Former Church Transforming Into Pub
February 1, 2008
There will be a new type of spirit inhabiting the church on Main Street.
David and Maureen Kennedy purchased the church and will convert it into a restaurant and bar called The Holy Grail.
David Kennedy said the project is the culmination of 10 years of hoping and planning, and he hopes to open sometime early this spring.
“It’s unique and different,” he said. “It’s not just another Applebee’s or Fridays.”
The restaurant will feature an Irish pub and restaurant atmosphere, which Kennedy said is inspired by his and his wife’s heritage.
Terrill Covey, Seacoast Online.
Town McDonalds first in region to go ‘upscale’
January 22, 2008
Route 125’s famous Golden Arches got an extreme makeover.
The McDonald’s restaurant is sporting a slightly new location, along with a brand new look.
Storeowner Dwight Barnes said the changes have modernized the building, and so far, he has gotten a good response from customers.
“The changes seem to be pretty well-received by customers,” Barnes said. “The old store was old and tired, and this one is nice and new, and more contemporary.”
Manager Justin Place said the aesthetic improvements are very nice for customers, but he believes the one improvement that hasn’t yet been completed may be the biggest boost for customers.
Full Story from Terrill Covey
80,000-square-foot Retail Center Planned Behind Walgreens
January 15, 2008
The Epping Planning Board recently reviewed the preliminary plan for a building on land behind Walgreen’s on Route 125. The proposed plan calls for an 81,000-square-foot, as yet unnamed, retail center.
Robert Duval, chief engineer for TFM, said the plan is the next step in the project, which began with development of the Walgreen’s.
“This is part of a larger plan,” Duval said. “We want to use the land in a way that it can best be developed to provide for maximum use and tax base for the town.”
Full article from Terrill Covey on Seacoast Online.
Epping McDonald’s shows off eatery’s new image
December 31, 2007
It’s not your grandfather’s McDonald’s. It’s not even your father’s McDonald’s. The world’s largest fast-food chain, which started with Manchester brothers Dick and Mac McDonald, is getting a new look.
And as the restaurant’s jingle goes, people are definitely “lovin’ it,” especially customers at the snazzy new Epping McDonald’s.
“It seems very contemporary,” said Stephanie Tessier of Epping as her daughter, Molly, 3, enjoyed her chicken McNugget Happy Meal from the comfort of a brown leather-cushioned seat.
“Contemporary” is exactly the word Epping McDonald’s owner Dwight Barnes uses to describe this next generation of McDonald’s that has begun moving into New Hampshire.
(Text and photo from The Union Leader. Subscribe to read the full story)
New McDonald’s Open For Business
December 21, 2007
Windows were ripped out. Walls were torn apart.
To some, it looked like a tornado had blown through McDonald’s, with building debris littering the restaurant.
Still, loyal customers kept wheeling into the drive-thru, hoping to place an order at the closed McDonald’s. They seemed to ignore all the mess as crews prepared to demolish the restaurant that has stood at the intersection of routes 125 and 101 for 22 years.
A sign at the entrance warned that the restaurant was closed as construction crews worked on a brand new building was rising right next to the old one.
But the sign did little to stop the customers. Some even went inside looking to place an order despite the fact that the front portion of the building was in shambles.
Full story from Jason Schreiber in the Union Leader.
Retail Site Has New Owner - Grocery In Plans?
November 29, 2007
The proposed retail site behind Burger King on Route 125 has a new owner. Waterstone Retail Development has purchased the site with plans to develop a 285,000 square foot retail center.
According to their website, Waterstone focuses on “grocery-anchored power and non-traditional specialty centers” in their projects, perhaps giving us a clue about their intentions. While the Super Wal*Mart is a Grocery store, many Epping residents still travel to Stratham, Raymond or Lee to do their grocery shopping.
Construction is planned to begin in the spring, and will include significant redesigning of Route 125 and the exits of Route 101.
Read the full story by Jason Schreiber in The Union Leader.
Green Movement Gets Start
November 1, 2007
The town of Epping is encouraging environmentally friendly businesses to take up shop in the town. They have their first taker with the announcement that TD Banknorth’s new branch at the new Epping Crossing site will incorporate solar energy by means of panels - enough to power their day-to-day operations.
Seacoast Online has the story, with details of the design components.
Could Target Be Next for Epping?
September 26, 2007
Construction should begin next spring on a shopping plaza on a 49-acre site behind Burger King on Route 125 near Route 101.The 300,000-square-foot development would include two big-box stores and a 100-room hotel, project manager Erik Saari of Jones & Beach Engineers said yesterday
There has been speculation a Target is one of the retail stores, but Saari could not confirm that.
(This article is from the Union Leader - click here to read the rest of the article.)
