Owning a business in the Weirs has always been challenging. Unfortunately, this is a tourist area & highly seasonal. Although there is a great base of year round locals in the area that try hard to keep all the local businesses afloat, there is only so much to go around. We can't expect them to go to every place & spend their hard earned money when things are so tough for everyone right now.
Tilton BB is right. So many of the new developments & condos are 2nd homes to out of state people. The area may seem to be growing & thriving but those people just aren't here all the time. So many of the places are for sale or being forclosed upon. (as pointed out with the daily sun ads below) Nothing is selling right now. Local realtors are having a tough time with an overload of properties to sell & just not enough buyers right now.
It makes you sad to drive around Laconia & see all the businesses that are for sale/lease or that have just put up closed signs & don't know if they can re-open. So many places that have been Weirs Beach staples for years are just dissappearing (ie: JT's, Dakota Leather, handy landing).
I guess it's just a sign of the times. But as i've always been told, things will come full circle in due time. Hopefully it's true. There are some amazing hard working people that own businesses in this area & I would hate to see anymore dissappear.
|