Hannaford plans to move across Lake Shore Road next year (NHX)

By Harriosn 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.