Gary Singh and Mike Morowit ended up in Manteca for the same reasons.

Their families were looking for a better future.

But Singh, who is Manteca’s mayor, and Morowit, who is a city council member, have much more in common than that.

Gary’s father Sam bought a liquor store on the eastern edge of Manteca (now Amar’s Liquors) next to Fishermen’s Warehouse.

Then in 1986 Sam bought a second store — Manteca Miner Mart Liquors #1 — from the late Bob Miner next door to where Grocery Outlet is today.

Nine years later, Miner finally retired when he sold Manteca Minor Mart Liquors #2 in the shopping center anchored by Hafer’s Furniture. The buyer was Mike Morowit. The year was 1995.

Both Singh and Morowit started working in their fathers’ liquor stores as pre-teens. Morowit did so in the store his father owned in Hayward while Gary worked at what is now known as Manteca Mart Liquors.

Morowit first met Singh 30 years ago.

Morowit was 30 years old and Singh 13 years old.

Singh’s father — the first Indian owner of a Manteca liquor store who was also well versed in the business — struck up a cordial relationship with Morowit.

The older Singh helped mentor Morowit.

And at one point, Morowit helped the older Singh close a deal on buying another liquor store, Red Carpet on North Main Street.

Sam asked Morowit to accompany him to talk with the owner at the time, believing his presence would be an effective way to offer and negotiate a deal.

Long story short, they left the meeting literally with a signed deal written on a napkin that outlined the sale of the store to Singh.

Morowit had no money in the deal, nor did he receive a commission. He was there to support a longtime friend.

Morowit as a family friend was invited to Singh’s 21st birthday party at the MRPS Hall. He still has a VHS tape Singh filmed of him dancing with his two daughters who, just like Singh, also grew up working in their family’s liquor store.

Each family is now down to one liquor store, both of which were bought from Bob Miner.

That is not the end of their common ground.

They were nearby neighbors in the Woodward Park area for years.

Then in 2007, Morowit was appointed to the Manteca Planning Commission.

Morowit was elected the first time to the City Council in 2014.

The Planning Commission vacancy created by his election was filled by Singh.

Singh was elected to the council two years later in 2016.

Morowit was defeated in his re-election bid in 2018.

Then in 2020, Morowit regained his council seat while Singh was elected mayor.

Both are running for re-election in 2026.

Singh and Morowit each say the liquor store business is a solid barometer to gauge the economic well-being of Manteca.

“What we sell is a want, not a need,” said Singh.

Morowit said customers are still buying, but they have modified their spending habits.

Instead of buying a 12-pack of beer, they are gravitating to 6-packs.

“There won’t be splurging (this New Year’s Eve),” Morowit said.

The celebratory liquor of choice at Morowit’s store for New Year’s will be tequila.

But it won’t be the celebratory $400 bottle of Don Julio 1942 as in year’s past. Instead, the toast will be using more pedestrian priced tequilas.

At Singh’s store, the New Year’s Eve beverage of choice will be BuzzBallz, premixed cocktails.

Both note that they understand as well as everyone else the impact of higher municipal utility rates the city needed to raise after 13 years to cover increased operating costs as well as addresses needed replacement of aging lines and infrastructure.

Given both stores have commercial accounts, the 95-gallon garbage cart service that costs households $54.68 a month is nearly triple for Singh’s and Morowit’s liquor stores at $140.

They also feel the bite of PG&E power bills with $2,500 a month being a common hit.

Singh concedes being mayor has had a somewhat negative impact on his store traffic.

That’s not the case with Morowit.

“Being mayor makes you a bigger target,” Singh said.

Both also deal daily with homeless issues.

However, Singh is among the handful — if that many — of non-homeless individuals in Manteca that have been physically attacked by the homeless.

Singh was struck in the face by a homeless man he confronted for shoplifting in his store.

The man tossed the bottle on the ground and when Singh went to pick it up, he got punched in the face.

That hasn’t deterred Singh from wanting to do what he can as mayor to make Manteca a better place for everyone given it is his family’s home and the community has supported their businesses over the years.

Morowit agreed.

“Manteca has given me as much as I’ve given then,” Morowit, who is marking his 30th year in business, said.

Both enjoy the relationship they have built with customers over the years.

That, along with a significantly larger selections as well as service is something they noted large retailers like Costco don’t offer.

As such, it has allowed independent liquor stores to stay in business.

One more thing they have in common.

Singh and Morowit both will be working at their stories tonight until closing at midnight.

Then both are going to go home to toast the new year with their families.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com