New Alton Shopping Center...

maineboater · 06-11-2006, 07:56 AM

From the Foster's online.......

http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll...WS10/106110090

mcdude · 08-02-2006, 11:33 AM

From the Laconia Citizen...

Quote:

McGrath's Food Center will soon be closing its doors after more than 30 years of providing convenient shopping for Alton residents.

Saying the business was choked out by the formidable Hannaford's Supermarket, owner Cliff McGrath said the small shop in the center of town will reopen as a variety store in a couple of months.

See complete article here..

Paugus Bay Resident · 08-02-2006, 03:46 PM

McGraths had a 50 - 75% off sale a few days ago to clear everything out. Some really good deals. Suprised FLL wasn't there

Anyway, sign now says closed until October. Be interesting to see what its reincarnation will be like.

Cobalt 232 · 08-03-2006, 06:39 PM

It is really sad to hear that another giant company has squashed the small guy once again. It would be nice to stop this and ruining the lives of good decent people that are part of the community.

TomC · 08-04-2006, 04:45 AM

..it was the community of which you speak. Every customer of the big store chose them over the little store, for selection or prices or some other reason. The patrons made the decision, as they do in all these cases. If no one shopped at Hannafords, they wouldn't be there too long.

Besides all that, there is a permitting and approval process required by the town, which in theory at least, reflects the wishes of the community.

Unfortunately for the McGraths, I think you are seeing the desire of the community...

WakeUp · 08-04-2006, 08:38 AM

TomC - you are right on the money! I always hear people down-talk the big stores, i.e. Wal-Mart, etc. This is the FREE MARKET SYSTEM in full swing! Thank GOD we are allowed such choices! I find it humorous when people say: "I'm never shopping at Wal-Mart...they drive the small guy out.." Here's a thought: EVERYONE PERSON IN THIS COUNTRY HAS THE SAME OPPORTUNITY THAT SAM WALTON HAD! I know I'll hear that everyone doesn't have the same opportunities, but that is just an excuse! Dave Thomas (founder of Wendy's) was an orphan, as was Tom Monagham, the founder of Domino's Pizza. OPPORTUNITY IS ALL AROUND US! Ray Kroc, founder of McDonalds, sold drink mixers. He was astonished that one restaurant bought 8. When he went to see this restaurant in person, he had the vision we now see world-wide. FREE ENTERPRISE/Capitalism is driven from choice!! RIGHT ON TOMC!!

Weirs guy · 08-04-2006, 03:21 PM

Besides, some day someone will open a new store and drive out Hannafords, and we'll all feel bad about that. Todays Hannafords and Wal-Marts are tomorrows Zayers and IGA.

Mee-n-Mac · 08-05-2006, 11:47 AM

I'll say it before "Mee" gets a chance ... McGraths did it to themselves. They may be the nicest people on the planet but their store was subpar. I've lost count of the number of times we've gone there and not been able to get some staple item because it was out of stock. Eventually we found it better to go to the Citgo on the circle to get our minor shopping done, major shopping went to the Hannafords in Gilford. Heck, I think the Citgo could have put McGraths out of business if they wanted to. They're would have been no desire, no opportunity for a Hannafords to build in Alton if McGraths had provided more. Now it'll be interesting to see if Hannafords can keep up their standards given the seasonal nature of the business in Alton.

jellybean · 08-05-2006, 08:38 PM

Amen Mee-n-Mac, not to mention the very limited hours that McGrath's kept. They didn't open until 8 AM! It also seemed like the inventory was very "old school" - we buy a lot of whole grain stuff and fresh fruit/vegs for our family (ummm, the current USDA nutritional standards), and they didn't have much there for us. With small children, it was a major bite of time to travel to other grocery stores. We're pretty much your typically middle-class family demographic and have lived here for a few years. I can't think of anything that has made such a difference in our weekly schedules than having a "real" grocery store come to town!

