Bass, not Budweiser — tall plants surround a little lounge. On a small table beside two leather chairs sits the latest copy of Wine Spectator magazine. The sitting area is where Patil invites strolling Westvillers to sip wine at tastings every Friday and Saturday.

“It’s an excellent neighborhood,” said Patil.

Unlike his downtown store, where customers snatch up shot-sized “nips” of Yukon Jack and Smirnoff, the Westville counter holds a glass plate designed by a local artist, topped with a display of elderberry liqueur.

“No nips” at the new store, Patil said. No Dubra. No Popov. No cigarettes. Mostly just wine. Wine bottles rest on new shelves — shelves he had wanted to install at his downtown store, but couldn’t, he said. Downtown, he always operated under a tenuous, month-to-month lease. Times have changed.

Hi There, Neighbor

Patil is close to closing on a 10-year lease on a space in the former Chapel Square Mall, now owned by developer David Nyberg. The site sits at 68 Church St., next to the new Buffalo Wild Wings — and less than half a block away from Patil’s competitor, the Wine Thief.

A years-long battle between those two very different liquor shops appeared Tuesday to have ended on peaceful terms.

Back in January, Patil was a few months away from relocating to a new spot on Chapel Street, on the New Haven Green, when Wine Thief owner Karl Ronne slapped him with a lawsuit blocking the move. (Click here to read about that).

Patil said even though he had zoning approval, he couldn’t risk moving to a new spot with litigation pending. His lawyer told him the case might take up to a year and a half, he said.

“I couldn’t wait that long,” Patil explained. So he hunted around for a new home — and came across the Westville, then the Church Street space.

“I didn’t want it to be so close to the Wine Thief,” Patil said regretfully, “but there is no other choice.” He said he is days away from signing on with Nyberg and hopes to open a new store there by October. The new store will be like the Westville one, he said — upscale, with no nips.

Reached Tuesday, Ronne (pictured) extended an olive branch to his new block-mate.

“I welcome my new neighbor,” he said. He indicated he’d drop the lawsuit against he city if Patil is indeed no longer pursuing that property by the Green.

“I just thought it would be best for the city, [and] the churches,” to keep upscale businesses along the Green, Ronne said. The suit itself used different logic, challenging Patil’s move based on a law requiring liquor stores to be 1,500 feet away from each other.

Patil’s new space sits in the old mall block, which is exempt from that law.

“I think that’s a great place to be,” said Ronne of Patil’s proposed downtown location. “I hope he opens soon.”

In the meantime, Patil is still running his store on College Street, which he plans to close when he moves. The developers, Centerplan, announced he would be evicted nearly two years ago. They have been letting him stay there on a month-to-month lease until development plans become a reality. Plans appear to be stalled: Developers first secured zoning approval in September 2006, then got a time extension until Sept. 30, 2008. An eviction deadline of Marcy 2008 has come and gone.

Landino, the developer, did not return a call for comment Tuesday as to the future of the project.

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Comments

Posted by: anon | July 30, 2008 12:06 PM

Great news! Two wine shops are better than one - now people are more likely to go there and comparison shop, which will benefit both businesses.

Posted by: JP | July 30, 2008 1:56 PM

As long as these places stay upscale i guess its ok but his first place is such a dump I have my doubts.

Posted by: Mister Jones | July 30, 2008 2:11 PM

Hah! The Wine Thief receives his commeupance. Jealous that the lowbrow was getting a better location than he did for his vaunted expansion downtown, he blocked the move, arguing technicalities in an effort to eliminate the competition. Now Patil gets two even better spots.

Posted by: Deuce | July 30, 2008 2:27 PM

I get a kick out of the whole "upscale" pretension of these liquor vendors. Alcohol consumption is shared by all classes of people.

Posted by: TrueBlueCT | July 30, 2008 3:09 PM

Even though his snooty store doesn't sell Coors, Budwieser or Miller, Mr. Ronne was indeed trying to gain a monopoly on the South of Chapel neighborhood. Shame, shame, shame on him for trying to put a long-time neighborhood store out of business.

