What do you want/need in the region for business?

[SAMIAM]

Shreddy....think you've hit on a great idea....we definately need another restaurant in Moultonborough......All we have is The North Shore, Arties, Buckey's, The North End, The Village kitchen, The Bobhouse, The Woodshed, Subway, Kevin's, Lee Wah's, Lemongrass and The Red hill Dairy....plus 3 0r 4 convenience stores selling sandiches, pizza's and meals to go. Why don't you open a place....you can get rich with the rest of us

[Greenbean]

There does seem to be an opening for an Bar with adult entertainment as well as a one stop lingerie, video and toy shop. Which town would be best - we were thinking Tamworth because they don't have very strict zoning. Anyone know?

[Shreddy]

Originally Posted by SAMIAM

Shreddy....think you've hit on a great idea....we definately need another restaurant in Moultonborough......All we have is The North Shore, Arties, Buckey's, The North End, The Village kitchen, The Bobhouse, The Woodshed, Subway, Kevin's, Lee Wah's, Lemongrass and The Red hill Dairy....plus 3 0r 4 convenience stores selling sandiches, pizza's and meals to go. Why don't you open a place....you can get rich with the rest of us

With all due respect Sam, I respect you and love the VK, but I don't think you thoroughly understood my post. No where in my post did I say Moultonboro needs another RESTAURANT. I said coffee shop. The closest thing to a coffee shop that the Lakes Region has is Winni Bay Gulls (minus the good choice of coffees) and the Java Tree (if it's even called that?) in Wolfeboro. Like I said, something similar to "The Met" located in North Conway.

For the record, if you lashed out at my post because you think it will jeopardize your business in any way than you need to re-analyze what I proposed and maybe do something about it. The Lakes Region needs a good coffee shop!

[SAMIAM]

That was only a good natured poking Shreddy........I wasn't lashing out at all. Many of us in the business are always kidding about all of the restaurants in such a small town and wishing summer would last a few months longer.

[Shreddy]

Originally Posted by SAMIAM

That was only a good natured poking Shreddy........I wasn't lashing out at all. Many of us in the business are always kidding about all of the restaurants in such a small town and wishing summer would last a few months longer.

I understand completely. The market up here is driven off of monopolistic competition where businesses differentiate themselves due to the services and food they provide that it makes it extremely hard for anything trying to enter the market up here extremely hard. Many customers are brand loyal and know they are getting a great breakfast at the VK, or a solid burger at Buckey's. They also know that they can spend a pretty penny and fine dine at Canoe or the Woodshed.

Yes, the restaurant business is very established in the Lakes Region and much of the profit is seasonal, based around summer, as you mentioned. However, as I said, I still think there is plenty of opportunity for a coffee shop to thrive up here. I have friends that will drive 12-15 miles just to go to Dunkin Donuts for a coffee. If there was a place around here where you could get a custom latte or custom coffees and sit down to relax for a minute, I think it would do well.

As I said originally, there is a lack of variety when it comes to coffee and MANY people base their day around that pick-me-up.

[Lakegeezer]

Originally Posted by SAMIAM

Shreddy....think you've hit on a great idea....we definately need another restaurant in Moultonborough......All we have is The North Shore, Arties,Buckey's,The North End,The Village kitchen,The Bobhouse,The Woodshed,Subway,Kevin's,Lee Wah's Lemongrass and The Red hill Dairy....plus 3 0r 4 convenience stores selling sandiches,pizza's and meals to go.Why don't you open a place....you can get rich with the rest of us

Good list Samiam. Add to that Center Harbor Diner (offically across the line, right?) and the Pizza place by Century 21's offices.

[SAMIAM]

Silly me, Lakegeezer.....missed that one.....also Sam and Rosie's, Canoe and Coe House are on the same strip.

[Pineedles]

And I am thankful for everyone of these entrepreneurs who give us their very best.

[ishoot308]

What would really be nice is a couple of GOOD cigar stores. I am talking about ones that carry a quality selection of fresh, properly humidified cigars and accessories that compliment them. Maybe include some fine wines in the same store and I think you have a winning combination!

Dan

[Argie's Wife]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

What would really be nice is a couple of GOOD cigar stores. I am talking about ones that carry a quality selection of fresh, properly humidified cigars and accessories that compliment them. Maybe include some fine wines in the same store and I think you have a winning combination!

Dan

One just opened in the Pavilion on Alton Bay a while back...

[SIKSUKR]

I saw a piece on NECN about a topless dounut shop reopening in Maine. I think the guy is looking to franchise.

[chipj29]

Originally Posted by SIKSUKR

I saw a piece on NECN about a topless dounut shop reopening in Maine. I think the guy is looking to franchise.

Ah, Mark's donuts. A true New England classic!

[SIKSUKR]

Originally Posted by chipj29

Ah, Mark's donuts. A true New England classic!

Actually Chip, it was not the one in South Portland that you seem to be familiar with. This one seemed to be off the beaten path. The waitresses and patrons sure looked it. This one had been burned on purpose by disapproving locals. I think the new one was set up in a trailer next to the pile of debris left from the fire. First class operation of course. Sorry for the semi hijack.

[Barbara]

There is a great children's shop in Wolfeboro, Sprouts, that carries more upscale clothing and toys. I don't know where you live in the region, but The Wooden Soldier in No. Conway village is fabulous with very special clothing at discounted prices from the catalog. Wooden Soldier is an upscale catalog company. There headquartered on Rt. 16 in Intervale, up near Jackson, and have a large retail store with discounted merchandise there also.

[callmeD]

Shreddy -

What about a Starbucks / Barnes and Noble-type "coffee shop" ... with wifi? (I think this may not be quite what you were thinking, but I like it.) You can hang around all day if you want and they don't bother you.

