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Is there a Market Basket Grocery Store Coming to Berlin NH?
Ok I’ve heard this rumor too many times to ignore it. Since late last summer I’ve been hearing a rumor that Market Basket, the discount grocery chain with stores located all over New England and beyond, was planning to buy or lease the former Shaw’s Supermarket building on the Berlin Gorham Road…..
Can anyone help? Is it true? Can anyone come up with some proof? There does seem to be some activity in the building here and there, with vans seen in the parking lot, but nothing significant, and its been months…… ANY HELP WITH THIS RUMOR WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED!
I know this is an old post, but I seriously doubt Market Basket would be interested. It’s 90+ miles from their nearest location, which would make for a logistical nightmare keeping the store supplied regularly and having the store operate profitably.
Who MIGHT be interested? The most logical suitor for this location is Hannaford. Their North Conway store is 32 miles away, while the Bethel Shop ‘N Save (which they supply but don’t own) is 24 miles away. That’s much more like it. Hannaford also has a history in the market, having operated Sampsons supermarkets in both Berlin and Gorham in the past (did they stick around up there long enough for the Shop ‘N Save name change?)
Another intriguing possibility might be Price Chopper. They took over the old P&C in Lincoln (48 miles away) back in May. They also have a full-sized supermarket in St. Johnsbury, VT (54 miles away.) The distance between Lincoln and St Jay is 48 miles. Greater than Hannaford, but evidently it’s close enough for Price Chopper to make the numbers work.
But ultimately, you have to ask, with a Walmart Supercenter in town plus another low-cost operator (Save-A-Lot, a corporate sister of Shaw’s) plus the IGA in Berlin, can the market really support a traditional full-sized supermarket? It’s a question worth pondering in light of Shaw’s departure and of Hannaford Bros. before them.
First… the vans are shaws vans. Save a lot ISNT shaws. It is sold and own privately. and with the RENT on the building alone coming from someone who personally knows what it was… NOTHING will EVER GO IN THERE. That building is in need of many repairs. Roof, AC units etc. NOPE and the zoning board in Gorham would be the first to hear. AND we havent heard a thing