John Gramesty of Trumbull bought lottery tickets at FM One Stop in the shopping center at 447 Monroe Turnpike, Monroe, on Tuesday afternoon. He has bought his tickets there going back to its previous two owners, before having to go elsewhere when the last one, TC's One Stop, closed last year.
"We missed this place being shut down as long as it was," Gramesty said.
Maurice Ghazal bought the store at the end of the summer and his son, David, runs it with Ghazal's business partner Fred Dib.
David Ghazal, 19, said he was born in Beirut, Lebanon, and has lived in Shelton since he was 10. He said FM One Stop is a convenience store with a smoke shop.
"We sell luxury cigars," David Ghazal said, adding his family used to own Smoke for Less on Main Street in Monroe.
Ghazal's father also owns Byram Smoke Shop at 111 Mill Street in Greenwich.
Ghazal said FM One Stop sells cigarettes at the state minimum prices. The store also has a head shop selling hookahs, water pipes and tobacco bowls.
FM One Stop has Lotto tickets and scratch offs, newspapers, candy, drinks, milk, ice cream and household items among its selection. Ghazal said he is in the process of applying for a liquor license to sell beer.
"It's picking up every day," Ghazal said of his new business. "Every day is a new day."