Barnes and Noble is kind of like the library ... with refreshments.

[Newbiesaukee]

The Village Perk in Meredith used to have free Wi-Fi and a similar, but local atmosphere. Don't know about the new owners. Mocha Rizing in Center Sandwich has the same kind of menu and atmosphere..don't know about the Wi-Fi.

[Jeanzb1]

Two suggestions: Panera (high-end sandwich/soup/salad chain) and/or a
nice bookstore!?

[lawn psycho]

We would love to see more hotels and motels that rent rooms and dock space (and allow pets). It's actually a better deal for us to rent Friday/Sat night for a chunk of weekends than to leave the boat slipped all season.

Right now we have a slip and rent at a hotel on the "other" side of the lake that has docking available. We're seriously considering dumping the slip rent and just renting on weekends. Trailering is a PITA but if you can get in Friday night you get the whole weekend.

We already have 12 nights booked and depending on my work schedule it will undoubtedly be more.

Our only issue is pets since we have two golden retrievers so we're tied to who can watch them if we can't get the "pet rooms". Our daughter sorta controls our boating freedom.

[lawn psycho]

Originally Posted by Jeanzb1

Two suggestions: Panera (high-end sandwich/soup/salad chain) and/or a
nice bookstore!?

I think a Panera *might* be successful but only if it's in a high traffic area. The problem is for many small businesses like that is you need year round income to pay the franchise fees. I have a very close friend who opened up a franshise and the fees ate him up and he sold the place to go back to the corporate world.

[fatlazyless]

Hello Plymouth.....looks like a new CVS willl be coming to Plymouth,,,,corner Highland & Tenny Mt Hgwy......in what is now a manufactored home sales biz....across from Burger King.....in addition to the drugstores at Rite Aid, Hannaford & Wal-Mart.......hello Plymouth CVS.....isn't the last independant NH drugstore of this century still open up on top of the hill at Mid-State Health.....


Maybe Wal-Mart could move into the Rt 104 Meredith plaza...formerly Jackson Star......to really put Meredith on the map it needs its' very own Wal-Mart.......hey.....even Woodsville, NH, has a Super Wal-Mart and that's in the middle of no where....

[pickwick]

There is a local emergency vet--Winnipesaukee Emergency Veterinary services in Meredith. They are wonderful.

www.winnipesaukeeveter.com
8 Maple Street
Meredith, NH 03253-5849
(603) 279-1117

[Grady223]

Originally Posted by Jeanzb1

Two suggestions: Panera (high-end sandwich/soup/salad chain) and/or a
nice bookstore!?

There is a wonderful bookstore in Wolfeboro, the Country Bookseller.

[State]

A Honda dealership in Laconia. I can't bring myself to buy a "Gov't Motors" car next year when my vehicle turns 11. I have never been a Toyota man. It's Honda (in Concord) or Meredith Ford for me.

A Starbucks in Moultonboro would be nice. But I tell ya the coffee at McDonald's is really good.

[fatlazyless]

Originally Posted by State

A Honda dealership in Laconia. I can't bring myself to buy a "Gov't Motors" car next year when my vehicle turns 11. I have never been a Toyota man. It's Honda (in Concord) or Meredith Ford for me.

A Starbucks in Moultonboro would be nice. But I tell ya the coffee at McDonald's is really good.

Have you driven a www.meredithford.com lately? Meredith Ford has a terrific service dept keeping all the old local Fords road safe. Buy it at Portsmouth Ford for the low price and get it fixed at Meredith Ford....8-years later.....way-to-go....or something!?

[Bluebell]

Whole Foods Market or Trader Joe's ....

[WakeboardMom]

Originally Posted by Grady223

There is a wonderful bookstore in Wolfeboro, the Country Bookseller.

Bayswater Bookstore in Center Harbor is very nice also, as is Innisfree in Meredith. Neither of these has the coffee-wifi combo added to the store, though...is there much of a market for that?

I wish that there was a nice, pub-type restaurant in any town that was accessible by boat. We love the Bob House, but it's a long walk from the water! Funnest thing we've found like that is the Mexican restaurant in Wolfeboro.

[corollaman]

I would like to see a Border's up here. I love that store, but have to go to Concord. Online purchasing has put a huge dent in stores, especially the mom and pop places. Why go to the store and look for it when you can have the computer narrow down the search results down to exactly what you're looking for, and then buy it right from your living room?

[natureboy79]

A real breakfast restaurant near the north end of the lake. There are 4 places within 20 minutes and I have yet had a breakfast worth mentioning. You would think it would be easy but for some reason its absent IMO. The french toast is bland, over easy eggs are broken, home-fries are plain, it seems like its something different at each spot.Maybe its because I did breakfast for many years and am to critical but I see waiting lines in the summer because there's no where else to go,not because "its so good". So some body please open a place and concentrate on breakfast maybe breakfast and lunch only with breakfast all day. Summertime is sure to make you money with the population here on the weekends.I have never heard of anyone talk about a breakfast place on the lake.Do it good and Id think you would have a gold mine.

[Rattlesnake Guy]

Originally Posted by SIKSUKR

I saw a piece on NECN about a topless dounut shop reopening in Maine.I think the guy is looking to franchise.

After writing and erasing several responses, I just can't think of one that won't get me in trouble.

[Pineedles]

Originally Posted by SIKSUKR

I saw a piece on NECN about a topless dounut shop reopening in Maine. I think the guy is looking to franchise.

Well that's just silly! Why would anyone want a donut without a top?

[magicrobotmonkey]

How about a burrito shop?

[RI Swamp Yankee]

Originally Posted by SIKSUKR

I saw a piece on NECN about a topless dounut shop reopening in Maine. I think the guy is looking to franchise.

I saw that but after seeing his picture, the image of him topless would scare me away.