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Indian tobacco store owner pursuing American dream

Nick Graham/MBR Kamal "Mickey" Gulati, the owner of Dixie Discount Smokes, directs a customer July 30 to an item in his new store on South Dixie Highway in Middletown. Staff photo by Nick Graham

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By Jessica Heffner, Staff Writer 12:54 AM Monday, August 9, 2010

MIDDLETOWN — Most days Mickey Gulati can be found at the new Dixie Discount Smokes working 13-hour days before coming home to an empty house.

For him, it’s the American dream.

The 30-year-old, who was born in India, said he worked for a driving service in New Jersey for many years, barely scraping by to care for his family. When he came to Middletown three months ago to visit his brother, Vikram “Vickey” Gulati at his store in Verity Parkway, he was intrigued by the thought of owning his own business.

Being an entrepreneur has always been in his blood. His father ran his own perfume and cosmetic business in India. Now seeing his brother have similar success in America, Gulati knew there was no better time than now to pursue his own dream.

During what was supposed to be a “short visit with family,” he opened his new store at 4381 S. Dixie Hwy., Middletown, on June 24.

“I just liked the Middletown people. It was a lot different than where I was from, the people are so nice here,” Gulati said.

With so many competitors in town, including his own brother, Gulati said he has run special promotions, such as Pepsi 24-packs for $4.99, to get people in the store.

He sells all his tobacco items, which range from cigars and cigarettes to various chews, at the state minimum and whips out a pad of paper to take orders whenever customers request an item he doesn’t carry.

For now, Gulati’s wife, Grishma, and his two sons are still living in New Jersey while he camps out on his brother’s couch. He missed the birth of his son, Aryan, opening the new store, but it is a sacrifice he was willing to make for the betterment of his family.

“When I came to America before, the timing was never right,” he said. “But I knew that this was the time and this was the place and this is my dream.”

Dixie Discount Smokes will celebrate its grand opening with a ribbon cutting from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 10. The event includes prizes and refreshments.

To Gulati, the ribbon cutting doesn’t just mark the opening of his new business, but the start of a new life.

“So far ,I have just been thankful to God,” he said.

“It hasn’t been good good, but it is going well. I can’t wait until my family is here.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2843 or jheffner@coxohio.com.

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