Kitchen Cravings Building
 

Not a restaurant review (since they are no longer).

I have a friend that is an experienced restaurant owner who was was asking me what I knew about the spot and its history. I don't have any info on personally, never went there. I know it has been vacant for some time now.

Does anyone have information on the building, business history, basically what has been going on with it? He is looking to open a place in the area. Seems odd it has been vacant this long, I figure there must be a reason behind it.

Don't know much about the buildings history but its a great location for a restaurant as it has plenty of parking, easy access and high exposure in a good commercial area of Gilford... Most likely the reason its been sitting for so long is price...not sure though.

Dan

Don’t quote me on this, but I think the building is on airport property and must be leased from the airport.

I went to Kitchen Cravings once two owners ago. The visit was not particularly good or bad but I never went back.


In my opinion it is in no man's land with poor visibility and an ingress that does not line up with the view of the building from Route 11. So if one is heading to Alton it's easy to miss.

I do not know why the most recent owners closed it or how financially successful it was for the prior owners. I can speculate that opening a restaurant there would likely be the equivalent to buying a job. I see it only functioning as a mom and pop with both working long, hard hours for a return that at best equals what they could make as employees. Amy debt taken on the venture makes this worse.

When it was first built it was a bank. I can't remember the name of the bank

I think when it was a bank there was a curb cut i.e. direct access from Rt 11, and the airport access was on the same cut. Much better for a retail business to have easy access.

Bank Building
 

The building was originally a drive-thru bank. It sat empty for a while. Bill and Sally converted it into a restaurant. They were successful and retired.

Not sure why the restaurant closed under the new owners. Rumors were that the servings were smaller and the price is higher. I really think the last owners didn't have their hearts set to it.

It is a good location. With so many good restaurants around, you need to be on top of the game. Plenty of room to expand.

With the first owners the lines were out the door. The food was very good. I’d been there about ten times over four years. Very cozy atmosphere. I hope someone resurrects it.


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cravings
 

codeman, give me a call 603-7076522 for more info 73

“No man’s land”, “poor visibility”?? Your kidding right? It’s on the absolute busiest street in Gilford with a fantastic exposure in the front with nice landscaping…..:confused::confused:

It's just one man's opinion so we shall see. :D

I would enjoy breakfast there once a month or so when Bill and Sally were there. They worked hard but seemed to give a bigger piece to the landlord than to their own pocket.

Negotiate the right lease.

Also: if a liquor license is in the model check with town before committing. KC only had beer and wine.

Best of luck😊

I will have Mike call you.

Cash Cravings, IIRC.

The recent activity at the Christmas Island restaurant site has me wondering if anything is stirring on this one.

Both Kitchen Cravings and Christmas Island have recently sold. I have heard the buyer on Christmas Island is looking to open/operate themselves. Don't recall what is going into Kitchen Cravings but heard a lot of money was being put into it.

i read this morning that it's gonna be paugus bay pub...check the lds.

Paugus Bay Pub Article in the Laconia daily Sun
https://www.laconiadailysun.com/news...49da290ce.html

PBP is going into the Christmas Island site.

My curiosity is about the Kitchen Cravings site by the Laconia Airport.

Kitchen Cravings
 

OK, a few items to respond to other comments.

KC is located on Laconia Airport property (15 Airport Road) and the land is leased from the Airport Authority.

The second owner (the one who bought it from Bill and Sally Bickford) really had little idea how to run a restaurant. As others have mentioned, the servings got smaller, the prices went up, and the quality went down. I believe it was Covid that finally 'killed' KC as the owner wasn't able to retain staff, particularly after deciding to become a seasonal restaurant.

I believe there is a Purchase and Sales Agreement that has been signed, the purchaser an existing Lakes Region restaurateur with two existing restaurants in the area. (I can say that it isn't Alan Beetle, owner of Patrick's. Beyond that I can say nothing.) It is also my understanding the buyer wants to add on to the building and parking lot in order to accommodate more patrons.

