Lou’s Corner Store Reopens Under New Ownership

No one will into Lou’s Corner store again. That is thanks to the new owner's thirteen metal poles in the parking lot, three-and-a-half feet tall and stuck three-and-a-half feet deep into the concrete parking lot.

“Not even a truck could crash through that,” the store’s new owner Ved Parkash explained, lifting up the yellow plastic covering on the metal pole.

Parkash proudly pointed to the new yellow poles, a white fence around the building, additional lighting, security cameras and a new roof that he invested in the 85-year-old building on Frederick Street.

While Cortlandt residents lamented the closing of Lou’s under its former owners, the Toias, Parkash says that he has been receiving thank you notes from many community members in his suggestion box, which he checks weekly. The old Lou’s featured dozens of beloved sandwiches, was open 24 hours and served as a neighborhood staple, but the building was run down and neighbors complained of loiterers. Parkash bought the business and building in June of this year and has spent the last five months and “a lot of money” completely rebuilding the building inside and out to make Lou’s shiny new.

“Customers are thanking me for opening up,” Parkash said. “And the neighbors are very happy.”

While Parkash opened on Nov. 1 he is still waiting for his alcohol and tobacco licenses, he still has a steady stream of customers coming in for sandwiches, Hale and Hearty soups (delivered by the New York City based chain), beverages and snacks. The former owner of the building wanted Pakrash to keep the name Lou’s so he did, but has the business registered under his own LLC.

“My main goal is service, quality and prices,” Parkash said.

Parkash’s enthusiasm over Lou’s would make you think he was a fresh businessman getting his first taste of success, but 55-year-old Brewster resident, originally from India, is a well-rounded businessman who has been successful in all his endeavors, he says. He owns a perfume store in Brewster, is a car collector, a landlord and is involved with wholesale and retail sales. He is also currently in the process of completing an 11,000 square foot mall in Mahopac off Route 6. He aims to open by August of 2012.

Parkash worked in many high-end restaurants when he first came to this country in 1986, earned a Masters in Commerce and comes from a business family. This is his first business in Westchester and he is elated by the experience.

“I had to redo everything completely (with the building) and I had a big help from Linda Puglisi and the town. She helped me in every aspect with building department and everyone all coordinated with me to make it go faster so we could open business as soon as possible. I wish the people in Putnam County were like that.”

In the same spirit, Parkash says he worked hard to please the town and the neighbors. After hauling out ten dumpster loads of trash left in the place, Parkash says he had to redo the plumbing and electrical systems, build a handicap accessible bathroom, rip out five layers of floors, which he says had holes all over it, build a new roof, install the new poles in the parking lot, build a handicap accessible ramp, redo the siding and install cameras and lighting for safety. He also moved a fence surrounding the property closer to his building to give neighbors more room.

“I want to satisfy my neighbors…because I believe in karma,” Parkash said.

"We will all miss Jack Toia who managed Lou's Corner Store for over thirty years and recently retired," said Town Supervisor Linda Puglisi. "However, we are delighted that Ved Parkash purchased this building, remodeled and opened a new deli...I am also delighted that the original name of Lou's Corner Store is preserved for historical purposes...I wish them much success." 

While Parkash can be found at the store for a few hours every morning, his good friend Subhash Sharma and son Sahil manage the business. Sharma owns Oregon Deli down the road so is already familiar with the community and deli business. While his wife runs Oregon, Sharma runs Lou’s.

“All of the customers know me well,” Sharma said. “People know it is a nice, clean place with home cooked food,” he said, explaining that parents know their kids are safe when they are at Lou’s or Oregon deli.

Parkash said that besides thank you notes in his suggestion box, he has received requests to open 24 hours, an idea he is entertaining. Right now he is open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays and 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays.

“We will see how the business goes,” Parkash said. Once he gets his alcohol and tobacco selling licenses and a feel for business he may decide to open 24-hours.

To see what the new Lou’s offers, click through the photos.

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