Home » New Super Buy Rite Marks the End of an Era for Pennington Circle Hot Spot

New Super Buy Rite Marks the End of an Era for Pennington Circle Hot Spot

by Mary McIntyre

Motorists who frequently use Pennington Circle on Route 31 may breathe a sigh of relief when they notice the Super Buy Rite liquor store’s Route 31 South exit is a thing of the past. Long known as a troublesome spot for drivers, the lot will be made into a parking area for the now-open new Super Buy Rite / CVS building on Washington Crossing-Pennington Road.

“That part of the circle is chaotic,” said Arjun Bathena, owner of the Super Buy Rite store. “I used to live in the house next to the store, so I know what it’s like getting in and out. When they put in the new traffic lights in front of my house, it improved traffic circulation in the circle a lot. But it’s been a high priority of mine for a long time to have the store’s entrance and exit reconfigured, with access to a safer new entrance and exit across from Wells Fargo on Washington Crossing-Pennington Road.”

The new Super Buy Rite / CVS building has been a project more than a decade in the making, with the site plan originally approved in October 2015. Bathena spent about seven years acquiring the land needed for the new building, which is situated directly behind Super Buy Rite’s existing store. He will erect a physical traffic barrier at the foot of the parking lot along Route 31. Cars will still be able to make a right into the parking lot from Route 31 South, but there will no longer be a way to make a left turn into the lot from Route 31 North. The delivery trucks that frequent the liquor store will use the Washington Crossing-Pennington Road entrance and exit.

Bathena lived in Pennington from 2009 to 2023, and now lives in the Washington Crossing area. The house he lived in next to the liquor store up until 2023 was demolished to make way for the new building’s septic field. The existing liquor store building, which is in poor condition, will also be demolished. 

The new 158-space parking lot in its place will serve customers of Super Buy Rite and the adjacent new CVS drugstore, which has not yet opened for business. The bulk of customers entering and exiting the parking lot via Washington Crossing-Pennington Road will eliminate frequent traffic snarls that occurred when cars making a right out of the former liquor store encountered oncoming cars from Pennington Circle and Route 31 South. Dramatic tales of close calls while exiting the liquor store have become the stuff of local legend and fiery community Facebook group comments.

“Sometimes the circle was an unmitigated nightmare,” recalls former Super Buy Rite employee Rob Siano. “We used to see accidents there all the time; even an overturned tractor trailer now and then. People pulling out of the Super Buy Rite parking lot was a problem. They’re supposed to yield to oncoming traffic but not everyone knew that or would do that. The new location will be a 100% improvement.”

On Monday, January 27 the existing store closed for a day to move its inventory of wine, beer and spirits into the new building. New inventory is also added, as the new store is 30% larger.

“The added square footage gives us room for a 10-door wine cooler that is very high-end and the first of its kind in Mercer County,” Bathena said. “We’ll also have 40-door beer coolers with a wider selection of craft beers, and a ‘rare spirits’ cabinet. Everything is brand new, state-of-the-art, but I can still offer the low prices my store is known for because with more space I can buy in larger quantities.”

The new Super Buy Rite store is currently undergoing a “soft opening” and is ready for business, while a Grand Opening celebration is planned for summer 2025. One feature of the new building is a canopy-covered sidewalk where live music will be featured during the celebration. 

Occasionally providing live music while customers shop has been a stated goal of Bathena’s. Offering dynamic experiences and more than 5,000 products for wine, beer, and liquor enthusiasts will help the store stay competitive with Hopewell Valley’s healthy population of vineyards, bars, and wine/liquor stores.

“I like Hopewell Valley, and Mercer County in general,” says Bathena. “This is a good area for families.” Bathena also owns the Super Buy Rite liquor store on Route 33 in Hamilton Township.

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