Convenience store coming to Center St. location
A convenience store will soon be filling vacant retail space on Center Street.
David Simonetti, owner of 73 Center St., confirmed that owners of 24/7 Express on Barnum Avenue in Stratford are opening a second location in the space formerly home to Walgreens Pharmacy in Shelton.
“This will be an eye catcher,” Simonetti said about the store which will be open 24 hours.
Store owner Muhammad Khan said he expects to have the business open by the end of September.
The store will sell items for people’s “daily needs,” said Khan, who also owns Wing It On, also on Barnum Avenue in Stratford.
“We’re really excited about coming into Shelton, especially this location,” said Khan, adding that the recent explosion of apartments and the increasing amount of foot traffic piqued his interest in opening a store downtown.
“This is quite a diverse area … there is a lot of opportunity here,” Khan added. “There is a definite need for a convenience store in this location.”
The shop will offer frozen foods, canned goods, and toiletries as well as a “grab-and-go” area — all at competitive prices, Khan said.
The retail building, which has been vacant for more than a year, was built in 1963. The building totals 5,476 square feet, with 3,128 square feet on the first floor. There are 15 parking spaces, which Simonetti said was key in finding tenants.
“This is a special location because I have the parking on site,” said Simonetti, adding that the limited amount of downtown parking is an issue.
Khan said his convenience store in Stratford opened five years ago, and his business has tripled in the years since. He expects similar success in downtown Shelton, adding that the “energy is coming back” and will only increase as more apartments come online.