All this talk about improving the Weirs..is there an alternative?
 

What I am about to say is just my observation as a frequent visitor for the past 4 decades. It is not hard opinion or based on any specific fact. So I am not trying to stir up any fights or emotions.

The question is...why do we have to improve the Weirs?


If an area is falling apart, it will continue to do so until acted upon. If we are talking about decades of neglect, then the truth starts to shine what the owners of the area think. That is not to imply that they do not want to improve. It may not make financial sense, so they are in a bind. Why invest into something that will possibly not pay off when in it's current state it still makes money?

Just because you put a fresh coat of paint on a pizza shop or gift shop, it will not bring in more customers. The entire point of coming to the Weirs may need to change. It needs to be beyond t-shirt shops, video games. Let's face it, video arcades are long gone and are usually only found in high traffic resort areas. As a 40 something with kids that play video games at home, they see little value in going to the weirs to play games. Maybe skeeball. But hey, who doesn't like Skeeball?

I have seen a lot of ideas tossed around. So the next question is... is the an alternative location for all of these ideas? All this talk about what could be done with the weirs property could be applied to another location. Build another destination spot on the lake and make sure it can cater to year round. Sure, easier said than done and I know there is no current space available on the lake. But anything is possible with the right idea and funding.

In the end I certainly hope something develops. I see what has happened to Meredith over the past few decades and love it. And I cannot wait to get fried dough from the weirs this summer with the family. The current state does not stop us from visiting, but that is more about nostalgia then about something fresh. In the end, our visits to the weirs get shorter and shorter.

Sadly if nothing get's done it will just deteriorate until it is no longer safe and things start to get condemned and decisions will be forced upon the owners and town. As an observer, this appears to already be happening?

There are only so many town owned docks on the Lake- the Weirs is one of them. I enjoy the honky-tonk of the Weirs at times as well, but there is little or no money to be made, so there is a profound lack of investment. That is my take from across the Pond!

All true. Normally a tee shirt shop is a side line to the actual reason for being someplace. Back in the days of yore no one had video games at home so going to an arcade was a thing to do. I remember countless times when I was a teen of getting out of work at night and heading to the Weirs for a slice of pizza and a few games with friends. It was the place to be.

I suppose there is still some need for that on rainy days but the area is clearly under used most of the time. If a tourist goes there now and gets a bumper sticker and a piece of fudge they have just about done all there is to do there except for getting on the various boat cruises.

I also am not here to argue, but I just wanted to point out that in my experience, this is not true. After a remodel or rebuild you should certainly see an increase in traffic flow.
We all know you can't always judge a book by it's cover, but a customer driving by will naturally assume that if a business takes good care of the exterior, they will maintain that cleanliness throughout the interior, the kitchen, etc.

All this talk about improving the Weirs..is there an alternative?
 

Good old Weirds Beach.

Is Weirs really a destination spot, or is it more of a place to go when it rains and kill a few hours?
Once I am at the lake I have no desire to leave the house. I don't see Weirs being a real draw for lake regulars.
Now if they put some money into the beach area like they did at Hampton beach, maybe it would become a destination spot for day trippers, who would in turn spend $ at Weirs. With that money being spent in the local places I could then see some owners realizing that if they spruce things up maybe they will attract more customers. This is what it would take to make the Weirs more like Meredith in my opinion. Bring in an upscale restaurant and maybe more lake regulars will actually venture over for dinner and in turn spend a few more bucks while there, good food in a nice setting will bring people.
At a minimum Weirs needs a legit fried dough place like Blinks.

All this said I am sure the kids will drag us there at least once this summer, I agree with the OP, the current state of Weirs doesn't stop us from going but it sure doesn't attract repeat business.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Maybe it's already started....
 

After our first trip (we waited WAY too long) to dine at Faro Italian Grill, we swore we wouldn't wait as long again. I think Faro is the first "shot across the bow" for the Weirs and hope the other neighboring businesses take a lesson. Faro is great and a huge boost to the Weirs.

