A longtime fixture on the local business landscape is changing hands.
Package store owner J.J. Ruffino has sold his three stores to Spec’s, effective Monday, November 1.
The Ruffino family has operated three stores for 38 years.
Spec’s is a Houston-based family-owned company. No word on what they plan to do with the three J.J.’s locations.
Below is the text of the news release announcing the sale:
After 38 years in the alcohol beverage industry JJ Ruffino is transferring ownership to family owned Spec’s Wine Spirits and Finer Foods. His three-store, family owned and operated J.J.’s Package Stores, located in Bryan-College Station, changes hands effective Monday, November 1, 2010.
Bryan native, Joe Johnny Ruffino attended local schools and graduated from Texas A & M University Class of ’73. That same year, his new bride, Cherry, along with his parents Luke and Jobey Ruffino provided the financing to open their first store in North Bryan at 1219 N. Texas Avenue.
In 1983, the second location of J.J.’s Package Store at Texas Ave and Harvey Road in College Station was opened.
Realizing that there was an opportunity to further serve the community south of his Harvey store, JJ opened the third location at the Kroger Center in College Station in 2000.
Ruffino reflects over his nearly forty years in the industry and states, “The cornerstone of my many years of success has been a passion to build relationships and foster friendships with my customers, with my community and with my suppliers alike; friendships that I will cherish a lifetime.”
JJ has served leadership positions on the St. Anthony Catholic Church Finance Council, B-CS Chamber of Commerce, Brazos County Crime Stoppers, St. Joseph Foundation Promise Campaign and Brazos Bash, Mark Dennard Celebrity Golf Classic benefitting The Boys and Girls Club of the Brazos Valley. He has also volunteered his time and offered services for The Cattle Baron’s Ball, The Junior League of Bryan-College Station, MSC OPAS, The George Bush Presidential Library and Museum, KAMU-TV, Brazos County Go-Texan, The Bubba Moore Memorial Group, The Family Promise, The College Station Independent School Foundation, and many other organizations and fundraisers.
“Along with my wife Cherry, I look forward to continued service to my friends and community thru our affiliation with Richard Smith Coldwell Banker United Realtors.”