Say Goodbye to the Alton Five & Dime

[mcdude]

Sad, but true. The Alton Five and Dime, one of my favorite stops, has been bought out by Aubuchon Hardware. All of their 5 and Dime type stuff is now being sold at clearance for cheap and will no longer be carried. Now, in Alton there are 3 hardware stores but no variety store. No place to buy office or classroom supplies, candles, greeting cards, beach toys, T shirts, craft supplies. It's too bad. :eek:

[ghfromaltonbay]

Someone ought to suggest to the new owners of the Busy Corner in Alton Bay that they could do a great business if they started to carry some of the items formerly sold at the 5 & 10. According to a friend who used to own 2 5&10's in the area, the profit on greeting cards is more than 50%.

[pmj]

:( I agree. The 5 & dime was a nice little store to browse and pick up all sorts of things for very little money. Seeing that this is the only place in Alton that you can buy a greeting card, that statitstic doesn't surprise me. I guess we will have to wait for Hannaford to supply us with a new card buying option

pmj

[Rattlesnake Gal]

That really is a shame they are changing it, I liked that store the way it was. Must not have been profitable enough for them.
McDude, you can be our representative pitching the idea to the Alton Market! They certainly have room to add a few things. ;)

[upthesaukee]

Alton 5 & 10 has gone from next to the St. Theresa's Church site (now profile bank) to the Alton Circle and then expanded there. Ed & Christine have worked many years and many long hours each day running the store. Ed is on the ALton FD and is a paramedic as well, and makes it to virtually every medical call in town. Christine still takes care of her parents while doing the store thing. The time became right for them to get out of the ownership of the store, and I think Aubuchon will do a good job for Alton. Best wishes to Ed & Chris on their "semi" retirement.

[mcdude]

I remember the old Alton Five and Dime as well and applaud Ed and Chris for their many years of effort. Chris has helped me many times to find just the right item I was looking for. I guess this is kind of a trend. Another 5 & 10 is closing just up the road in Ashland.
click for Monitor article (http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041014/REPOSITORY/410140309/1031)

[upthesaukee]

What I will really miss is walking by Chris ( I am just over 6' tall, Chris has to look up to see 5' tall) and have her tell me to reach up on a high shelf and get something down for her. If I said no, she would threaten me with great bodily harm, so of course I always helped. No one wants to get punched in the knee cap!!!!! :D