No.... not accurate

Just as an aside, we have no skin in the game for the dock or boats, but my husband went to the store this week to pick up 2 items.

There are 2 registers there, 1 was in use. The woman in front of him had a massive order of items, hundreds of dollars, and he waited patiently as this customer kept apologizing while he reassured her he was in no rush. Meanwhile, the owner was present, straightening T-shirts, walking around, etc-

It was a 15-20 minute order, and he was wondering why the owner didn't offer to open up the other register for his 2 items. I am wondering the same thing- we're residents and I feel like I'd rather drive the other 4 miles to Pine Cone from now on. Am I wrong to think this way~

Adding to any docks on the lake is almost impossible. You can apply but will most likely be turned down.

If you have 300 to 374 feet of frontage you are allowed 5 boat slips. Although I have driven by, the last time I went by boat to the Pier 19 store was about 1997. My recollection is that there are many more slips than that. I do not know what the frontage is.

My point was, you just can't add docks when you want to. I have no doubt that more docks would be helpful but I think the possibility of getting more docking is slim.

I'm also close to both stores, and I think you're reasonable. The Pine Cone may be small, but it's a great store and restaurant, and the people are always nice. I've only been to the new Pier 19 a handful of times, but most times there's some sort of quirky irritating thing--similar to your experience--that makes me wish I was someplace else.

It is done all the time, just takes a bit of effort and of course time. Dealing with the State on anything can be trying especially adding docks. There is room for expansion of the existing gas dock at pier 19, hope the owners are going through the process to do so as it will benefit them in the long run.

I got one better than that... as part of the agreement the town ramp should be improved to include the necessary area to launch, prepare for launch , and maintain permanent public access for launching and retrieving of boats or items to be brought or retrieved from the lake. Feel free to add to this...

I think you’ll find that any expansion of the existing gas dock will result in the expansion running outside the property line extended and in front of state owned or state right-of-way land. My last interaction concerning a revised dock was that it had to be, if I remember correctly, more that 10 ft inside my property line extended.


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It would be helpful if someone could attach a photo of the ramp / barrels for the benefit of out of area viewers, thanks.

Done all the time. Interesting.

Can you name a few of the places that had additional docks approved above the state approved guidelines?

I never said approved above state guidelines, perhaps we misunderstood each other. Sent from my SM-T387V using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

I guess we did misunderstand each other.

Please enlighten me. What is done all the time?

Adding docks? Above the number set forth by the state for the existing frontage?

Municipal?
 

My understanding is that both Wolfeboro and Laconia (Weirs) are working with DES for dock reconfigurations. The final plan may or may not add linear footage, but should improve efficiency. DES is not generally opposed to this. I think commercial marinas and municipalities are looked at with a different perspective than residential docks, especially when there is an existing facility that needs improvement.

Adding docks with state permission is possible. I believe west Alton marina is doing this.Sent from my SM-T387V using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

The reason why is because they want to run scenic tours via sea plane of the surrounding area and operate out of 19 mile bay.

So while on paper and in principal it sounds like not much activity will go on in there suggesting landing will be with permission only and the number of planes will be limited, one plane doing say hour long tours will be a fair amount of traffic in and out.

The only reason I can think of on why the store owner wants to start up seaplane tours is money. And, one plane may turn into more.


There's an old Arab proverb, that if a camel is allowed to get it's nose inside of a tent, it will be impossible to prevent the rest of it from entering.

Interesting times for 19 Mile Bay.

But did you know who is giving permission for a seaplane to land. The owner of the store. Really?! She is in the store all day. She has very little view of the lakefront especially how many boats are in the whole approved seaplane landing strip in 19 mile bay. Will she be trained? Will they hire a waterfront director to direct Seaplane traffic. The reason she wants this seaplane base is to attract more people to the store. Why would she want to tell a incoming pilot not to land? She wants them to land. More she lets in the more will be going to her store to buy ice cream. Choke!!

The ice cream rationale is also kind of funny--so four or five people an hour buy a total of $20 worth of ice cream? This is an awful lot of trouble for an awfully small reward--Bailey's Bubble does that every few minutes

Your opposition seems to be overpowering your sense of perspective. Nobody in the store will be acting as an air traffic controller. Safe landing and take-off is up to the pilot, as well described in earlier posts. "Permission" usually would involve prior arrangement.

