Submitted by Haddam Economic Development Commission
(October 19, 2026) — Along Route 81 in Higganum, Bhavesh “Bobby” Patel has made Hi-Way Package Store more than a place to shop. Through local products, community fundraisers and longstanding traditions, he has strengthened the store’s role as a neighborhood gathering place. Its welcoming seasonal displays of flowers, pumpkins, flags and holiday decorations reflect the community spirit that has made Hi-Way a familiar and valued part of Haddam.
For Bobby, the path to Haddam began thousands of miles away in Gujarat, India. Raised in a large, close-knit family, he earned a degree in electrical engineering and began building a professional career. Yet he believed greater opportunities awaited elsewhere. In 2001, at age 34, he immigrated to the United States and joined his sister and brother-in-law in operating a small newspaper shop in the Bronx. Although the business was unfamiliar, Bobby quickly discovered that his greatest satisfaction came from serving customers and building relationships with people from all walks of life.
That early lesson in customer relationships shaped nearly two decades of business ownership across the Northeast. Bobby went on to operate convenience stores, delis, franchise locations and grocery businesses, learning a different side of retail at each stop. From the grocery business in Rocky Hill to a Dunkin’ franchise in Pennsylvania and a grocery and package store in Massachusetts, every venture strengthened his operational knowledge, adaptability and commitment to customer service.
In 2020, a business broker introduced him to Hi-Way Package Store, one of the area’s longest-established package stores. Recognizing its strong reputation and deep roots in the community, Bobby embraced the opportunity. During the transition, he lived in the apartment above the store while his family remained in Pennsylvania, a temporary sacrifice that allowed him to focus on building the business and learning about the community he now served.
Today, Bobby and his wife, Dipa, live in Cromwell with their sons, Archit and Ruchit, and hope one day to make Haddam their permanent home. Bobby credits much of his success to Dipa’s support, which enables him to devote countless hours to the store and the community. In addition to managing a Dunkin’ location in Cromwell, she helps sustain the family and its businesses behind the scenes.
Bobby also values the guidance he received from Hi-Way’s previous owners, Gail and Jerry Powell, who operated the business for four decades. They helped him understand the store’s role within the community and shared insights that only years of local experience could provide. Bobby credits them with teaching him the importance of product knowledge, exceptional customer service and the lasting value of local relationships. Today, Gail continues to work at the store in semi-retirement, remaining both a trusted colleague and friend.
As Bobby became more involved in the community, he looked for ways to give back. Hi-Way Package Store proudly carries more than 20 local craft beers along with a wide selection of Connecticut-produced wines and spirits, helping showcase local makers and businesses. Beyond its shelves, the store supports a variety of community fundraisers and organizations, including the Ron Booth Golf Tournament, HK Youth and Family Services, St. Peter Church, The United Congregational Church of Haddam and Higganum and numerous HK athletic programs. For Bobby, supporting local organizations is simply part of being a responsible community business owner.
Community connection extends beyond the products sold inside the store. Bobby has also preserved one of Hi-Way’s most beloved traditions, the Haddam Horseshoe League. Alongside wine tastings, bourbon tastings and other special events, the league helps transform the field behind the store into a place where neighbors gather, friendships are strengthened and new connections are formed. These events reflect Bobby’s belief that local businesses can play an important role in bringing people together.
Grounded in faith and guided by honesty, respect and hard work, Bobby views retail as more than a business. The long hours and operational challenges are real, but he measures the work by what happens beyond a transaction: customers become familiar faces, neighbors become friends and a store becomes part of the community. After years of pursuing new opportunities and learning from each experience, he has found a place where his commitment to service and his appreciation for community come together.
For Bobby, success is measured by more than sales. It can be seen in the relationships formed across the counter, the support extended to local organizations and the neighbors who gather behind the store for a horseshoe match or inside for special tasting events. At Hi-Way Package Store, commerce and community meet in the same place, a local business that continues to bring people together in Haddam.
Hi-Way Package Store, located at 18 Killingworth Road in Higganum, is open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. For more information, follow Hi-Way Package Store on Facebook or call the store at 860-345-2315.
Photos provided by Haddam EDC
