new CVS & Walgreen-Laconia
 

Now open about five blocks apart, there's a new CVS and Walgreen store on Union Ave in Laconia.

What stands outs to me is that neither drugstore chain wanted to occupy the vacant and large retail Main St space formerly occupied by Blooms, and before Bloom's, by J J Newberry's.

Both CVS and Walgreens are drug store giants, being the number one & two chains in the country if you do not count Wal-Mart. And both obviously have millions to spend on a new store as they did in Laconia.

Here's a question to ponder. Why did they go with new stores when the former Bloom's retail space was easily available at a much lower price. Most likely, the former Bloom's landlord would have been very happy to sign either chain to a long term lease, or to sell the building. But both CVS or Walgreen's most likely, in my conjecture here, wanted to build new, stand-alone stores, as opposed to occupying downtown Main Street existing vacant space.

A Walgreen's or CVS in that Bloom's spot would have been good for the downtown area, too. No doubt about that. There seems to be some type of a curse on the downtown businesses probably caused by the narrow, low visibility entrance as it winds onto the main part of Main St........or something(?). So, what's the problems with running a small retail business on Main Street?

If anyone is looking for a small storefront to open a business, there's plenty empty space available. Suggest you go take a look-see.

.....
By the way, Las Pinatas, a very nice Mexican restaurant located for twenty years in the nearby former Laconia railroad station, across from the library, just closed itself goodbye.

I am only guessing: traffic counts, visibility, parking/convenience, store size, rehab v. build cost/benefits, and corporate standards for new outlets.

Would a new downtown merchant have been great? Yes! But until chains see the benefits of taking over existing space versus building new in more visible locations, expect this trend to continue.

-- Sky

It might be why shopping centers have a 'life span', then new ones sprout up, and shoppers think they are trendy going to the new place.

Things are not that simple in downtown. Several of the places have "reputations", (or the owner has a "reputation"). For example one of the downtown landlords was successfully sued by the state (after being charged extra by the City of Laconia for not getting any building permits for alterations). In that case, the business associates are suing the lead owner...

If you had seen the lease offered by one of the other business owners, you would know why the majority of units in that building is empty. It wasn't quite as bad as "if anything happens, its all your fault (and responsibility)"... but it was pretty close.

In another building, the business tenants have been leaving because problems upstairs have a way of trickling (or flooding) downstairs.

Personally I think the downtown is on the rebound and many good things are growing. If only the owners would support downtown, rather than try to bleed it dry financially, I think it would soon blossom. If the 11 retail spaces currently vacate filled, it would be a lot more vital. As someone who has tried to get a decent space downtown (emphasis on the decent), I wuld love to be there now.

Do either of the new stores offer drive-up windows? If so that could be clue.

We sure would welcome a CVS or a Walgreen's in Meredith!

My cousin and I are working towards opening a shop in downtown and I can second what Shed said about one of the landlords offering a horrible lease. He wants the renter to take on all his risk as owner. That's why 3 out of his 4 storefronts are empty. Its too bad there's nothing the city can do to put pressure on these absentee/abusive landlords. They are holding back development in downtown, and its only hurting the value of their properties.

Remember that the Walgreen Family are Winni lakefront owners and also own in Tamworth! At least some of the money spent at Walgreens might trickle back to the local economy in taxes etc.:D

Except that I don't believe the Walgreen familly owns the drug stores any more. Everyone likes Mr. Walgreen though, he is a really nice guy!

I mean this in the most positive sense - but I don't think Mr. Walgreen wants his presence in the area known to the general public!!!

Opps!
 

Too late!:look:

Maybe they're superstitious? Bad karma from failed business taints new enterprise?

Both of these chains are trending toward stand-alone stores built to their spec's. By starting with a fresh lot they don't have to worry about the old infrastructure.

So, CVS has three different stores, in Gilford, Laconia & Belmont, all on the same State Route 106 or Union Ave, within about five miles. Maybe either CVS or Walgreen could open another store at the Route 104 mall in Meredith.

CVS has good competative prices on their front end, non-prescription items like greeting cards and seasonal items and shampoo. Rite Aid, on the other hand, must think their Rite Aid customers are too dumb to notice that their Rite Aid prices are way high. Let me see now: the Rite Aid business plan; scare away the customers with high prices.........very smart!

On May 27 2004, the CEO and founder of Rite Aid, Martin L Grass, age 50, was sentenced to eight years in federal prison for securities fraud, Some type of fraud intended to inflate the price of Rite Aid stock. Heck, I thought all ceo's do that automatically as part of their job. And some things never change, as Rite Aid has been inflating prices ever since way back when. Wonder if Martin- Rite Aid is still in federal prison?

How do their prices compare to Wal Mart? Care to shed some light? :D:laugh:

Last time I checked, CVS does not carry five different tennis raquets for under 32 dollars like Walmart.

A Walmart prescription for better health: play tennis three times per week.

Any Meredith tennis players out there looking for an outdoor game at the Meredith public courts. Next week is predicted to be 50-60 degrees and sunny, Mon-Fri.

Finding tennis players this time of year is not easy. Everyone leaves for Florida. So, if tennis is your raquet, send me a pm.

Whoops.....got off topic....this is a CVS-Walgreen-Rite Aid thread...sorry.

60 degrees all week?? Crap and I came up today and cleaned up leaves. Maybe next week I'd better take a day off and make sure the yard is still clean. :eek: