NORTH SMITHFIELD – It all seemed fairly routine.
On Tuesday, Sept. 2, members of the North Smithfield Town Council took up a holiday sales and victualing license for the Li’l General Store at 659 Great Road. A man, who identified himself as Narendrakumar Barvaliya, went up to the podium. Town Clerk Joanne Buttie told board members that the paperwork was all in order.
“So is this due to a transfer of ownership?” asked Councilor David Punchak of the requested license.
“Yes” replied Barvaliya.
“So you bought the business?” Punchak asked.
“Yes,” Barvaliya replied.
The business’s hours, council members were assured, would remain the same, and Buttie requested an approval through December 1, 2026 so the new owner would not have to return when the council takes up the annual license renewal process for other businesses in town later this year.
The problem? Barvaliya is not the legal owner of the establishment; at least not yet.
NRI NOW initially pursued the story after hearing of the alleged sale, but arrived at a dead end. On Wednesday, Sept. 3, we requested a copy of the license application, which listed MLP Enterprises as the owner. MLP, started by Mike and Lisa Pestana, had long owned both the convenience store and the property it sits on, with space leased to other establishments including Firehouse Pizza and Great Tattoo Parlor. No property appeared to have changed hands according to town records, and there were no new businesses under either MLP or Barvaliya’s name listed with the Rhode Island Secretary of State.
Residents posted about the license transfer speculating about the sale on social media. That’s how owner Michael Pestana – and his employees – got word.
“The North Smithfield Town Council gave a license to a person for our business without proper documentation of a sale,” said Pestana, responding in his own social media post. “While we do not deny that our business is in the negotiation stage, the business is not sold.”
Pestana clarified that MLP is still his family’s property holding company and is not for sale.
Li’l General Convenience Stores were founded by Roger Lapierre, with the first opened on Cumberland Hill Road in Woonsocket in 1970. Franchise locations opened throughout New England, peaking at 25. The Great Road location, known as store #9, is one of just five still remaining.
According to town property records, MLP Enterprises purchased 659 Great Road from Li’l General Inc. in 2004. The following year, the company purchased 643-645 and 653-655 Great Road from former owners John, Manuel and Esther Felicio.
“As much as my wife and I would have loved to chime into the conversation we were busy running ‘our business’ forcing our tired bodies out of bed after a sleepless night,” wrote Pestana on Monday, Sept. 8.
Now, the owner says he wants to know how the very public mistake was allowed to happen.
“That only shows the lack of documentation the town of North Smithfield failed to collect for those that have researched,” he wrote. “This was never the way we intended to notify our wonderful employees and amazing customers that have helped us become successful but I guess we don’t have that option anymore.”
Pestana said he has emailed Town Administrator Scott Gibbs about the issue but has yet to receive a response.
“We have been active business owners in the community supporting everything for the past 40 years,” he wrote. “We have resided in town during that period and before and here we stand defending ourselves.”
Gibbs told NRI NOW that requesting transfer of a victualing license is initiated through the Secretary of State portal.
“In this case, the Town Clerk indicated all forms were submitted excepting one,” noted Gibbs. “The Town Council authorized the transfer, which technically would only take effect once all documents were received. The one missing document relates to transfer of ownership.”
Now, Gibbs said, the town will have to make some changes to how it handles such applications.
“Per my conversation with the Town Clerk, despite our effort to be ‘business friendly,’ no such requests will be put on the Town Council agenda in the future unless all documents first are in place.”
“It’s an unfortunate event, but these things happen,” said Gibbs. “Typically when a company wants to control the timing on such a notice release, the seller/buyer enter into a non-disclosure agreement.”
The town has had too many mistakes and issue in the past few months and I think it may be time for a change in staff. It is also a major misstep by Mr. Gibbs by not calling the taxpayer (owner of the property) and apologizing for the error, taking accountability, and offering a solution to the problem. Gibbs has been a big disappointment and proves that he does not have the experience to lead an organization.
I have in the past 2 yrs, noted issues with different depts. per not making mistakes on past and present ownership/crossover, and the way things are documented….falls on deaf ears. Business as usual and reason was, it is the way it has always been done…..and here we are.
The TA, Mr. Gibbs should have immediately contacted the Lil General owners about this. But I think Mr. Gibbs was probably busy consulting on the side…Useless
Looking at the transcript, it appears at least Councilor DeCristofaro knew enough to ask about the documentation that was pending.
“56:52
could continue the license till next year. Okay. Anyone have any other questions? Just
56:59
clarification, Joanne. So, the documentation that was pending is no longer still pending. That’s been correct.
57:04
Okay. Thank you. Welcome. Thank you. Um, if no one has any questions, anyone
57:10
like to make a motion? I will make a motion to approve the business license for MLP Enterprises LLC”