Somerset liquor store shuffle in the works

SOMERSET – There’s a hole in the ground where there used to be a BankFive branch drive-thru lane.

The hole was dug to lay the foundation for what will be an extension to the former bank branch building at 927 County St.

If all goes according to plan, the conjoined structures will have a grand opening in October for what tentatively is being called Somerset Country Wine and Spirits.

It’s all part of a County Street/Route 138 business district shake-up being undertaken by a local businessman and his wife.

Property owner Elie Karam for the past quarter century has owned the Somerset Country Store convenience store/mini-market and self-serve gas station at 1804 County St., although he says that his wife Julia “runs it.”

Karam, 53, has bought the assets of the Town & Country Liquor store at 1701 County St.

“We bought the business and liquor license,” he said.

Karam says the liquor store owner is about to retire and will close in August.

“He’s a great guy. I asked him years ago, and he gave me the first shot,” he said.

“A business opportunity is a business opportunity. It was one, two, three simple,” added Julia Karam.

“They approached us, and we jumped on it,” she said.

Her husband says he bought the bank branch building half a dozen years ago after BankFive relocated to 54 County St.

Karam initially thought he had a deal with Pizza Hut to become his tenant but says “they pulled out at the last minute.”

For three and a half years up until they moved out this past February, he says his tenant was a real estate company called revolv.

Despite his offer to subdivide the 2,900-square-foot property, Karam says the real estate firm decided to move out.

Then came the opportunity to buy Town & Country Liquor.

Karam says he lost at least two months in starting construction at the site due to coronavirus pandemic restrictions.

He said his requests for transference of the liquor license and other public hearings including zoning eventually had to be done through Zoom video conferencing.

He says he’s erected a wooden fence on the north side of the property and is in complete compliance with all other site conditions set forth by the town.

Karam says he’s got a background in the liquor store trade.

Up until seven years ago, when he sold the business, he says he owned South End Liquors in Fall River.

He also says he at one time was co-owner with his brother of Pleasant Discount Liquors in Fall River.

The Karams say their liquor store will include a fine-wine room, will feature wine tastings and will sell good cigars.

“It’s really going to be high-end. It’s going to be beautiful,” Elie said.

“This is not a package store,” his wife added for emphasis.

The Karams said the store will sell lottery tickets and snacks. They also plan to transform the former bank vault into a so-called beer cave where customers can grab cold cases of the beverage of their choice.

“It’s popular down south,” Elie Karam said.

The addition now being built will provide storage space and the ability to add a walk-in cooler.

The Karams said the new store will also have a small redemption center with just a couple machines for customers bringing back empty bottles and cans.

Karam readily acknowledges that even with the addition his store won’t have comparable inventory capacity as compared to a larger operation like Yankee Spirits in Swansea.

But he says he can stay competitive by carefully selecting which wines and beers to stock.

His wife says she’s been getting positive feedback from townies about their business venture.

“I love our Somerset customers, and they love us,” she said. “Everyone knows about our plans, and they’re supportive and very excited about it.”

Her husband — who emigrated 17 years ago from Lebanon to the United States and earned a business degree from the former Southeastern Massachusetts University — declined to disclose how much he’s investing in the project, except to say that it’s “a good chunk of money.”

Karam says once the store is up and running he expects to employ up to 10 part-time workers.

“This is the perfect building,” he said, as he stood inside the former bank branch.