I'd love to see an elevated deck or second story to be better able to watch the air traffic. Perhaps with a plexiglass wall to shield traffic noise on Rt 11?

Update On Kitchen Cravings Status
 

I heard through the Laconia Airport grapevine that the closing on the sale of KC is coming soon. I do know a lease agreement for the land on which KC stands has has been signed which is a good sign.

I expect the new owner will come before the Gilford Planning Board at some point for an amended site plan to show the changes they will be making.

Descant, if you would like to suggest these changes then I would recommend attending the Gilford Planning Board meeting when the new owners will present their plans. PB meetings are open to the public and are noticed in the LDS and the Gilford town website. (No, at the moment I have no idea when that will happen. If/when I do, I'll post it here.)

Once the closing on KC has taken place I will be able to disclose the identity of the new owners.

I heard that the owner of the Breeze and Elacoya is opening a BBQ joint there…

I’ve heard that the Ellacoya/Breeze people are opening Breeze on the Bay in Lakeview Tavern in Meredith. Any truth to that?


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Breeze At Meredith Bay
 

I have heard more than a few folks talking about them opening a Breeze in Meredith, but I have not heard any details. It wouldn't surprise me, though.

Yes I have heard that, indirectly from one of the owners.

Good Luck!
 

Good luck to them...They have done a good job with keeping the Breeze busy that's for sure!...

Dan

More On Kitchen Cravings Sale
 

Some more info - the lot where KC is located is actually much larger than most folks realize which will allow for the new owners more than enough room to expand the restaurant and parking lots. The balance of the lot to the east is not cleared and is almost a acre in size.

The closing hasn't taken place yet but is expected soon. Projected opening date is sometime this fall, dependent upon how quickly the renovations and addition(s) can be done. This in turn is dependent on contractor availability.

I for one am looking forward to seeing an active restaurant there again...as are a lot of pilots from places near and far. (We like trying out the cuisine of 'airport' restaurants, i.e. restaurants located on or near airport grounds.) There is a gate near Cravings which allows transient pilots to reach the restaurant from the nearby ramp where they've parked their aircraft.

So many new restaurants opening in the area. KC, whiskey bar on Union Ave, Christmas Island, Main by the Weirs. Also heard CM bought Friendly’s for a diner. All great but where are they going to get the help. Currents restaurants are still short on labor.


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What usually happens is they steal the best workers from other restaurants. You may see a lot of turn over at your favorite spots.

Absolutely. My ex just quit a long time local establishment to work at a new one.


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Old Friendly's site
 

"CM" as in Common Man? Or some other "CM"?

Either way, it will be nice to see the Friendly's location operating again.

Yes Common Man. Supposed to be something like the 104 and Tilton Diners.


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CM at Friendly's
 

Oh, very cool! I am looking forward to that! Let us hope that does come to fruition.

Kitchen Cravings Sale
 

It is my understanding the last of the paperwork needed to close the sale of Kitchen Cravings has been completed and the closing is imminent.

The sale to the owners of the Ellacoya Barn & Grille and The Breeze, both in Gilford, just requires signatures. There were some paperwork updates required relating to the lease agreement between the Laconia Airport Authority and the buyers for the lot on which KC stands before the closing could take place and those updates have apparently be completed.

Any news on this?

Nothing happening but now there is a new for sale sign up

Hmmm......

Hopefully, whoever buys it, will return it to the previous format:
Good food, 'reasonable' prices, and great service !
Time will tell......

I had heard it fell apart, but not sure why.

Here's Why
 

If my understanding is correct, the delays were caused by the buyer's attorney dragging out the negotiations about the land lease until it got to the point where the seller had enough and wanted to get the property sold, something that looked like it was going to drag out another few months.

There are other buyers interested and as long as they don't use the same attorney as the first buyers things should (hopefully) go smoothly.