The Breeze
Wave 'cuz I'l be wavin' back

The weirs
 

What didn't help is the lost of cottage coloney rentals. Over the last 10-15 years most of them went condo.

I always felt that is was a shame that Fun Spot never put an Annex down the Weirs.....a new, clean, place to go, with all sorts of things to do:confused: or, they should have a shuttle to their facility, now...boat ride to Weirs, park and shuttle up the hill. Just a thought....

secede
 

"The Weirs" should secede from Laconia and provide/pay for its own Municipalities to become its own town. Until that happens we are stuck with the same-ole-same-ole.

Laconia has too many downfalls that the city is accepting as 'the new normal".

The growth in the Gilford area will still benefit both and the growth in Meredith will also benefit the Weirs.

I'm sure someone here knows the facts but I'm guessing enough money is made during bike week that makes the rest of the season insignificant and not worth the trouble to want to do anything else.

That is exactly the problem.....

Ah, but bike week isn't what it once was, either.

Bike Week is NOT the problem.... Its really what keeps the Weirs going!

The problem is a changing demographic... and the commercial property / business owners and the city of Laconia refusing to change or do anything about it.

My vision for the Weirs would be a walkable version of a small cluster of fun funky bars/cafes/shops similar to Key West.

The Faro property could be the far corner anchor destination. They already have that Awesome upper deck. Or maybe even the Naswa...

The Paradise Club and Weirs the Beef / Hideout can anchor the other corner. The Paradise has a great outside tiki bar that could be capitalized on.

We have the Gringo, and that place does a good business year round. Tower Hill tavern could be an AWESOME music venue, but the people who own the half moon cottages want quiet at 10... hard to make a go of it with that silly restriction.

The problem is the middle of the strip... that's where the vision is required. The arcades & the Pier need to be remade into a fun place people want to go. A funky café or bar... funky shops?

its obvious the status quo is not working....

Woodsy

Well I didnt say remodel. :)
Even then, if the products in the gift shop are the same, there is no real draw over and above.

correct why buy a tee shirt or sun glasses at $15 or $20 when all of us owners and year round residents can buy them for a $1 at the end of the season

I disagree, I think Bike Week is like welfare or life support for the area. It encourages dependance on something that isn't really scalable or practical. As long as bike week continues to dominate the area we will have property owners with little motivation to create viable year-round businesses that keep the area attractive in general.

Brk...

How do you figure? If it wasn't for the Bike Week $$$ the Weirs wouldn't exist. Its a very short season to make a years worth of $$$. The Weirs will never be a "year round" type destination... Nowhere on the lake is "year round" with exception of Gunstock. Meredith (the standard for most people) hosts 2 events in the winter, Pond Hockey & the Ice fishing derby. Both are extremely weather dependent, and both had low numbers this year because of it.

The demographics have changed. We have an older, less kid driven demographic. Stop trying to attract a crowd that isn't interested anymore, and try to attract a crowd that is!

There needs to be a change in attitude from the City of Laconia... stop treating the Weirs like a redheaded stepkid! Make the Weirs a jewel! Pave Lakeside Avenue... get rid of the parking meters. Encourage small business, Look into running a shuttle that goes in a loop from Funspot/Looney Bin/Spoke back to the Weirs train station. Embrace Bike Week! Loosen up the rules a little!

Property & business owners need to refresh their attitudes... and their properties!

Woodsy

Not auguring, and agree with your point, but from the other side of the coin I think you also answered your own question to BRK - Weirs wouldn't exist in its current state if bike week was no longer there. I love to have bike week, but at the same time it does perpetuate the ease of the property owners and business owners in the Weirs to "cash in" so to speak and not do anything else the rest of the year because their nut is covered at the every least.

