Liquor Store Celebrates A Year Of Good Spirits

By Kaaren Valenta

Helen and Jerry’s House of Good Spirits celebrated its first anniversary on December 10, concluding a year that has brought many changes to the liquor store at 113 South Main Street.

Soon after Helen and Jerry Zachman bought the business from the previous owner, they realized the liquor store next to Fair Auto Supply on Route 25 had an identity crisis.

“A lot of people didn’t know there was a liquor store here,” Helen Zachman said. “Some thought the House of Good Spirits was a church!”

The Zachmans set out to remedy the problem by changing the signs. Jerry designed a new logo, a crest with a castle (“our house,” the Zachmans jest) and crossed wineglasses, that is featured prominently on the new sign across the front of the store. They uncovered the front windows, bringing light into the store, replaced most of the lights and rearranged the interior, removing all the clutter.

“Many people remember this building as Ren’s Bakery,” Mrs Zachman said. “But it has been a liquor store for the past six years. “

The Zachmans decided to buy a local business when they realized they had had enough of their previous stress-filled careers. Helen Zachman had been in restaurant management for years, most recently in the Danbury area. Jerry Zachman had his own consulting business.

“I had a business in industrial abrasives in Queens,” Mr Zachman said. “I sold it and opened a consulting business, but I was always traveling. I kept an attaché case in the trunk of my car, ready to fly to Chicago at a moment’s notice. I never went anywhere without it. I might be in Chicago on Tuesday, home that night, and have to go to Atlanta on Wednesday.”

“I’m a retired professional bowler,” he explained. “I started bowling as physical therapy for bad knees. The kind of business I had afforded me the opportunity to both travel and compete. I competed mainly in the East, and was at the tournaments in Windsor Locks every year for 15 years.”

He began to watch another competitive bowler and started giving her suggestions on how to improve her game.

“I took a 155 average and made her a 185 average,” he said, smiling at his wife. “I saw someone who had been informed wrong on many aspects of play. I ‘adopted’ her and she became more serious about it. That’s when I became a more serious coach.”

Both widowed, the Zachmans got married in Las Vegas in 1998 on a trip with her parents and her daughter, Rebecca, who is now eight. “They were surprised,” Helen Zachman said. “We didn’t tell him ahead of time what we were planning.”

When Helen’s job brought her to the Danbury area, she chose to live in Newtown because of its schools. Rebecca is a student at Head O’Meadow School. The Zachmans stopped at Flagpole Realty to get a map and met former realtor Irene Schwartz, who has since moved to Florida.  Before long they had moved into their home on Birch Hill Road.

“I had a lot of clients in this area,” Jerry Zachman said. “But Helen and I were both fed up with the rat race and wanted a change.”

“We started looking for a retail business near home, in town. We wanted to own a mom and pop business,” Helen said. “Because of our background, we are very service-oriented.”

Jerry soon dissolved his corporation and turned his long-time clients over to another company that he trusted. Helen quit her job. The couple bought the House of Good Spirits and went right to work.

“We made a lot of changes and have a lot more planned,” Helen said. “Our customers have put in their comments, too. When we decided to move the counter, everyone said we had to keep the original Ren’s Bakery counter. So we kept the original counter top.”

“We know many of our customers by name now,” she said. “That’s the best part of living here. I think the people here are really great.”

Helen Zachman specializes in making lottery trees – artificial trees with lottery tickets attached – to give as gifts. This time of year she also is making liquor trees – trees with miniature bottles of liquor instead of ornaments – and gift baskets. The gifts are priced at $25 and up, and can be customized at the customer’s request.  For more information, call the Zachmans at 270-9495.