Gilford Super-Walmart [Archive] - Winnipesaukee Forum

Belmont Resident

04-15-2013, 08:03 AM

There has been a lot of movement with the smaller stores in the mall. I'd love to see a Super-Walmart replace our Small-Mart.

Be careful what you wish for. The prices in the current store are on average higher then in Tilton because this is a tourist area. Chances are a new store may have even higher prices then they already have.
Just some food for thought.
Not sure if it is the area or them in general but Lowes prices have gone above the lumber yards on a lot of materials. Like Walmart it may be one stop shopping but at what cost?

PaugusBayFireFighter

04-15-2013, 08:24 AM

Be careful what you wish for. The prices in the current store are on average higher then in Tilton because this is a tourist area. Chances are a new store may have even higher prices then they already have.
Just some food for thought.
Not sure if it is the area or them in general but Lowes prices have gone above the lumber yards on a lot of materials. Like Walmart it may be one stop shopping but at what cost?
Even if the prices in Gilford would be a few cents more, I'm willing to pay more for the convenience. After you figure in the time and cost of gas round trip, the drive to Tilton and back would have to produce a much bigger savings when compared to shopping in Gilford. My wife shops at Market Basket in Tilton when we are stocking up and the savings compared to Hannaford or Shaws in Gilford is worth the trip.

Belmont Resident

04-15-2013, 10:04 AM

Even if the prices in Gilford would be a few cents more, I'm willing to pay more for the convenience. After you figure in the time and cost of gas round trip, the drive to Tilton and back would have to produce a much bigger savings when compared to shopping in Gilford. My wife shops at Market Basket in Tilton when we are stocking up and the savings compared to Hannaford or Shaws in Gilford is worth the trip.

Ya, same here, with respect to MB. I am amazed that MB has not come to this area, but when you look at how much the area dies out off season and how many families have moved away for lack of jobs I guess it makes sense.

Winni-Retired

04-15-2013, 10:52 AM

Same here !

MB, Walmart, Tractor Supply, Home Depot, etc.

It's a half day of stores, but we do save money by doing it this way.

Maria

04-15-2013, 10:54 AM

I heard construction is going on and we can expect to see a Super Walmart before the end of the year!!!!!

I find that hard to believe!!!!!

Doesn't look like anything is going on except empty stores!!!!

:look:

patman

04-15-2013, 11:04 AM

Even if the prices in Gilford would be a few cents more, I'm willing to pay more for the convenience.

Remember when Walmart used to boast about how much of what they sold was made in the USA? Funny how you don't see that after Sam died. Walmart is definitely NOT saving you money in the long run. It's hemorrhaging money to foreign economies which has much more serious costs associated with it.

Even at face value, price-wise you're still not going to win with your groceries. What you save on cheetos you'll spend 3x over on milk. They're not stupid.

TBH, I'm surprised they're going to the trouble of expanding the existing store. Their usual M.O. is to 1) come in to a community touting that they will 'create jobs', 2) put up a new building and get X years of tax breaks for doing so, 3) run everyone else out of business, increasing unemployment, 4) abandon the building and go to step 2.

The tax breaks are typically tied to putting up a new building...which is why you see so many empty/former WM buildings around with a brand-spankin'-new one just down the street. In states where sales tax is collected, often times Walmart will get to collect AND KEEP the money as another incentive. When that dries up...they close down and move on. They're a huge corporate leech on society.

Ask me what I really think! :D

dogma

04-15-2013, 01:46 PM

Keep in mind that "small-Mart" or Super Walmart takes business from local small businesses.

Ride & Dive

04-15-2013, 01:47 PM

Ya, same here, with respect to MB. I am amazed that MB has not come to this area, but when you look at how much the area dies out off season and how many families have moved away for lack of jobs I guess it makes sense.

MB is in a HUGE growth spurt right now. I don't know the exact number but double digit new stores planned per year. I wouldn't be shocked to see one soon.

Belmont Resident

04-15-2013, 04:37 PM

MB is in a HUGE growth spurt right now. I don't know the exact number but double digit new stores planned per year. I wouldn't be shocked to see one soon.

I have 2 friends that work for them. Maine is getting it's first store in Beddeford
which is great because we go right by where it will be on our way up north, but no plans that they know of for our area. :(:(
Even with Maine tax it is still cheaperto stop in there then Shaws or Hannaford.

