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The owner of Kings Liquor store in Swedesboro has been the subject of multiple complaints from residents and customers. (Staff photo by Rebecca Forand | South Jersey Times)

((Staff photo by Rebecca Forand | South Jersey Times))

SWEDESBORO — A local liquor store where the owner has been accused of making racist, threatening statements and refusing to serve customers will remain closed until a new owner takes over next month, according to Mayor Tom Fromm.

Mario Falciani, the owner of Kings Liquor on Kings Highway, has been the subject of multiple complaints from customers and passers-by of racial slurs, refusing to serve individuals for a variety of reasons, including their race, and threatening behavior.

The store's liquor license was suspended for 30 days in 2013 following a report from the local NAACP chapter of Falciani refusing to serve African American customers and locking the door for black customers while allowing a white woman to enter. In order to reinstate the license, Falciani was required to attend diversity training and install audio and video cameras in order to allow police to follow up on any further complaints.

He was to appear at a hearing in the borough on Sept. 3 to address recent complaints, but a recent settlement has been reached between the borough and Falciani.

"He and his lawyers have agreed that the store will be closed immediately and will be until the new owner takes over," Fromm said. "As far as the town is concerned we think the issue has been resolved."

An application to transfer the store's liquor license to Swedesboro Liquors LLC — which owns JB Liquor Store in neighboring Woolwich Township — has been made to the borough council.

Falciani, who refused to comment last Friday and hasn't been able to be reached since, wasn't always like this, according to Ron Junk, a former Woolwich Township police officer who has known the man for decades.

He used to fly between Pennsylvania and the Pedricktown Airport every day to work at the store and would "do anything for everybody," Junk said.

About 25 years ago, Junk responded to a car accident on a snow-covered Auburn Road after Falciani hit a tree. He recalls performing CPR on the man who wasn't breathing and had no pulse.

"From that night on, his whole life changed," Junk said. "He used to be very outgoing, very personable. But when you hit a tree there's no forgiveness. He slowly started to deteriorate. His personality changed. His demeanor changed."

Rebecca Forand may be reached at rforand@southjerseymedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @RebeccaForand. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.