No bike week means the business owners and property owners need to find other ways of income (supply and demand economics) or fail.
that could lead for sure to vacant lots and building but for how long in this market? Not very from my view, at such highly desirable location for business and development. The taxes alone on the property with no income from bike week vendors is enough to either have those property owners leave, or sell to those that want to develop and then the town can do their part with a development plan and incentives for existing owners and new alike.

At the same time they can keep bike week and also require property owners through ordinances and zoning to conduct business throughout the year other than renting out vendor space for a week and a half. I'm not one for government regulation but when it comes to the survival of a community and its residents and form of #1 income which is tourism, the town should step in.

You want to attract a crowd that has limited or no expendable income? The retired community? Either you attract a younger generation or start putting in bids for demo now. Attracting a generation that is slowly wading out is like a business getting into an industry as its dying.

I never mentioned the "retired community"....

I was thinking more along the lines of adult oriented type stuff... cool cafes, small bars/restaurants/neat shops. Things that attract the mid 20's to mid 50's with $$$ and time to burn.

Not run down arcades with games that a run of the mill PS3 can play.

Woodsy

AC...

Without the "guaranteed" (tongue in cheek) Bike Week money... what makes the property desirable? You have a short season, a city that doesn't give a crap, and now no bike week income? Why would you want to open a business there?

What you will see is property values plummet, not just the commercial property but residential too. Businesses dry up and do not come back and the city loses tons of tax money that it uses to spend on downtown!

The Weirs needs more "big events"... not just Bike week. The city needs to step up and come up with a master plan for the Weirs.

Woodsy

respectively disagree
the views alone even with winter season, make it a desirable spot (much better than Meredith Bay)
hate to use it because it is beating a dead horse, but look at Meredith, most everything down there operates year round

some investor has to be the first and be able to hold out for things to change (an prime example is Faro they are already doing this), with the change winter or other year round activities start in the are, a winter fest, spring fest, October fest where they shut the street down and hold a week long festival, maybe hockey alternates between there and Meredith. There is no incentive right now for activities to happen there during the fall and winter. with Development becomes opportunity

I keep reading these posts and thinking what would attract me from the opposite side of the lake, and I think the person who mentioned Key West is onto something.

If the docks were less punishing and there were small artist shops, stores, and eateries I'd head there in addition to Wolfeboro. When I start envisioning that, though, I'm reminded of the relatively small (flat) space of the Weirs vs. the blocks and blocks of Wolfeboro and even Meredith.

Sent from my XT1528 using Tapatalk

Meredith is not any bigger than Weirs area is or could be. And the Weirs even has the Beach and the peir. and the train station, so much more potential

With that I will agree, the way I read your post I looked at it as there is a younger generation a middle-aged generation and an older generation. the old generation is the people that are either getting done working or already retired. It has been said that the current weirs is targeted towards the demographics of the people that grew up in the 50s

Bike week/weirs
 

Woodsy,

I think BRK-INT and others make valid points. Your right, probably, without bike week Weirs would probable fail totally. Then present owners would either be forced to redevelope the area in attempt to attract possibly another demographic of vacationers/visitors or present owners would sell out to a developer and the whole area could be redeveloped and there would be new businesses, new visitors and maybe would attract at least more business over a longer period of time, say from May to end of foliage season at least if not year round. That's how capitalism works.

Your logic breaks down, IMO. Why invest in making the Weirs into a "jewel" when it can apparently be profitable in the current condition with only 1 week per year of activity?

Let's face it, though the Bike Week crowd contains several walks of life, it does not appear to draw people that are overly concerned with the area being in "jewel" condition. Why would the city invest in unnecessary improvements?

The problem with The Weirs is that the current state of it is really only highly functional or prized for 1 week of the year. The rest of the time it's underutilized and a bit of an eyesore in spots. The Weirs, in it's current state, is basically the City of Laconia leaving their Christmas lights up year round. In the non-Bike Week weeks, it's an eyesore and it's not delivering the value to the surrounding community that it can or should.

