Politics & Government

Bedford Market Basket Targets 2012 Opening

Developers planning to begin initial site work amid Hannaford appeal.

Market Basket may have one more hurdle to leap, but developers for the supermarket are planning to move ahead with site development plans amid an appeal from Hannaford Bros. Co. in the New Hampshire Supreme Court.

"We had a favorable decision from the superior court because (the closest Hannaford) is almost four miles from our location," said civil engineer Jim Lamp, an independent development consultant for Market Basket. "They're appealing to the supreme court, but we feel comfortable initiating site work. Right now we're just awaiting final approval from the New Hampshire DOT (Department of Transportation).

Lamp said the target date for the supermarket's opening is late 2012, possibly as early as the fall. The store will be located at the intersection of Route 114 and Donald Street, near Cote Lane, where Slammers Sports Bar and Golfland were located.

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"We'd like to start demolishing the existing buildings and get the site prepared before the snow falls so we can get right in after the spring thaw to start on the foundation and building work," said Lamp.

The Manchester area has been missing a DeMoulas Supermarkets, Inc. footprint for decades, but with the recent opening of a Market Basket in Hooksett, the current construction of a store on Elm Street, in downtown Manchester, and the renovation and relocation of Market Basket in Londonderry, the Bedford store is the exclamation point on the greater-Queen City area surge, said Lamp.

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The Bedford Planning Board originally approved the Market Basket plans on April 25.


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