New liquor store opens in Bellis, Alberta

By Haylee Winger
The community of Bellis has something new to raise a glass to — a locally owned liquor store
has officially opened its doors, offering convenience, variety, and community-focused service.
The store is owned by brothers Nishant and Sumant Mehta, former bankers who now run the
attached gas station, convenience store, and liquor shop — a journey that’s taken them from the
finance world to local business ownership.
The idea to open the liquor store came from local demand, as there was previously no liquor
store in Bellis.
“We opened it for the convenience of our local community. People had been asking for a long
time, and we thought now was the right time,” Nishant explained.
The brothers have owned the gas station for 11 months. “A liquor store seemed like a good
business opportunity as well,” he added.
According to Nishant, what sets their store apart from others in nearby towns is price and
customer care.
“We’re more affordable, and we’re committed to our customers. We even take exclusive orders
to get them specific drinks they want,” he said.
The store offers a wide range of products. “We carry beer, vodka, whisky, rum, gin, coolers,
wine and some local products from the Calgary and Edmonton areas,” said Nishant.
Even the store’s look was carefully considered. “We wanted to give it an aesthetic feel, so we
added wooden walls instead of just plain drywall. When you walk in, it smells like fresh wood.”
Launching the business came with its own set of obstacles.
“The biggest challenges were the upfront renovation costs and stocking the initial inventory,”
Nishant shared.
There were some delays with permits, but local government support made a difference. “AGLC
took a little longer to issue the permit, but the County of Smoky Lake was very helpful,” he said.
With the liquor store attached to the gas station, the owners are mindful about selling
responsibly. “So far, we haven’t had any issues, but we are strict about not selling alcohol to
anyone who is already under the influence,” Nishant stated.
The response from the Bellis community has been positive.
“The community is very excited, and so far, we’ve received good reviews,” said Nishant.

He believes the liquor store adds to the local economy. “It brings more business into our little
hub- with the gas station, the convenience store, take-out food, and now the liquor store all
working together. It helps us employ local people and give back to the community.”
Currently, the store has one local employee, and they plan to continue hiring as the business
grows.
The brothers are also open to future collaborations. “We’d love to partner with local farmers and
community members for events. We also want to work with local breweries.”
As for long-term plans, Nishant said they have a bigger vision. “We want to expand into a larger
space and maybe add a cannabis store and a truck stop.”
And above all, the two brothers wants to thank the people of Bellis for their support. “A big
thank-you to everyone for supporting us and helping us grow.”