06-11-2006, 07:56 AM	#1
maineboater Junior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	From Foster's online..... From the Foster's online....... http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll...WS10/106110090

08-03-2006, 06:39 PM	#4
Cobalt 232 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Stow, MA Posts: 9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Sad to hear the big guy did it again It is really sad to hear that another giant company has squashed the small guy once again. It would be nice to stop this and ruining the lives of good decent people that are part of the community. __________________

08-04-2006, 04:45 AM	#5
TomC Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Lakes Region Posts: 706 Thanks: 24 Thanked 106 Times in 72 Posts	its not a giant company that did it.. ..it was the community of which you speak. Every customer of the big store chose them over the little store, for selection or prices or some other reason. The patrons made the decision, as they do in all these cases. If no one shopped at Hannafords, they wouldn't be there too long. Besides all that, there is a permitting and approval process required by the town, which in theory at least, reflects the wishes of the community. Unfortunately for the McGraths, I think you are seeing the desire of the community...

08-04-2006, 08:38 AM	#6
WakeUp Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 83 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Well said TomC... TomC - you are right on the money! I always hear people down-talk the big stores, i.e. Wal-Mart, etc. This is the FREE MARKET SYSTEM in full swing! Thank GOD we are allowed such choices! I find it humorous when people say: "I'm never shopping at Wal-Mart...they drive the small guy out.." Here's a thought: EVERYONE PERSON IN THIS COUNTRY HAS THE SAME OPPORTUNITY THAT SAM WALTON HAD! I know I'll hear that everyone doesn't have the same opportunities, but that is just an excuse! Dave Thomas (founder of Wendy's) was an orphan, as was Tom Monagham, the founder of Domino's Pizza. OPPORTUNITY IS ALL AROUND US! Ray Kroc, founder of McDonalds, sold drink mixers. He was astonished that one restaurant bought 8. When he went to see this restaurant in person, he had the vision we now see world-wide. FREE ENTERPRISE/Capitalism is driven from choice!! RIGHT ON TOMC!!

08-04-2006, 03:21 PM	#7
Weirs guy Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Weirs Beach, NH Posts: 1,067 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Besides, some day someone will open a new store and drive out Hannafords, and we'll all feel bad about that. Todays Hannafords and Wal-Marts are tomorrows Zayers and IGA. __________________ Is it bikeweek yet? Now?

08-02-2006, 03:46 PM	#3
Paugus Bay Resident Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Gilmanton, NH Posts: 754 Thanks: 136 Thanked 93 Times in 51 Posts	McGraths had a 50 - 75% off sale a few days ago to clear everything out. Some really good deals. Suprised FLL wasn't there Anyway, sign now says closed until October. Be interesting to see what its reincarnation will be like.

08-05-2006, 11:47 AM	#8
Mee-n-Mac Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,943 Thanks: 23 Thanked 111 Times in 51 Posts	Look in the mirror I'll say it before "Mee" gets a chance ... McGraths did it to themselves. They may be the nicest people on the planet but their store was subpar. I've lost count of the number of times we've gone there and not been able to get some staple item because it was out of stock. Eventually we found it better to go to the Citgo on the circle to get our minor shopping done, major shopping went to the Hannafords in Gilford. Heck, I think the Citgo could have put McGraths out of business if they wanted to. They're would have been no desire, no opportunity for a Hannafords to build in Alton if McGraths had provided more. Now it'll be interesting to see if Hannafords can keep up their standards given the seasonal nature of the business in Alton. __________________ Mee'n'Mac "Never attribute to malice that which can be explained by simple stupidity or ignorance. The latter are a lot more common than the former." - RAH

08-05-2006, 08:38 PM	#9
jellybean Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Alton Bay, NH Posts: 32 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Amen Mee-n-Mac, not to mention the very limited hours that McGrath's kept. They didn't open until 8 AM! It also seemed like the inventory was very "old school" - we buy a lot of whole grain stuff and fresh fruit/vegs for our family (ummm, the current USDA nutritional standards), and they didn't have much there for us. With small children, it was a major bite of time to travel to other grocery stores. We're pretty much your typically middle-class family demographic and have lived here for a few years. I can't think of anything that has made such a difference in our weekly schedules than having a "real" grocery store come to town!