Also, by relying on Bike Week so much there is a ripple effect in the community. While some of the business owners make rake in cash, many of the employees they hire only get an average weeks' pay, they don't get anything near a years salary.

By smoothing out the utilization of The Weirs to something approaching a year-round spot it would really help the overall community in multiple ways.

Bike Week doesn't have to go away, but it needs to be utilized as a bonus more than a crutch.

Weirs
 

Those plummeting values and businesses drying up that Woodsy refers to is ripe for a developer with money and vision to buy up properties and start over.

Isn't that how it works? Bradlees, Caldor, Lechmere etc get pushed out by Walmart, Target, Best Buy etc.

The businesses in Weirs fail, something else will come along and be better, eventually. It could take a long time but it would happen eventually.

It depends. Bike Week could just as easily keep a lot of mainstream investors away. If you look at how the city of Laconia has managed its assets it's not the sort of thing that big developers want to deal with.

Laconia has to appear developer-friendly in order to attract developers. If the city allows lots to sit vacant and fenced for 51 weeks a year people may not want to build other properties around those kind of sites.

Other than parts of Portsmouth, can you name a single town in NH that has "Cool" shops small bars and cafes on a year round basis. What is needed and the weather is very much against it is a place that has a pulse more than 8 weeks a year. Very very few places in the entire state can claim that including North Conway. If the state does not figure out how to attract a sufficient number of businesses to the state that pay above the $10 tourist wage, the state will continue to bleed 20-50 year olds in search of an income and a life that does not include a 12 pack most every night .

The Weirs would be a good location for a casino.

What about moving Pumpkinfest to Weirs? Granted that'll hurt downtown Laconia. And that's only another week a year of activity, so it won't solve the problem.
Seems like Weirs is something that Alex Ray and Dean Kamen should work together on! They can figure it out, and have the bankroll.

To continue on the Key West wish - The average resident income for Key West is $75,401 with 15.8% below $25,000 a year
Florida - $71,904

Laconia - $67,378 with 22.7% below $25,000

New Hampshire - $64,712

So we are short on disposable income for the cute shops and cafes that during the 40 weeks a year the "lake House" folks are not here depend on the locals. Need I delve into education levels and general life styles between Key West and Laconia and the surrounding areas?

I'm thinking that Alex and Dean are busy with plans for a second set of highway rest stops on I-95. Why try to restore the Weirs which in terms of major profits will always be marginal, when one can basically print money with another mega rest stop complex like they have on I-93. I think that ship has sailed.

Trump to the rescue....
 

Matbe the Donald can be talked into wielding his eminent domain tool to put up a hotel casino? Ok, so thats unlikely, but it seems that there are only 2 alternatives for improvement. 1 - play off of the seasonal draw in a way that has greater value than fried dough, as in vacation condos, that may be lightly occupied off season but at least there is long term value and upkeep. 2 - build something that has year round draw. I'd guess a casino would be flash in the pan but there could be something else that would get folks to drive at least an hour or two on a regular basis. Any ideas? A third option might be to go after the Meredith crowd in the same way. That could become cannibalistic though and leave both areas under stress.

Something new
 

Folks talk about Meredith and Wolfeboro. Ever notice how many shops in the two places are the same? No reason to duplicate one of those. Want something unique? They have unique shops in P-Town, and it draws from more than an hour away. Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard have some similar travel draws, but they have unique personalities too. All of those were an evolutionary series of events.

Unless you are Walt Disney, I think it is very difficult to build something in one big splash and be sure that it will be successful. It helped that Walt had a Sunday night TV show to advertise Disneyland for a full hour every week. I think Disneyland is only about 50 acres.

Endlessly fascinating conversation
 

No idea what the answer is, but the location certainly will warrant a change at some point... it has too much going for it to stay the way it is. and don't forget the drive in parcel is for sale. I know it's literally in left field, but it's potential is there as well.