Anyway, I'll enjoy waving at greedy Karl as I make my way around the corner to the new and better College Wine. I hope the two go head-to-head for a while as competition lowers prices.

And kudos to the oft-beleaguered David Nyberg for helping to save Mr. Patil's business. Sanjay deserves another 20 years downtown.

Posted by: Nestor Makhno | July 30, 2008 3:23 PM

Based on the lawsuit he brought against Patil, Ronne is clearly a man to be avoided (as all litigious men are) and that nonsense about wanting to preserve the dignity of the Green makes him even more unlikable. Unfortunately, I think he scored a victory. The space Patil is getting on Church isn't as desirable as the space on Chapel that he originally sought, as the foot traffic is much less.

Although I am sad to see that Patil won't be selling "loosies" and "nips" anymore (another example of the city becoming increasingly dull and effete), I wish him luck at his new locations.

Posted by: walt bradley | July 30, 2008 3:27 PM

Karl Ronne helped new haveners, all new haveners, understand and appreciate wine like no other store had ever done before. His apporach was unique, and without snobbery. In the last 5 years there have been many knock offs who have shown over time they are unworthy of MY business.
I hope mr. pati will travel, read and experiment as much as the staff and owner of the wine thief does, hoewever, knowing the effort and passion the good folks at the wine thief put into what they sell, i doubt very much he'll be anything more than just another pretenter.

Posted by: Bruce | July 30, 2008 5:35 PM

I think if Mr. Ronne was really trying to kill his competition, he would continue his lawsuit against Patil at the new site, which is still in violation of the 1500 ft rule. Instead, he dropped his opposition. Good luck to both of them, I'm sure they will coexist just fine. The Wine Theif is a specialty wine shop and the other is more conventional liquor store. I doubt either will see much change with the move.

On another note -- is that building ever going to go up on College St? Please tell me they didn't tear down New Haven's best sports bar for nothing. I miss TK's.

Posted by: -fairhavener- | July 30, 2008 9:42 PM

"I get a kick out of the whole "upscale" pretension of these liquor vendors. Alcohol consumption is shared by all classes of people. "

Yeah, but not out of nips while smoking loosies.

Posted by: Chris | July 31, 2008 10:27 AM

Nestor: "I think if Mr. Ronne was really trying to kill his competition, he would continue his lawsuit against Patil at the new site, which is still in violation of the 1500 ft rule. "

Read the article... "The suit itself used different logic, challenging Patil's move based on a law requiring liquor stores to be 1,500 feet away from each other.

Patil's new space sits in the old mall block, which is exempt from that law."

I have been to Westville wines and i love it. They have a great selection, very clean, comfortable and i have stopped by a few times on the weekends to try out the wines. Actually purchased a bottle or two. It's really nice to have such a high end liquor store so close to Westville. Oh and they also sell a huge variety of beer!

Posted by: Chris | July 31, 2008 10:50 AM

My bad Nestor, Bruce had the quote... maybe i should read the names!

Posted by: jade | July 31, 2008 6:56 PM

i can speak on behalf of my neighbors that we all are enjoying westville wines! sanjay and his staff bend over backwards to help you, often special ordering items that are not in stock. the wine tastings friday night are wonderful, and i've purchased a few bottles...and found a new favorite white wine. i hope he stays a long time.

Posted by: DEZ | July 31, 2008 10:54 PM

If this is going to turn into a shameless plug for your favorite wine shops, then Ben Tortora has you all beat. Grand Vin on East Grand Avenue in the quaint, 19th C village of Fair Haven. It's worth the trip! Ben is the best thing that happened to Joel Schiavone in his (failed?) attempt to develop the East Grand Avenue business district. I wish Mr. Patel well. Before Ben I was a 'Wine thief' aficionado, but after all of the latest tomfoolery revolving around outrageous litigation, I'm staying away. Ben has me covered!

Booted Liquor Store Owner Has Last Laugh

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