Owners Dina Shaker and Medhat (Mark) Khairalla have two sons that play for the Lunenburg Bengals, which is where they got the name for their new store in downtown Lunenburg.

You’ve probably driven past Lunenburg’s newest store by now, which is nestled between Andrews Hall and Town Hall.

    And new owners Dina Shaker and Medhat (Mark) Khairalla are banking on your frequent visits.

    The store opened last week after they got a license from the Board of Selectmen.  The hours are easy to remember as they are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week.

     Named after an impromptu family meeting, the couple and their two sons, Amir and George, who both play for the Lunenburg Bengals, came up with the idea of calling the new convenience store, “Bengals Convenience.”   

    Dina explained that her two boys were on the team which ended up in Florida last year in the Superbowl.

    Dina did the lion’s share of marketing for the store.  Combining the couple’s 15 years of experience in the pizza business, the lack of breakfast eateries in Lunenburg, and the fact that Dina could not find employment in the area, she thought about opening the store many times especially as she strolled through downtown Lunenburg.

    “We absolutely love this are,” she said. “We moved here 13 years ago from Leominster and we love the people as we have many friends here in Lunenburg.  I worked in a breakfast shop in New York, so combining that experience with the existing pizza shop was all I needed to open up here.”

    Her theory is that if she can keep her prices down, customers will come into the store. Since there is very little mark up on the sundry items such as snacks, she knows that the food items will bring in most of the profit.

    So here’s the pitch - you can get any breakfast sandwich and any size coffee for $2.99.  Although the sandwiches are not made fresh on the premises, Dina can heat them up very quickly.  

    The lunch menu is more extensive and this is where the link to the couple’s pizza place comes into play.  

    Some of the same sandwiches  made in Leominster at their restaurant, “Changes” can now be made in Lunenburg.  

    The deli meats are pre-sliced and Dina and Mark finish making the sandwich in Lunenburg. For $5.25 a customer will get one sandwich, a bag of chips and a soda.

    Besides the food, Bengals Convenience has cigars, cigarettes, school supplies, bread, milk, soda and every day items.  You can even access  your cash at their ATM machine.  Dina is anxiously awaiting a lottery machine since the store was already granted a license.  Next week, the couple will see if their beer and wine license will be granted to them.

    Dina explained that the convenience store will feature a lot of Lunenburg Bengals memorabilia. A team picture of the Bengals in Florida from last year hangs in one corner of the store.

    “Eventually we will display eight trophies from this and previous years,” she said.  “We will also post pictures of the kids on the walls.”

    Rick Hill, president of the Lunenburg Bengals likes the idea. In an e-mail response, Hill told The Ledger that the Bengals were proud of this new avenue of support.

    “They are a wonderful family who have been extremely generous to the Bengal organization and to youth sports in Lunenburg. We are honored that they chose the Bengal name as part of their newest venture,” he said.       

    “It is a tribute to our program and to all Lunenburg residents. Our trophies, pictures and memorabilia will be on display, however, its not about the Lunenburg Bengals, this is about a great family who is giving back to a town and community,” he  continued. “Medhat and Dina's two boys, Amir and George have been a part of the Bengals for three years and just recently played on the 2009 Central Mass Superbowl Championship team.”

    While Bengals Convenience will be showing their support for the Bengals, Hill said he hoped that the community would, in turn, show their support for this new business.  

                 
     “We hope that our community supports ALL local businesses whenever possible. Bengal Convenience is a great addition to our small town,” he said.

    Although Dina doesn’t see any parking problems, she will ask permission for two special spots just for convenience customers.