Look at Newport
 

Newport, RI is "mostly" a summer destination but it does draw people year round. There are the funky bars and shops people have advocated here that get people to stay for the week. They generate off season interest with a variety of festivals and events such as their Chili Cookoff, the Winter festival, the Chowder Festival to name a few. To accomodate the tourists there are numerous B&Bs, time shares, etc. There are water taxis that bring people in from Providence and Jamestown.
Other ideas:
There's not a single place in the area that rents snowmobiles. That would be s draw. Airboat rides? What about a small arena like Forest Hills in Queens, NY? That stadium actually has a very small footprint and could be used to host tennis, music, and theatre in the spring and fall. Add a craft brewery (or two); you could start craft brew tours with the surrounding towns. Host sailing races, snowmobile races, kayak races, a 10k. How about sculling races on Paugus Bay in the fall? How about a tethered hot air baloon (there's one in Bournemouth, England that's a big draw)?
It's such a beautiful area; it needs to recognize and embrace its gifts. We come up most Februaries to snow shoe out to Rattlesnake and lament the lack of other activites available to the visitor in winter.

Small change would be useless
 

IMO, the Weirs stays as it is mostly because no one wants to change it, or is afraid to change it. I have been staying up here for 23 years either summer or full time. I have been to the Weirs maybe once every 3 years, several times for a Mount Washington cruise. When I get there I walk the town. I see nothing that interests me. If it is time to eat, I might grab something. However, there are no restaurants there I would be drawn to go back to. Most of the time I just walk and I am amazed how little things have changed since I vacationed there in the 60s as a kid. There were lots of families staying in the cottages nearby and the kids hung out in the arcades and on the beach.

When I go to Meredith or Wolfeboro I go in many of the shops. I buy stuff. I like several of the restaurants and am drawn back to them just to have a meal. There are grocery stores, bookstores, hardware stores, good ice cream shops, and other interesting venues in these towns. I look forward to going to them and do.

There is NO draw for people like me in the Wiers. The docking is a bit awkward to get into. The attractions that are there are small scale and while they may generate an OK income for the current owners, are never going to generate money to drive change. Someone would have to come in with BIG money and, for better or worse, sweep away the current old time arcades. It would require a fundamental transformation in how the Weirs is perceived and presented. It would probably also require a private/public partnership like is going on at the Balsams to get permits and allow major construction. Some of the cottages would probably get bought up and demolished.

It would take a complete re-envisioning of the town and the will and money to drive it.

For the record I am a year round resident of the Weirs... and truly love it!

The Weirs and most of the lake for that matter are and always will be seasonal. There is no getting around it.

Meredith has had success because 1 company, NH Hospitality, essentially owns the bottom of the bay and most of the property across Rte 3. Meridith is all commercial property at the bottom of the bay. It is also very adult oriented. Yes, there are a few things for kids to do, but not much. Wolfeboro has a similar type draw. The Weirs is a mix of commercial and residential properties, and that does present challenges.

The Weirs has ALWAYS been kid oriented... the Beach, the Drive In, Waterslides, Arcades, Mini Golf, Pizza & Ice cream places, etc etc... all driven by families with kids who were on vacation. So every week there was a new batch of customers looking to spend money.

Unfortunately, the demographic has changed... all the little motels are condos, and families just aren't very interested in what the Weirs has to offer anymore.

So you have 2 options... adapt or die. Unfortunately the Weirs has been slowly dying. If it wasn't for Bike Week, the place would be boarded up. The property & business owners don't want to change and adapt, and the City of Laconia doesn't want to spend any $$ on upkeep. Lakeside Ave is disgrace.

The Weirs has tremendous potential.... But the City and the property & business owners need to get together and form a plan. Loosen up the rules a little, embrace Bike Week and help it grow (although that demographic is getting older and dwindling regardless), Spruce up & repave Lakeside Ave. Get rid of the parking meters! The property owners need to actually spend some $$ improving their properties. Lets have a mix of some cool eats, some live music, funky shops. Its a small area so this should be very doable.

Woodsy