new CVS & Walgreen-Laconia

[fatlazyless]

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.