Name of Old restaurant

[island folks]

I think Curt Chesley use to be a chef at the Hathaway House. It was spectacular back then and he's still around cooking great food only now his whole family (his wife, their 3 kids and their partners) are also working with him

[BroadHopper]

It is sad that greed, is more important than our lively hoods. Bad ingredients, beautiful locations and buildings destroyed. Hopefully people will see all of this and realize giving back to the community is more important than making money.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/magazine/...6CO/story.html

[MeredithMan]

It is sad that greed, is more important than our lively hoods. Bad ingredients, beautiful locations and buildings destroyed. Hopefully people will see all of this and realize giving back to the community is more important than making money.


Not sure what this has to do with the old Hathaway House. Also, sounds like these franchisees took a lot of risk, worked their butts off, and made a bundle of money. Good for them!

[neckdweller]

It took me halfway through the article to see the connection. Thanks for the link to the article broadhopper - I personally like to read stories about successful business people.

And in Laconia, New Hampshire, his plans to raze the historic Hathaway House, a stately but sagging structure built in 1872, set off a bitter fight that has raged for 14 years, even spurring the creation of the town’s Heritage Commission. Dorothy Duffy, a 79-year-old lifelong Laconia resident and a member of that commission, accuses officials with Cafua’s company of being “deceitful.” She says they reneged on earlier promises not to demolish the building and then let it fall into further disrepair, making its fate all but inevitable. “We call it planned deterioration,” she says.

Cafua rejects Duffy’s accusation with a roll of his eyes. At one point, he says, a different activist argued that the building couldn’t be torn down because a ghost believed to be living in it would have nowhere to go. The ghost will have to find alternate accommodations, though. The town finally granted him a demolition permit in August. (As of press time, the Hathaway House and the churches were still standing.)

[MeredithMan]

....Now I follow BH's thought process...

[BroadHopper]

The building is actually structurally sound despite 14 years of neglect. He tried to make it less attractive by removing all the windows and leaving it open.
The city tried to salvage the wonderful woodwork and fireplaces and a few other stuff, but Cafua management been stalling the process up to this day. Probably because he is upset with the boycotting of his store every weekend.
The building has an interesting history. It was originally built to be the Governor's Mansion, thus the elaborate architecture.

[WakeboardMom]

Originally Posted by BroadHopper

It is sad that greed, is more important than our lively hoods. Bad ingredients, beautiful locations and buildings destroyed. Hopefully people will see all of this and realize giving back to the community is more important than making money.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/magazine/...6CO/story.html

This thread discusses two businesses that weren't successful in this building. A gentleman would like to put a Dunkin' Donuts on that location. This business would employ people and put money into the community.

I personally don't patronize any Dunkin' Donuts anywhere; and I grieved for a family business that was on my street that is now a Dunkin' Donuts. However, I'm a realist. If Dunkin' Donuts can make money, give jobs to folks, donate to fundraisers, pay taxes to the town, etc. then God bless 'em.

I'm confused about the greed comments. These guys worked hard and became successful. How does that automatically translate as greed? The article is intended as a portrait of a corporation and the men who run it. From reading this article, it is impossible to know what their charitable contributions are.

[Major]

Originally Posted by WakeboardMom

This thread discusses two businesses that weren't successful in this building. A gentleman would like to put a Dunkin' Donuts on that location. This business would employ people and put money into the community.

I personally don't patronize any Dunkin' Donuts anywhere; and I grieved for a family business that was on my street that is now a Dunkin' Donuts. However, I'm a realist. If Dunkin' Donuts can make money, give jobs to folks, donate to fundraisers, pay taxes to the town, etc. then God bless 'em.

I'm confused about the greed comments. These guys worked hard and became successful. How does that automatically translate as greed? The article is intended as a portrait of a corporation and the men who run it. From reading this article, it is impossible to know what their charitable contributions are.

Great post Mom. Where were all the people who were concerned about the welfare of the Hathaway House prior to Cafua buying it? Even since Cafua bought it, someone could have stepped up to save the old gem. The bottom line is that the damage was done decades ago when the City of Laconia allowed commercial properties to be built on Route 3. The Hathaway House is clearly a residence, not a restaurant, not a vintage clothing shop, not a hot tub sales establishment. It is ill-suited for a commercial business, and is now surrounded by commercial businesses. The sad reality is that there is no financial value in saving it, only sentimental value. And as a taxpayer, I don't want to make the investment, at least not this one.

[BroadHopper]

Originally Posted by WakeboardMom

it is impossible to know what their charitable contributions are.

Basically Cafua do not contribute at all to the town. No sponsor of youth teams, not a member of LRCC, no donations to charitable events, etc.

The other DD on Main Street do contribute.

[MeredithMan]

First, the previous posters are correct in that the article mentions nothing about the guy's charitable giving, so how can a conclusion be drawn about what he does for the local area? Many people--especially very wealthy ones--donate money anonymously or via a trust. Even if it is true that he doesn't give any money to Laconia groups, that does not make him a greedy lout.

Charitable giving is a very personal decision. My son has been dealing with cancer for a number of years, and we choose to make all of our charitable donations to a couple groups that have helped him immensely. We give zero to civic groups in our town because they are not important to us.

And just to get back on the topic of the thread, I am all for the old HH being torn down and a new DD going in its place. It is an eyesore, especially in an area that relies on tourism.

MM

[BroadHopper]

Here are the plans submitted and approve by the planning board. Three cookie cutter units strip mall. Does not even go with the local architecture.

Get a load of the traffic pattern, I thought Diary Queen was crazy.