One of the town of Warren’s most well-known businesses will be changing hands come Feb. 1. Even still, according to its owner, Jan Malik, the memories of Malik’s Fine Wine and Spirits will last long after he steps away from this Market Street establishment.

Having spent 40 years in the business with his adoring wife, Mary, and daughter, Melissa, along with a number of other part-time personnel, Jan Malik was ready to call it quits and enjoy life to the fullest.

“We’ll probably do a little more traveling, including visiting our son Mike and granddaughter, Kaia, who live in Florida,” said Jan. “I really didn’t want to deal with this business anymore.”

As Jan explained, the new owner, Besho Fareez of Westport, Mass., will be taking over the business, and hopefully will enjoy dealing with local customers as much he did.

Malik’s Fine Wine & Spirits began as a package store in 1982 on Metacom Avenue in Warren next to a CVS. A year later, Jan bought their current business property at 254 Market St., which included a pizza restaurant next door, but there was a brief setback.

In early 2001, a fire broke out and destroyed everything in the plaza, but Jan was steadfast in his approach to rebuild, and the business successfully reopened several months later.

The saga of Jan Malik is quite interesting, aside from the wine and spirits business. He was a standout athlete in his native town, excelling in high school football, basketball and baseball, and later on as a softball player. He played for and with some great athletes, including Hall of Fame football coach Pat Abbruzzi and local star athletes Kenny Medeiros and “Butch” Lombardi, to name a few.

“Those were great years,” Jan pointed out, “but graduating with the former Mary Sarasin in Warren High’s Class of 1974, who later became my wife, was the best thing that ever happened to me.”

Said Warren native and State Senator Walter S. Felag Jr., “Jan was fortunate to have my childhood neighbor and friend Mary Malik as his front person and counsel of Malik’s Liquors. I wish Jan and Mary best health in retirement.”

“Jan is one of the most valuable, hard-working, community servants in our town,” Felag continued. “He has diligently served the community as the Warren Little League president, Zoning Board member, member of Rough ‘n Ready Volunteer Fire Department, longtime state representative, and Highway Deptartment director, along with operating Malik’s Liquors for over 40 years. He truly loves the town and has made many donations to various charities and provided expertise for the betterment of this town.”

“I’m going to relax now,” Jan said. “I’ll miss this business, but I can tell you that I’ll remember all the wonderful people who supported me down through the years here at the liquor store. I have a lot of great friends. I can’t thank them enough for their dedication and support. Because of that, I can step away from all of this now and look back on a career totally fulfilled.”