New Owners Expand Offerings, Cut Prices At The Newtown Beer Store

NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP, PA — Changes are happening inside the Newtown Beer Store at the Village at Newtown South on Eagle Road.

Since taking over the ownership of the store about two months ago, Sunny Patel of Bensalem and Nikul Patel of Yardley have been making improvements to the store with the customer in mind.

They have implemented a price cut on many of its big brand beer cases, introduced new products, enhanced the store's exterior and interior signage, made shelf pricing easier to see, and added a case of singly-wrapped leaf cigars.

“What sets us apart is price, variety, and convenience,” said Deep Patel, the store's spokesperson and brother of owner, Nikul Patel. “Customers can come in here and shop for a specific beer or we can order it for them. Our customers will find our employees very knowledgeable and are prices reasonable."

In addition, Deep said while beer is now being sold in convenience and grocery stores, those outlets are limited to selling 12- and 18-packs. They also don't have the space to offer the variety available at the Newtown Beer Store.

"We are allowed to sell bigger cases like 36 packs," said Deep. "And we can now offer our customers kegs. Because of our connections, if you tell us you need a keg tomorrow, we can probably make that happen."

The brothers bring an extensive family background to the beer distribution business. Their dad, Ike Patel, owns and operates Thirstys Beer on Easton Road in Warrington and he formerly owned a convenience store in Doylestown where his boys spent many of their afternoons and weekends.

Deep, a Bensalem native who now lives in Newtown, owns and manages Chalbrit Beverages in Chalfont while his cousin and brother are the new owners/operators of the Newtown store.

At the Newtown store, Deep said they have stocked up on hundreds of new specialty brews, which are now displayed on more than 20 brand-new racks just recently installed at the store.

“We’ve loaded up,” said Deep, adding that the store now carries more than 500 different kinds of beer, far more than what the local grocery store can carry.

“Our goal is to see what Newtown likes," said Deep. "This might be a town where people only like IPAs or sour beers. The idea is to load up and overstock and let people show us what they want."

The Patels have also loaded up their cooler with a variety of cold brews. “If customers come in for a cold one we want to make sure they actually get what they want,” said Deep.

Inside the new and improved Newtown Beer Store. (Photo by Jeff Werner)

Next on their "to-do" list will be an expansion of their refrigeration unit with plans to extend it across part of the front of the store giving customers more of a choice when it comes to ice-cold take-out brews.

In addition, they will soon begin selling behind-the-counter lottery tickets. They have also ordered a self-service lottery kiosk for the store.

The store's new manager, Pankit Patel, brings a wealth of knowledge to the store. He can answer just about any question about the store's hundreds of beers.

"Since I started working here the Vault sells the best," said Pankit of the craft beer brewed locally in nearby Yardley Borough. "I sell so many," he said.

According to Deep, two employees will be managing the store at all times to better service the customers either by fielding their beer questions, helping to load their cars, or keeping the coolers fully stocked.

“We’re here to serve the customers and provide them with what they want,” said Deep.