State Shuts Down Durham Convenience Store Over Sales Tax

The state has shut down a popular Durham convenience store after its owner failed to pay Connecticut sales tax, state officials said.

The Mini Market at 24 Main Street was closed abruptly on Tuesday, Jan. 2 and a steel beam with locks at both ends now bars the doorway to the store, which also served as an Exxon gas station.

Sarah Kaufman, a spokesperson for the state's Department of Revenue Services, told Patch the store's sales tax license was suspended after the owner failed to pay the taxes.

Kaufman could not provide specific details, including whether the owner made any effort to keep the business open.

"It is a fairly long process," she said. "Our goal is not to put people out of business. We will try to work with them, even coming up with a payment plan."

The store's owner, Nasir Ahmed, who operated the Mini Market under Greenland LLC, could not be reached for comment.

Calls to Alliance Energy Corp. of Branford, which owns the property, were not returned Tuesday.

Kaufman said the state does not comment on its negotiations with business owners, so it remains unclear if the tax issues will be resolved.