Winnisquam's neighborhood market re-opens under new ownership and with a new name

TILTON — When the venerable Winnisquam Trading Post closed in September, visitors and residents of the neighborhood lost their nearby source for fishing supplies, convenience items and basic necessities.The business re-opened a few weeks ago as the Winnisquam Market & Deli, thanks to the efforts of a four-person team of owners who have given the store a top-to-bottom renovation and added some new amenities.

The site of the store, 1021 Laconia Road, located on the Tilton side of Route 3's Mosquito Bridge, has been the site of many staple operations over the years. Customers with long memories have stopped in to tell the new owners of how there was once a post office, soda fountain and gas station where they stood. For most of the site's recent history, though, it has been the location of the Winnisquam Trading Post, founded by Mark and Debbie Tompson. They operated the business for many years, selling recently as a means to retire. However, the purchasers of the business — the Tompsons retained ownership of the real estate — were unable to make ends meet and the store closed after last summer.

In March, a team of four local residents purchased the store, building and land from the Tompsons, injecting a fresh perspective and a great deal of sweat equity into the familiar business. The new owners are Mike Abel, Gary Wood, Joe Montalto and Shooter's Tavern co-owner Mike Rowland. The weeks following the purchase saw an extensive floor-to-ceiling renovation that its new owners hope will be more pleasant and more convenient for their customer base, which includes vacationers arriving for a week-long rental, seasonal residents looking to grab a quick something, fishermen who need a breakfast sandwich and a side of live bait or year-rounders picking up their morning newspaper and coffee.

Alluding to the unique place that the store occupies in its customers' hearts, Abel said care was taken in the remodeling process to keep the store's character. "With all the renovations we did, we didn't want it to feel like a 7-11. It's still the country store at the end of the road."

With renovations wrapped up in time for Memorial Day, the Winnisquam Market & Deli opened with a fresh interior and some new offerings. The fishing supply now takes up twice the level of display area. The usual convenience items — beer and soda, chips and snacks — are there, and soon they'll be joined by a chilled wine cooler. Most notable is the addition of a large, all-new kitchen. The store now offers pizzas, calzones, fried dinners, sandwiches, salads and bagels. There's also a deli, offering cold cuts, salads and marinated steak tips.

The changes are enough to take aback the store's old clientele when see the place for the first time since renovatoins. It's something Montalto said he hears regularly: "'Wow!' That's what they say when they when they walk in the door."

As proud of the renovation as they are, they also are committed to the less-tangible aspects of their business. Service, customized to the customer's needs, are what Abel said they offer. Several regulars ask the store to hold a copy of their favorite newspaper just for them. One couple drinks diet Sunkist exclusively, and so the store will stock that unusual soda. Soon, they'll start making deliveries to the nearby sand bar on Lake Winnisquam. To make the deliveries, they'll utilize the store's dock, an amenity which is also available to water-faring customers.

The Winnisquam Market & Deli will be open year-round, every day of the year. For the summer, the store will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Abel invited fans of the old store to visit and see what he and his partners have been up to. "If you haven't seen it for a while, it's worth the nickel tour. You'll say, 'Wow!' just like everybody else does."

CAPTION for Winnisquam Market in AA:

Mike Abel and Joe Montalto, two of the four partners who recently purchased and renovated the Winnisquam Trading Post in Tilton, are shown here in the store's new interior. The business is now named the Winnisquam Market and Deli. (Laconia Daily Sun photo/Adam Drapcho)