PLATTSBURGH -- The City of Plattsburgh Zoning Board has cleared the way for the former Fountain and Lucas neighborhood convenience store to reopen.

Gregory "Paul" Goldsmith and Rebekah Herrick bought the property in mid-December and hope to open the 104 Montcalm Ave. location by May 1.

"We're going to reopen it the way it was," Herrick said.

The new store will be named Becky's. It will be open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

Becky's will have grocery staples, a deli, household supplies and lunch specials, she said. Lottery tickets, cigarettes and beer -- but no kegs -- will be available.

Goldsmith said there are no plans to reopen the liquor store that used to be in the building.

They received unanimous Zoning Board approval Monday night for a special-use permit to operate a convenience store in a neighborhood zoned residential and a variance, due to a lack of six parking spaces.

In making the motion for the variance, Zoning Board member Maurica Gilbert said it was in recognition that the former store functioned very well within the last 10 years without parking and that the new store will serve mainly walk-in customers.

During a public-comment period, nearby resident Julie Quinn-Ladue said she grew up on Oak Street and frequented the Fountain and Lucas store, which closed in 1999.

"I would love to see that store reopened," she said.

Quinn-Ladue said it would be comfortable to sit on her front porch and watch her daughter walk to that store to shop.

Herrick said that's been a common reaction.

"Everybody we've talked to has been very excited," she said.

The rear of the building will be used for office and storage space. Goldsmith and Herrick live in the apartment above the store with their two children, Brian and Marissa Goldsmith.

Goldsmith said he used to run a DJ service but wanted to open a different business. The decision to open a grocery store came after his father, Greg, had success with Goldie's grocery on Sailly Avenue.