Meyers Liquors Owner Hopes to Move Into New Space by Summer

Construction of the new retail outlet long planned for 362 N. Main St. is progressing quickly, and despite some hiccups, the sole tenant said he hopes to move into his business' new home by summer.

Meyers Liquors owner Chenna Nukala has run his store in the small one-story shop at the same downtown address for almost five years, he said, and his landlord, the Cherry Hill-based owner of the property, has been planning the new building at least that long.

Nukala said he's excited to relocate. "We'll do well there," he said. Memorial Day was his target date for the move, but because there have been several delays in the construction schedule, it's not clear if that will be possible. "For me, the biggest season is the summer, so we're hoping to be done by then," he said.

The new structure  – one of three construction projects in downtown Barnegat nearing completion – boasts a three-story facade and about 7,000 square feet of retail space on its ground floor.

For now, Nukala's business will be the only one in the space. But the building was designed to accommodate multiple retailers, he said, and the property owner will likely seek out more tenants.

Moving merchandise and setting up shop won't take long, Nukala said, but he'll have to close his doors for a few days when the time comes to allow the contractors to raze his current building and turn it into a parking lot. 

That process will require shutting off his Route 9 entrance, he said, so closing his doors briefly makes the most sense.

"We're trying to keep it to a minimum of three or four days at the most," he said.

The new home of Meyers Liquors isn't the only downtown project slated for completion this spring. A new daycare center is under construction across the street, and Doyle's Pour House will take over the old Hearthside Restaurant in April. Stay tuned as we check up on the progress of each.