[Slickcraft]

Originally Posted by nvtngtxpyr

That was a rumor that was posted here a year or two ago when Lowe's was under construction. Have you heard something recently that hasn't been published in the press?

In today's LDS credited to the Citizen:

Hannaford plans to move across Lake Shore Rd. next year
By Harrison Haas
THE CITIZEN OF LACONIA

GILFORD — Hannaford Supermarket plans to
detail its plans for a new 47,000 store on Route 11
later this month.
The town’s Planning Department received an
application for an amended site plan for the store
to be built in the Winnipesaukee Crossing retail
complex where Lowe’s and Papa Gino’s are already
located.
The proposed store would have 10,000 square feet
smaller than what was proposed and approved back
in 2005 when Maine-based Hannaford presented its
initial plans.
“The building being proposed is slightly different
from what was originally approved,” said John Ayer,
the town’s planning director.
What is now being proposed is the reduction of
the original 56,429 square foot building and placing
a 47,000 square foot building in the area originally
planned for the supermarket.
According to Hannaford spokesperson Michael
Norton, the overall area is being decreased, but
the amount of display space will be the same as at
the company’s current store in the Wal-Mart Plaza.
Despite the reduction of square footage, the company
plans to keep staffing levels the same as the
current store.
“We’re looking at reducing the gross footage,” said
Norton. “While it looks like the numbers are changing,
it’s not a change at all, in terms of selling product.”
The current store is approximately 53,000 square
feet. Norton said the area used for selling product
will be around the same as the current store and
that the loss of square footage is coming primarily
from storage space. With a smaller area for inventory,
Hannaford can provide a fresher supply of
product, a practice Norton said the company has
been able to do because it is moving product more
efficiently than years past.
In addition to the smaller area, there are plans
of adding a service window on the west side of the
building for the pharmacy operation, an item that
may require a special exception from Zoning Board
of Adjustment.
“We’re pleased to be building a new facility and
we’re looking forward to improving the facility in
the location,” Norton said.
Construction is likely to begin early next year
with store opening slated by the end of the year.
Hannaford currently has more than 170 stores in
New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, New York and
Massachusetts.
Norton would not disclose when the lease on the
Wal-Mart Plaza space is due to expire.
The Gilford Planning Board is due to hear the
application Monday, Aug. 16, at 7 p.m. in the conference
room at Town Hall.