Date: Fri 03-Jul-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

Pootatuck-Spirits-Sandy-Hook

Full Text:

Sandy Hook Enterprise Off To A Spirited Start

(with cuts)

BY KAAREN VALENTA

For the owners of the new Pootatuck Spirits at 102 Church Hill Road in Sandy

Hook center, Friday the 13th isn't an unlucky day.

On Friday, February 13, while renovations were underway at the former K's

Korner liquor store, workmen opened a wall and found a small dusty cardboard

box inside. The box, with a postmark of February 13, 1936, held business cards

from the store's first occupant, H.W. Bassett of Bassett Liquor Store.

The business's new owners consider that discovery to be a good omen.

"Someone wanted to leave a piece of history for us, I guess," Mike Burton

said.

There have been only three proprietors of the liquor store in the past 60

years: Mr Bassett, who opened it soon after Prohibition ended; Fred Kasbarian;

and, now, Mike Burton and Bob Satmary. Mr Burton bought the entire strip of

stores with builders Gordon Anderson and Ed Raymond last February; Bob Satmary

is co-owner with Mr Burton in the business.

There was a grand opening celebration on Saturday to introduce the new store

to the community. The shop has been completely renovated, with a spacious rear

entry off the back parking lot. The store is carpeted and filled with rows of

wine racks and new beer coolers. "We pride ourselves on having very cold

beer," Mr Burton said. At the rear of the store is an alcove with a wine

cellar for vintage wines; it features grape vines painted on the walls by

artist Daryl Eady and a large black safe that dates back to the 1870's.

Bob Satmary left his job as a computer programmer to go into the liquor

business. He worked an average of 70 hours a week to keep the store open while

the remodeling was underway.

"I like a business that allows you to be one-on-one with people," he said.

"I'd had enough of working all day at a computer in a cubicle."

Mr Burton said there are plans to construct another building at the rear of

the parking lot to house additional stores with apartments above them, a

permitted use under the new Sandy Hook design district.

"We are going to repave the back parking lot and put awnings on the buildings

to connect them and make a plaza," Mr Burton said. "One of our goals is to

give the people of Sandy Hook a nice store to come to and not have to go

uptown to buy wine and liquor."

Pootatuck Spirits sponsors both a men's and a women's softball team and, with

the Glen Road Garage, sponsors Howard Payne's race truck.

There will be periodic wine tastings on Saturday afternoons from 1 to 4 pm.

The store is open Monday through Saturday from 9 am to 8 pm. It will be open

on July 4 until 4 pm. Major credit cards are accepted. Call 270-9112 for more

information.