BP Chamber holds ribbon-cutting at new smoke shop
From left, Per Kvalsten, owner Jay Patel, Chamber Director Karen Peterson, and Tiffany Peterson mark the opening of Patel’s new business, 218 Off Sale Smoke Shop, with the Chamber’s first ribbon-cutting in five years. Kvalsten represented Chamber member Schwickert’s Tecta America; Tiffany Peterson is with Chamber member MSI, Metro Sales. Submitted photo
When Jay Patel bought a Blooming Prairie off-sale liquor store in 2021, he saw the opportunity to keep a good business going.
Almost four years to the day later, Patel has another business going: He opened the 218 Off Sale Tobacco Smoke Shop on Dec. 23, in the same building as his 218 Off Sale liquor store at 419 Hwy. Ave. South.
To mark the event, the Blooming Prairie Area Chamber of Commerce held its first ribbon-cutting in more than five years.
The new business is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Wednesday; and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays.
Patel said the support from the community is what keeps him doing business in Blooming Prairie.
He and partner Mehul Shah, of Maple Grove, bought 218 Off Sale from longtime owner Doug Goff. Buying the business was a good fit, Patel said in 2021, though the pair had never owned a liquor store.
“We own a hotel in Austin, and I would see this every week on my way to take care of it,” he said, so it made sense to just add another stop.