Deep River Liquor Store Approved by Zoning Commission

DEEP RIVER - Spirits of a different kind are coming to Main Street, thanks to the approval of this Connecticut town's Planning and Zoning Commission.

The former Swan Funeral Home building at 211 Main Street is set to become the new home of Shore Discount Liquors and in the process will receive a 3,720-square-foot expansion and parking lot reconfiguration.

According to Sept. 10 public hearing minutes, Frank Barowski, P.E., representing Ken Alsbeck, a partner of Shore Discount Liquors, said while the building will be expanded to the south and east, the west side of the building facing Main Street will remain the same.

While Planning and Zoning regulations required the store to have 41 spaces, Barowski said that it would result in the elimination of several mature trees and that regulations allow exceptions if part of the retail space is used for storage.

The committee will allow the store to have 29 marked parking spaces with 12 reserve spaces that could be built in the future, if necessary.

Shore Discount Liquors has been housed in a 4,100-square-foot space in the Deep River Shopping Center for the past 10 years.

Barowski said only 25 percent of the store is dedicated for actual walking space for customers while the remainder is used for cooler space, shelving, and wine racks.

When the store opens to the public, it will have 7,132 square feet of space.

According to minutes, Zoning Enforcement Officers Cathy Jefferson said that new parking regulations are being drafted to encourage pedestrian traffic by not blacktopping the entire downtown area.

The commission hopes pedestrians will walk between the store and other nearby developments approved by the commission which include a Dunkin' Donuts in the Elms Building at 190 Main Street and a Walgreens Pharmacy at 180 Main Street.

To better accommodate pedestrian traffic, Barowski said the floor plan of the store has been changed to allow customers to enter through the front and back.

While Barowski said the hours of operation would be 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., he asked the commission to allow him to stay open until 9 p.m. in case he decides to stay open until that hour.