Veteran Businessman Opens New Liquor Store In Hamden

HAMDEN, CT — A longtime local businessman recently opened a new liquor store in Hamden.

Ghanshyam K. (“Sammy”) Patel, who has owned French Italian Import Liquor Store in Hamden for 23 years, opened his newest business – G. K. Package Store Wine & Liquor – in December.

G. K. Package Store Wine & Liquor is located at 1382 Dixwell Avenue, next to Star Pizza, in Hamden.

Patel described the new business as a neighborhood package store that he owns and operates with his wife.

Its name is derived from Patel’s first and middle initials.

“Given my long traditional Indian name, customers call me either G. K. or Sammy, and that has been my MO on Dixwell Avenue for the last 23 years,” Patel said.

Patel said he’s been a local businessman in the Hamden area for decades, including the past 23 years owning French Italian Import Liquor Store, which is located at the intersections of Dixwell Avenue, Putnam Avenue, and Helen Street.

“My customers know me as ‘Sammy,’ and I aspire to build a close-knit relationship with all of them,” Patel said. “Many of my customers have known me for over 30 years, and that is because I offer friendly customer service and know my customers by a first-name basis.”

G. K. Package Store is located in the “heart of the Dixwell Avenue neighborhood with easy in and out access for customers,” according to Patel.

“I want to create a loyal clientele in the Dixwell neighborhood because my customers are my family,” Patel said. “We serve a wide variety of wine, liquor, and cold beers. If I don’t have a particular drink in stock, rest assured that I will call the salesman right away to have it ordered. I always update my selections, from what my customers recommend to what my salesmen say is trending. From local drinks such as IPAs to big-name beer, we have it all.”

Patel said the liquor industry has been “very near and dear to me, and the people of Hamden have become my family.”

“Almost every person that walks into my store has been a longtime customer, and I know exactly what they are going to purchase in store,” Patel said. “’Sammy my man!’ is a common greeting from customers, followed by an exchange of warm smiles, handshakes, or first pumps.

“The Town of Hamden, especially Dixwell Avenue, has a wonderfully diverse community. Whether it be the local mailman and mailwomen or doctors and nurses from nearby hospitals, we get them all. My wife and I run these businesses ourselves, adding to the personalized aspect of my businesses.”