P-3 Guy

04-15-2013, 05:57 PM

Even with Maine tax it is still cheaperto stop in there then Shaws or Hannaford.

Maine has no tax on (most) groceries.

Belmont Resident

04-15-2013, 06:59 PM

Maine has no tax on (most) groceries.

I wasn't sure about that, thanks.

tis

04-16-2013, 07:19 AM

Maine taxes snack food.

P-3 Guy

04-16-2013, 08:08 AM

Maine taxes snack food.

If you're talking about the "snack tax," that was repealed more than 10 years ago. Now whether or not "snack" food gets taxed depends on the circumstances. If I go to a grocery store in Maine and buy potato chips, pretzels, cookies or ice cream, none of it is taxed.

BroadHopper

04-16-2013, 11:20 AM

In NH room and meals tax are on deli sandwichs and salad bars at the supermarkets. There is a debate whether vending machines should pay room and meals tax as well as snack sized items and candy bars. With the current state representatives I would not be surprised.

The only bad thing about being a Lakes Region resident is that cost of goods sold in season are high, even in Tilton. I work in Concord and I do almost all of my shopping there. I do want to keep the money local but I just don't make that kind of money.

tis

04-16-2013, 01:45 PM

http://bangordailynews.com/2012/06/10/politics/sneaky-food-tax-gives-maine-heartburn/

No wonder it's so confusing to us. THEY don't know if it is taxed or not. It just seems I pay it a lot when I go to Maine!

Irish mist

04-17-2013, 03:10 AM

Belmont Resident

04-17-2013, 04:44 AM

Lol, I guess we don't really know when they plan to build-out the new store:) The super-Walmart shoud help drive down costs a Hannaford.....Shaws is a lost cause IMO as far as them ever lowering their prices.

The idea of businesses in a big tourist area is to capitalize on the money that comes up here.
This area being considered a tourist area I doubt you will see a super Walmart lowering prices. The Walmart in Tilton and Concord have lower prices then this one does now because of location. One of the benefits of living next to the big lake. Just ask those who were complaining about the much higher prices of the Hannafords in Meredith compared to the one in Gilford. Meredith is definitely much more up scale then the Laconia area.

fatlazyless

04-17-2013, 08:02 AM

Supposedly, according to LaDaSun article over the winter, Gilford Walmart construction starts this month, April 2013, and the new store opens one year later in April, 2014.

AC2717

04-17-2013, 08:56 AM

Supposedly, according to LaDaSun article over the winter, Gilford Walmart construction starts this month, April 2013, and the new store opens one year later in April, 2014.

if that is the truth why are they doing it during peak season makes no sense to me

but they will probably be open during construction

8gv

04-17-2013, 10:47 AM

What is "MB"?

patman

04-17-2013, 10:48 AM

if that is the truth why are they doing it during peak season makes no sense to me

If the construction will take a full year...it'll affect peak season no matter when they start.

Slickcraft

04-17-2013, 11:13 AM

What is "MB"?

Market Basket, the food store we wish was near rather that having to drive to Tilton.

PaugusBayFireFighter

04-17-2013, 11:16 AM

The majority of construction is interior demolition and rebuilding of the existing stores in the mall. They are expanding more than building. You could do construction all summer in the vacant stores and never be close to the current Walmart. My guess is the construction that involves the existing store would be toward the end of the project.

AC2717

04-17-2013, 11:35 AM

fatlazyless

04-25-2013, 06:47 AM

....meanwhile....have heard some recent grapevine hear-say that a new Market Basket will probably get built in Plymouth, about two miles off Rt 93-exit 26 in the former corn field close to Hannaford's...could be true?

PaugusBayFireFighter

05-06-2013, 10:57 AM

The construction at the soon to be Gilford Super Walmart is moving steadily. The former attached stores are gutted and walls have been removed making for one large floor space. Any construction equipment is in the rear of the store making the parking lot free of any obstructions other than the steel barriers blocking the sidewalk in front of the stores being worked on.

ghfromaltonbay

01-23-2014, 05:13 PM

Haven't seen or read anything about the new Super Walmart in Gilford. How is the work progressing? When we left NH in October the adjoining stores had been gutted and a few of the other tenants had relocated to stores closer to Home Goods.

