Old-Time Liquor Store Settles into New Digs

Chenna Nukala travelled a long way to get to Barnegat Township.  Moving to the United States with his family from India when he was 15, Nukala went to high school in Louisiana and graduated from Louisiana State University with a degree in computer science.  His first job out of college was at Meyers Liquors in Barnegat.

"It feels like I've been here all my life but it's been only seven years," said 33 year-old Nukala.  "This place is very appealing.  I'm very fond of small towns -- I'm not a big city guy."

Nukala worked as the manager of Meyers, eventually purchasing his own liquor store.  But, when Meyers was up for sale, he made a decision.

"A business owner was what I really wanted to be and this opportunity presented itself," said Nukala, whose parents owned a convenience store.  "When I decided to buy, it was a very friendly town."

Meyers Liquors had been a fixture in downtown Barnegat for 50 years, but the owner of the building had plans to build a new one.  So last July,  Nukala moved his business from the small 2,000-square-foot building to the new 8,000-square-foot space at 362 North Main Street, renaming it Meyers Super Saver Wine and Spirits. 

"Things are going very well," said Nukala.  "Every season has exceeded expectations.   I'm looking forward to the summer."

Nukala said  they have a lot more product and more variety, but they're still trying to fill up the space.  They have wine tastings every Friday from 3 to 6 p.m. and on Saturdays they have beer tastings.  They also have various promotions that differ from week to week.

The best part of the business, though, is talking with his customers, said Nukala. 

"The main reason I like this field is the human interactions," he said.  "I talk to a lot of people on a daily basis.  I know most of my customers and pretty much know people by their first names. I enjoy that."