Skip to content

A town square for an unsquare town

redbankgreen

Standing for the vitality of Red Bank, its community, and the fun we have together.

RED BANK: LIQUOR STORE TO REOPEN

228-drs-parker-042816-2-500x375-2147706Closed for two years, paperwork filed in connection with the sale of the former Yogi’s Liquors license indicates the store will also offer groceries and deli products. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

hot-topic_03-220x138-2130637A liquor store on Red Bank’s West Side that’s been closed for two years appears to be gearing up to reopen.

The borough council last week approved the sale of packaged-goods license of Yogi’s Liquors, at Drs. James Parker Boulevard and Leighton Avenue, and documents on file indicate the new owner intends to reopen the business there.

Yogi’s was not your typical top-shelf suburban bottle shop. Customers had to be buzzed in, and paid a clerk seated behind bulletproof glass. The sale of “40s” and airline “minis” was steady.

But except for some minor brushes with local government  years ago, the store was a good neighbor, said Mayor Pasquale Menna, who grew up on the West Side.

“The owner lived on top of the store, in an apartment,” Menna said of Mohanlal “Yogi” Parekh. “Everybody in the neighborhood knew him.”

Menna said the business operated as a liquor and grocery store prior to Parekh acquiring it. According to a letter filed with the borough planning an zoning office by attorney Robert Munoz, Parekh bought the business in 1984.

Parekh died in May, 2014, one month after his wife, which forced the closing of the business, Munoz wrote. A relative who is administering the estate declined to comment.

An application filed with the police department in conjunction with the license transfer indicates that the new owner intends to sell groceries and deli products along with alcoholic beverages.

The buyer is identified as SSPF2 LLC of Freehold Township, which is owned by Shakil Pathan, according to the filing. Pathan could not be reached for comment.

The building, assessed at $280,000, is under contract for sale to SSPF2, according to Monmouth County property records.

Best Liquors, another longtime neighborhood grocery and liquor store, located several blocks north on Leighton Avenue, closed after the borough council stripped it of its license over numerous violations in 2008. The property is now home to Kitch Organic restaurant.

Remember: Nothing makes a Red Bank friend happier than to hear "I saw you on Red Bank Green!"
redbankgreen Classics
Partyline
WINTERIZING WALK
With rowing season now over, Navesink River Rowing member Trish Russoniello and her husband, John Ward, carried her 25-foot rowing shell to ...
COUNT GETS MURAL TREATMENT
A new mural honoring Count Basie facing the Borough Hall parking lot on Monmouth Street. (photo by Partyline contributor Boris Kofman)   ...
TRUMP FAN VICTORY STROLL
A Donald Trump supporter went for a stroll down Broad Street Wednesday morning in a celebration of his win over Vice President Kamala Harris ...
ON ELECTION DAY, REAL FOG TOO
Commuters wait for their train to emerge from the fog in Red Bank on Election Day 2024.
SUNDAY AT LUCIDA
Artist talk at Galerie Lucida with owner and curator Michael Mazzeo and the photographer and co-curator Gerald Slota. Sunday afternoon, Nove ...
REMODEL HALLOWEEN
  Despite undertaking an amazing renovation, the Red Bank family that lives at this home at South Street and Pinkney would not miss out ...
Spooky Celebrations on South Street
Happy Halloween – South Street Style. –Original before GPT– Happy Halloween-South Street Style.
MARIGOLDS FOR DAY OF THE DEAD
Marigolds were the most popular item at Floreria La Orquidea at 192 Shrewsbury Avenue over the past few days as folks bought up the flowers ...
TRICK OR TREAT DJ
A DJ rocks Deforrest Avenue from the front porch of Edgar and Carly Deronde as trick or treaters flock to the street on Halloween night. (ph ...
HALLOWEEN HAIRCUT
Rigo's barber shop on Shrewsbury Avenue always goes all out. Luis Lego gets a Halloween haircut.
T-REX ON RIVER STREET
Looks like a T-Rex is amuck on River Street (photo by Partyline contributor Chris Havens)  
Mysterious Creatures Parade Around Red Bank Charter School
Lots of strange creatures, like this green dragon, emerged from the Red Bank Charter School this morning and paraded around town! (photo by ...
HALLOWEEN SUNRISE
Halloween sunrise over the Navesink River.
SALON CELEBRATES TEN YEARS
Red Bank's L Studio salon throws a bash for its tenth anniversary.
ICE BOAT JACK O’ LANTERN
The ice boat emblazoned Red Bank borough seal in jack o’lantern form, at the jack o’ lantern drop at Riverside Gardens Park Thur ...
NEW MURAL TAKES SHAPE
The leaves aren’t the only thing getting a splash of color this Fall. On Shrewsbury Avenue, a vibrant mural is in process, adorning bo ...
Spectacular Autumn Sunset at Warwick Gardens
Autumn Sunset in Red Bank – Warwick Gardens on Pinckney Avenue. (photo by Partyline contributor Adam Kaplan)
EYES ON YOU
Huge eyeballs in a front yard in Red Bank. (photo by Partyline contributor Jeff Frieri)
VIDEO: RED BANK HALLOWEEN PARADE
 
MURALIST BRIGHTENS TACO SHOP
  Jim Fitzmaurice paints a new mural on the side of International Mexican Grocery  (which is not a grocery but an eatery very popular ...