Lakeboater

01-23-2014, 05:26 PM

In the picture posted above all the building that was behind the fence was torn down. Walls are now up for what will be the expanded Walmart.

fatlazyless

01-23-2014, 05:37 PM

The Gilford Wal-Mart is an excellent store ....... including everything from its product mix ...... to its easy returns policy ...... to the people who work there.

I understand that a section of the new enlarged store in the rear will extend across the town line and be located in Laconia ..... so that means that Laconia will be getting new property taxes on what formerly was probably considered a back lot......so that's good for Laconia ...... plus all the new jobs for everyone who works at a bigger Wal-Mart....

Jeanzb1

01-23-2014, 06:13 PM

I read somewhere just this week that the new Super Wal-Mart will be open this fall.

wickedtravelah

01-23-2014, 06:54 PM

The Walmart in Tilton is also being converted to a Walmart Supercenter as well...

fatlazyless

01-24-2014, 11:26 AM

....ya know that the new improved Walmart in Tilton is sooooooo biiiiiiiiiiig that you probably want to wear some good walking shoes when you go there .......that place is huuuuuuuggggggeeeee!

ghfromaltonbay

01-24-2014, 12:26 PM

The Gilford Wal-Mart is an excellent store ....... including everything from its product mix ...... to its easy returns policy ...... to the people who work there.

The Gilford Wal-Mart can't compare to the one in Rochester. I have always found the ladies clothing department in Gilford to be limited in merchandise and a mess. The aisles are too narrow and especially in the sleepwear and underwear dept. the clothes looked like a jumbled mess with empty hangars and plastic bags littering the floor. I hope the new super-sized store is an improvement. Most of the other departments in Gilford weren't too bad, so I don't know if it's the fault of the managers for those specific departments. The employees don't seem to stay on top of cleaning up and refolding clothes on display.

upthesaukee

01-24-2014, 03:05 PM

The Gilford Wal-Mart can't compare to the one in Rochester. I have always found the ladies clothing department in Gilford to be limited in merchandise and a mess. The aisles are too narrow and especially in the sleepwear and underwear dept. the clothes looked like a jumbled mess with empty hangars and plastic bags littering the floor. I hope the new super-sized store is an improvement. Most of the other departments in Gilford weren't too bad, so I don't know if it's the fault of the managers for those specific departments. The employees don't seem to stay on top of cleaning up and refolding clothes on display.

The Rochester Walmart has always been bigger than the Gilford one. When they made the Rochester store a super Walmart, most of the size increase was to the food side.

From the looks of things, the Gilford store will be about doubled in size. In the past, I too found it cluttered, but for an item or two, it was ok to stop there. To do a lot of shopping, we would either go to Tilton or Rochester.

It should be interesting to see how the expansion works out in Gilford. Then we can make a better comparison. (Surprisingly, it is about the same amount of time to go to Rochester as it is to go to Gilford, so for you and I, not much difference which way we head. :))

SteveA

01-25-2014, 06:06 AM

The Gilford Wal-Mart can't compare to the one in Rochester. I have always found the ladies clothing department in Gilford to be limited in merchandise and a mess.

Not only is it a mess.. they are quilty of false advertising. I went into the ladies clothing section recently at Walmart in Gilford because they had a sign that said " All Womens Clothing Half Off " but all of the women shopping there were fully dressed ;)

Lakesrider

01-25-2014, 07:12 AM

Boooo.....Boooooo....Booooo......:laugh:

fatlazyless

01-25-2014, 09:58 AM

Does the Gilford Wal-Mart really have lower prices?

Just yesterday, being in need of a small box of band-aids for patching up a new bloody face nick while shaving; first I stopped at the CVS in Laconia on Union Ave, then the nearby Rite Aid in Laconia also on Union Ave, and finally the Wal-Mart in Gilford because I didn't want to spend four-plus dollars at either CVS or Rite Aid for a standard box of band aids. U-know the Wal-Mart had the same similar band-aid item for about 2.59.... so's that made me feel like a retail consumer buyer-genius ......doncha just know it!!!!!

ghfromaltonbay

01-25-2014, 01:04 PM

The Rochester Walmart has always been bigger than the Gilford one. When they made the Rochester store a super Walmart, most of the size increase was to the food side.