How do you propose this? Where is the “area” going to come from?

Actually, if you read the state permit and the letter the store owner does have to give her permission for individual pilots to use the permitted lake & ice runway. Seems crazy but, if FAA agrees, it will be a private seaplane base & ice runway.

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But they need a place to dock their planes. We can and should do everything possible to stop them from using the town owned Union Wharf.

Sorry but you are wrong. I heard the presentation by the pilot and presenter Tom Wood who is pleading his case. He said "the pilots will call the store owner to get clearance". It is on video! That alone.. he lost me and I was dumfounded. Won't you be?

We're in the wrong thread, but that's basically what I expected-you c all ahead.

I'm sorry... Are you saying call ahead... that the air traffic controller is going to be the store owner who spends most of her time back in the kitchen. From the store view you only can see the gas docks and out to maybe Farm Island. She would not have an perspective what boat traffic is occurring in the state approved landing strip. This is a mess... who in the State and FAA approved of this nonsense?

Just found out that the Pier 19 Country Store is for sale. Thank goodness. Please please please Skelly's buy this! Skelly's can make this place great.

Oh no. She has tried so hard. Are the Skelley's even doing stores any more?

She has worked hard, and the whole crew is great. I hope the increase in real estate prices gets her a good return

yeah... why the "thank goodness" associated with someone's possible misfortune?

I've not been in a couple years—is the store no longer a great place to stop?

I thought they'd been doing a good job with food, ice cream, local crafts, etc.?

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We stopped by one afternoon in July (week of the 4th) - middle of the day - to get some food and ice cream. The food counter was closed. Ice ream selection was very limited. Middle of the day during the busiest week of the summer.

I was hoping this business would be successful.

Not a 12 month a year business.
 

She wanted to make it go as a year round business. Unfortunately, as a number of owners/operators over the past 25 years have discovered, there simply isn't enough traffic once the boating season ends. Add to that she alienated a large part of the boat owners in the condo marina across the street and you don't have a great formula for success.

Last I heard the ask for the business and the property (only the building and the land the gas dock and gas storage tank are on across the street - the condo association, which the store is part of, owns all the parking and some of the land around the store) was $3.5 million. I think it will be difficult to find a buyer who wants to operate it as a 6 or 7 month a year business at that price. Unfortunately, I don't see a future for the property as a convenience store.

Party of 9 came by boat. Landing party went for ice cream while some drifted as the dock was full. Excellent assortment of ice cream flavors including Blueberry Cheesecake. All happy. Saturday afternoon in August.

I'm not familiar with the situation previously mentioned, and I don't have that kind of budget, but if I did, I'd buy it. I like the idea of being open 7 months a year, and with the right inventory tailored to the local community, I think a convenience store geared to boaters could do well.

But, I agree about the price. We were looking at a large, profitable full service marina located on the Great Loop that also included several AirBnBs nearby, and it was listed at that price and included $1M worth of inventory, boats and motors.

Any idea where the news of it being for sale came from? 3.5M seems a bit excessive since when it was last sold it was under $900K. I know there was a lot of improvements to the building after the sale- but not as much that would come close to justifying that asking price.

Boat slips?
 

How many boat slips do they have? Looking around the lake, 20 boat slips for $100 K each is $2MM. Bare land could easily be worth $1.5MM.

I don't think they own any?

I think they own two as part of the gas dock. I don't believe they own the land the building is on either, that's part of the condo association.

We've been docking at Pier 19 since the store looked like this.
I believe this business model could succeed there.

I remember that!

I think the current owners will sell only IF they can get their $3.5 million dollar asking price otherwise I think they will stay put.

Unfortunately all the Pier 19 valuable assets have long since been sold off (i.e. the island docking spaces) and it will be hard to make serious money there in a year 'round environment. I think it's good for four open months each year for some very good income.

The business is extremely labor intensive and I find it is usually poorly staffed (waiting for a clerk to buy gas, prepare food or checking out gets old fast).

My business model? I would install a huge dormered area on the second floor facing the lake and obtain a seasonal pouring liquor license so that one could sit there and admire the lake view while enjoying food and beverages. Plenty of seating upstairs would be a game changer for the business. Maybe an on site restaurant may be something to consider......