SALEM — Barnett’s Market is the third store for owner Dipak Patel since moving to Salem 15 years ago with his family.

Barnett’s Market opened May 7 at 827 N. Ellsworth Ave. and occupies a building that was originally built as a neighborhood convenience store by Lawson’s in 1975.

The building has also housed a paint store and karate school and a second-hand goods store.

Patel formerly worked for Blackhawk Plastic before it changed hands and today is Ventra Salem.

He saved his money and bought Barnett’s Motel on U.S. 62, west of Salem in 2005, and opened the drive-thru, which had been a restaurant, in 2010.

He later purchased the Suburban Market at 667 Newgarden Ave. and last October purchased the North Ellsworth Avenue building after observing it was empty.

Since then, Patel hired Neal Engler, owner of K&N Kustom Kreations in Damascus, to renovate the entire 2,400 square-foot building and he is currently finishing it off with security wiring.

“All of my store, he did it,” Patel said, adding that large security lights will be installed in the front soon.

Patel also covered the entire parking lot with fresh asphalt.

“I invested the money for the Salem community,” he said, “we’ve been in Salem 15 years. I love it. I’m here, I’m happy, I know the people, the community and they know me.”

He has a total of 10 employees at his three stores.

Barnett’s Market, like the sign in front says, sells beer, wine, tobacco and groceries, Ohio Lottery tickets and has an ATM. There are also selections from the deli section.

Patel said he will cash lottery tickets up the $600 maximum before winners are required to file a claim form.

“They can come to any of the three locations and I can cash it,” he said, adding customers can scan multiple winners, for example Pick 3 winners and “we can cash them.”

Patel and his wife, Sonia, have one son, Akul, who is a sophomore at Mount Union College in Alliance.

Hours are Monday-Friday from 5 a.m.-10 p.m., on Saturday from 7 a.m.-10 p.m., and on Sunday from 8 a.m.-9:30 pm.

For more information, call 234-567-9449.

lshields@salemnews.net