Since the Rochester store is already a Super Walmart, I realize the various departments may be larger than in Gilford, but that still doesn't excuse the messiness/dirtiness. When Rich's was in that location the store was much neater. I blame the management. In fact, a smaller department should be easier to keep clean and to neaten up the clothing displays. I hope the newly expanded Walmart in Gilford will look more like the one in Rochester. Although as Uppie mentioned the drive from Alton is about the same to either location, I would prefer heading to Gilford as in most cases the Walmart is not my only destination. The trip to Walmart usually includes stops at the nearby Lowes, the Mobil gas station, and of course lunch or dinner at the Lakeside.

SteveA

01-25-2014, 03:48 PM

My better half asked one of the folks at Walmart if it was going to be a "super" Walmart and he said NO, just a bigger "regular" Walmart.

wickedtravelah

01-26-2014, 06:09 PM

My better half asked one of the folks at Walmart if it was going to be a "super" Walmart and he said NO, just a bigger "regular" Walmart.

This website for the construction bid calls it a, "Supercenter."..... whatever that means!

http://constructiondatacompany.com/construction-projects/7007/wal-mart-supercenter-no-2639-02-expansion-gilford-nh/

pcmc

01-26-2014, 11:29 PM

Not only is it a mess.. they are quilty of false advertising. I went into the ladies clothing section recently at Walmart in Gilford because they had a sign that said " All Womens Clothing Half Off " but all of the women shopping there were fully dressed ;)

Hahaha luv it.

BroadHopper

01-27-2014, 12:22 PM

The largest supercenter that I know of in NH is in Amherst on 101. It is 24/7 and even sells gas. I had an opportunity to visit a supercenter in NC and I have never seen such a big store! I actually got lost trying to find my way out! They even sell jon boats and electric motors for fishing! Reminds me of the Sears Stores back in the '60s.

Wal-Mart do not have the best prices. For auto supply Advanced Auto on Court Street has cheaper supplies than Wal-Mart. Big Lots have cheaper dry goods than Wal-Mart etc. So shop around.

My daughter has an app that not only gives details of a product when you scan the bar code, it also list nearby prices of the same product! I don't know the name of the product, but it is pretty slick!

Happy Gourmand

01-27-2014, 01:18 PM

MeredithMan

06-25-2014, 05:05 PM

....holy cow!! Went in there today and they have it totally open inside. Still working on the outside and not everything is complete inside, but man, is it huge! Full grocery area. You can get lost in there.

Smokienorm

06-27-2014, 08:53 PM

I was recently told by staff that they will not be fully stocked and have a grand opening until October.

TiltonBB

06-28-2014, 06:24 AM

It will be interesting to see what happens to Shaws in Gilford once the WalMart construction is complete and the store is fully stocked.

The Shaws in Tilton closed and I am sure that was in no small part due to Market Basket and Walmart in Tilton selling groceries for less.

With Hannaford and WalMart in Gilford it looks like Shaws will have the highest prices of the three grocery stores in that immediate area. That cannot help their sales numbers.

fatlazyless

06-28-2014, 08:29 AM

.....oh yeah.....Shaw's closed some of their stores earlier this year or sometime, and announced that the Shaw's management needs to rethink their pricing policy.

.....oh yeah.....probably the Meredith Rite Aid, not including the prescription medications, could do some price re-thinking too .... like... is that Rite Aid supposed to be a retail store with customers because with its total lack of up-front merchandise customers.....it seems a lot more like a museum than a store!

....the tiny little temporary Rite Aid, now closed, that was next to the former Meredith Ford was a better store experience....with better sales people, and a better retail experience!

......oh yeah......and with the other Arthur, a cousin of the first Arthur, now in charge at Demoulas Market Basket....just watch it to see if the price policy gets changed to higher prices????

.....you knows....and this is a big surprise to me....it sure seems like Hannaford's has lots of items that beat the Wal-Mart prices for the same items.....plus Hannaford's is a more complete food store that has real local employee meat cutters as opposed to Wal-Mart meats packaged by a supplier in Iowa or somewhere, and shipped frozen to New Hampshire. The job category of "meat cutter" does not exist at Wal-Mart in the United States going back to the year 2000.

....plus the Hannaford pharmacy has people with good communication skills! "This scrip will cost you $353....understand.....regardless how small the size of the ointment tube......4-oz....8-oz .....12-oz......and no.....your Anthem-Blue Cross-NH will not cover it.....tough nuggies!!!" I just wish that the Lowe's in Gilford had a prescription drug pharmacy:D with their Lowe's easy returns!

....just my opinion.....worth about two cents.....and everyone has one!