The new owner of Fifth Street Market says he has no plans to continue operations at the local grocer, but he is planning to expand operations at a nearby store he operates. Babulal Patel, owner of Rock Bottom and Pundrakes, says the decision to purchase the store from Kenny Hargrave boiled down to protecting market share. Patel says when Wal Mart got their liquor license, he noticed a 15-20% drop in sales.
Hargrave requested a liquor license in mid-June and it was granted, but he said at the time he wasn’t interested in selling alcohol; that he needed the liquor license in order to add video gaming to the store.
Read more at Hargrave to Get Liquor License; Leaders Receive Auditor Opinion; Mayor Breaks Tie Tuesday – WRUL-FM
Patel says he has no plans to operate a grocery store, but he will expand Pundrakes giving the store on 5th Street a facelift and adding room for more products including some limited grocery items and storage. Additionally, while he’s not going to operate the soon to be former Fifth Street Market, he is open to leasing the space. He can be reached at 618-382-3323.
Read more at Fifth Street Market Closing This Friday; Hargrave Says Food Truck Will Persist – WRUL-FM