Wayfarer to open 3rd location at Weirs Beach

LACONIA — Wayfarer Coffee Roasters has been continually growing since it opened its doors 11 years ago, and next month, the expansion will continue into Weirs Beach with opening of a new seasonal location on the pier.

Wayfarer will bring its coffee, teas, baked goods and more to 263 Lakeside Ave., in the former location of the East Coast Flightcraft office.

Wayfarer owner Karen Bassett said the space is at the end of the Winnipesaukee Pier, a prime location for boaters and others enjoying a summer day at The Weirs. The pier is open May through October, and she said the hope is to be open before Memorial Day, but they are still working on permits.

“We have been looking for a location for a third café for quite some time now,” Bassett said.

Bassett said they have explored different areas of the city, as well as surrounding Lakes Region towns, to expand. This opportunity arose, and she felt like it was a perfect chance to “round out the Laconia tour,” as Wayfarer already has locations downtown and in Lakeport.

The Weirs location is ideal for boaters, she said, as there aren’t many coffee shops with docks. Aside from a convenience store, there isn’t a spot to grab a coffee, and this will give boaters heading to The Weirs a chance to get a cup of Joe without making an extra stop.

“It can be a quick in-and-out for the boaters,” Bassett said. “We’ll be right where all the food is, and it’s easy to walk to. People can get off the boat, come right up and order, or they can order ahead and have it ready.”

Over the past few weeks, Wayfarer centralized all baking to the downtown café. With the space and the capabilities to pump put new items, they will be delivering fresh pastries to the new location daily.

The downtown and Lakeport locations once had their own menus, but recently also streamlined their offerings in preparation for the Weirs location. Wayfarer also just launched a spring menu, which includes the reintroduction of honey lemon mint tea, a new lineup of grilled sandwiches with house sourdough bread, and a variety of pastries. Waffles will be available in the downtown location only.

At the new location, there will be more of a focus on “grab-and-go options.”

“These will be sandwiches, yogurt parfaits and other snacky things for people coming off the boat to be able to get quickly,” Bassett said.

Bassett said the main goal is to have a coffee shop where the people are, and she knows how busy The Weirs gets in the summer.

“Bringing this to The Weirs is game-changing over there, too,” she said. “It’s neat to be a part of The Weirs improvement.”

She is also excited to join new restaurants on the pier, which she said is indicative of the growing attraction to The Weirs.

“It’s a busy area of the city,” Bassett said. “It is exciting to bring high-quality craft beverages there, and promote the good things that our city is already doing.”

Bassett said any time they have decided to expand, it has coincidentally come with other major happenings. When Wayfarer had a soft opening downtown 11 years ago at their first location, it was on the same day as the announcement of the restoration of the Colonial Theatre.

The Lakeport location was opened in 2020, when the revitalization of the Lakeport Opera House was taking place. She said Lakeport has grown so much since then, and she sees the same happening for The Weirs.

“Every place we have opened, we come in right at the brink of expansion and revitalization,” Bassett said.

Bassett said the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, pointing toward the Wayfarer social media accounts.

“People are saying how needed it is,” Bassett said.

Wayfarer has bolstered its brand consistently, expanding the first café to include a local goods marketplace in 2021, and then starting the Northeast Coffee Festival the following year.

The festival began in Laconia, and has since moved to Concord. It's coming up on its fifth anniversary on May 15-16, which is just about when the Weirs Beach location will be opening.

“This is our next expansion,” Bassett said. “Quite a bit of change over the years, and we’ve got a busy spring coming.”

All three Wayfarer locations are hiring, and Bassett said there will be some of their “seasoned staff members” working in Weirs Beach.

Keep an eye on their Facebook and Instagram pages for opening date updates.