Whether you are hungry, thirsty, or both, and anywhere near Dodgingtown, at least one member of the Mansaram and Persaud family has got you covered.

Over the past few months, members of this local family have acquired adjoining businesses and are under contract to purchase the building at 57 Dodgingtown Road — home of the popular Dodgingtown Market and Deli, along with the recently rebranded Dodgingtown Craft & Spirits.

Overseen by former corporate executive and nonprofit founder Sattie Persaud, nephew Ian and sister Puja Mansaram share responsibilities behind the counter at the cozy but well-stocked package store. Sattie’s sister Gita Mansaram and her daughter Alisha handle business at the market and deli, along with seasoned New York Chef Peter Angelo creating and dishing all the culinary offerings.

Realtor and Newtown resident Bill Piccirillo of KW Realty, who helped the extended family locate and purchase a home in Sandy Hook back in 2016, has been on the lookout ever since for a possible food or beverage service business for the family to take over.

They hit the jackpot after first buying the package store and then going under contract for the entire building, which also houses Liberty Computers and five residential apartments.

“It took a while, but as soon as the businesses became available I thought of Sattie and Gita — they are such a good and hardworking family,” Piccirillo said.

Acquiring the former Dodgingtown Liquor shop was a logical first venture for the family, since Sattie and Gita’s father had established a beer distributorship, and owned and operated a liquor store in Bedford, N.Y., taking on a second location later in Brewster.

It was through her work at the distributor business that Gita discovered her talent for service.

Leave Happy

“I love people and customer service,” she said during a brief break from greeting folks coming in during one recent lunch hour. “I just want people to be happy from the time they come in until when they leave — I want every customer to leave here happy.”

Sattie Persaud, a former IBM exec and currently a senior foreign exchange manager at Otis Elevator Co, is also highly engaged with a global nonprofit she founded in 2005 called the World Heritage Cultural Center (WHCC). She told The Newtown Bee that her plans involve establishing an office for the organization somewhere in Newtown if the appropriate location presents itself.

According the the WHCC website, the group’s mission “empowers and shares diverse, colorful, and unique cultures from around the world creating a global village to foster tolerance, appreciation and unity.

“We understand cultural identity bolsters diversity, and thus believe acceptance and tolerance is promoted by our creation of a common ground where the creative arts is a powerful tool used to tell great stories of traditions,” the nonprofit’s website continues.

Sattie hopes to bring some greater global awareness and her passion for environmental preservation and cultural discovery to the family’s market in Dodgingtown.

New Menu, Products

“In the coming months we’re planning to bring in all eco-friendly products and packaging,” she said. “We’re also looking for regional partners to supply all our locally sourced and farm-fresh food.”

Chef Angelo is the product of his own family’s restaurant business, which he said has successfully operated in Beacon, N.Y., for more than 65 years. He will be helping the new owners as they complete a full renovation of the market, which has been a fixture in the western pert of Newtown since the 1960s.

According to Sattie, the business was originally Borodenko’s Market established by Ed Borodenko. It was bought in 1967 by Lou Caraluzzi, then sold to George Hamilakis in the early 1990s, “and we’re now proud to be the [fourth] owners and still family operated.”

Sattie loves the fact that the location has so much untapped potential. She and her entire family are proud to be able to carry on the former owners’ commitment of service for the neighborhood and the entire community — and taking advantage of that potential to expand their offerings.

“We’ll be developing and offering vegan and gluten-free meal options, a multitude of fusion dishes, and an expansive, culturally diverse menu,” Sattie said. “By summer, we will have a fully renovated and state-of-the art commercial kitchen installed, which will also service our expanding catering business —”

“— and we’ll be doing barbecue here as well,” Anglo said, punctuating Sattie’s appetizing thought.

Anyone looking for their favorite brand of adult beverage is invited to call Dodgingtown Craft & Spirits at 203-426-2972 or e-mail Ian Mansaram at d.craftandspirits@gmail.com. The shop also has a Facebook page featuring new acquisitions and promotions.

Dodgingtown Market and Deli is open daily at 6:30 am. Closing time Monday through Saturday is 8 pm, and 3 pm on Sunday. Visit or call 203-270-1678 to order or for more information.

Associate Editor John Voket can be reached at john@thebee.com.