Old Hannaford Building?
 

Does anyone know what is happening to the old Hannaford building in Gilford??
There was some construction going on yesterday.

I don't know but there is a thread somewhere out here. I've heard a Michael's craft store and a Staples.

Petsmart...
 

Not Michaels...and with Staples closing 225 stores, it won't be a Staples.

Sister in law works in the plaza, and they have been told a Petsmart is going in there.

Let's make that rumor number 223 :laugh:

Some other rumors here:

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/...ad.php?t=17165

I think it might be Petco....they have job ads on Indeed for Gilford. Lots of positions and all departments.

You may be correct...
 

I think she said one of those pet stores...I think it was Petsmart...

I guess as of a few days ago, there were still no signs in the windows.

I go to the hair salon in that plaza, and I asked them about it, and they said that Petco is going in a portion of the space, and they weren't sure who else would be renting space.

why wont a West Marine or something like that go in there?

West Marine
 

I have approach West Marine a few years ago about opening up a store in the Lakes Region. The 'numbers do not support a store' was what I was told.

You would figure a Laconia store would support four large area lakes, Winnipesaukee, Squam, Winnisquam and Newfound. Unfortunately the thinking was 'most boat owners have a West Marine in their home town'.

Go figure.

They would do fine in the summer season but what would they do all winter? My uncle worked for years in the seacoast stores. The winters were dead, and that's in an area where some people do boat year round (commercial guys).

I wish Michaels would move in there! Where's the nearest craft store located now? Woodcraft is in Portsmouth, wish it was closer... but then again if it was, I'd spend way too much there!! :laugh:

Craft Store
 

I think there is one next to the liquor store near the Belmont Mall.

Michael's is going into Tilton.
 

they are taking over part of the now closed Shaw's supermarket on Rte 3 in Tilton. It will be about a half mile east of the Rte 3 & 11 interchange with Interstate 93.

I'll bet the Laconia Pet store near the CVS is gonna love having a Petsmart/Petco in the same neighborhood...:rolleye2:
One more store to have the big box stores to compete with.

BTW my feeling on why West Marine will never open a store here has nothing to do with numbers and a whole lot to do with the Megladon Irwin.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi..._megalodon.jpg



Just sayin'.;)

Going in to the old Hannafords:
 

Two stores confirmed are Petco and Sports Authority. (At least that was what the developer presented to the Gilford Planning Board a few months ago.) There was talk of Michael's going in the third retail space, but it wouldn't surprise me if the plans changed and it will be using the now vacant Shaw's in Tilton instead.