By ZACH LAIRD, InDepthNH.org
HAMPTON — Questions still linger regarding the future of a pending lawsuit over a bid to redevelop liquor stores in Hampton after the Long Range Capital Planning and Utilization Committee unanimously approved Dick Anagnost and Global Partners for the project on Monday at a special meeting.
Anagnost and Global Partners (the company from Massachusetts that he’s partnering with) were not named directly during the meeting but are the only other bidder aside from Common Man Roadside, which the New Hampshire Liquor Commission previously disqualified from the bidding process over its finances.
The timeline included in the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) states that next steps include going before Gov. Kelly Ayotte and the Executive Council for final approval in December, though it’s uncertain if the ongoing court case could impact the schedule.
A spokesperson for CEO of Common Man Roadside Brad Pernaw reiterated that Pernaw still cannot comment due to the ongoing legal process. E.J. Powers, spokesperson for the NHLC, also could not comment further at this time.
The state expects to earn about $1 million a year from the lease.
It is anticipated that the Developer/Operator – Anagnost and Global Partners – will design, build, finance, maintain and operate Service Centers at these locations. The NHLC will participate in this project through the allocation of up to $26,830,000 for the construction of two, new Liquor and Wine Outlets that will be constructed on the northbound and southbound sites and replace the existing outlet stores, according to a link on the committee’s website about Monday’s special meeting.
The selected Developer/Operator proposes a guaranteed minimum base rent of $550,000 for the first year and escalates by 3% each subsequent year which totals over $33,000,000 over the 35-year base term, fuel rent which will provide $0.05 per gallon sold, and 5% per dollar spent at Electric Vehicle Charging stations at the northbound and southbound Service Areas.
Executive Councilor Joe Kenney, R-Wakefield said in a phone interview, “If you’re looking from the outside in, it’s been a very complicated and difficult process, but what we do want at the end of the day is that we want a New Hampshire project that’s going to benefit New Hampshire vendors, brands, and when visitors from out of state come to those rest stops, they know they’re now in New Hampshire, because of the look and the feel, and the type of products they might purchase.”
“Typically, what happens is — in this case — the project was put back out to bid; there was some disagreements on how it was presented through the Request for Proposal (RFP) process, so the liquor commissioner withdrew the RFP, and put it back out (and) the two same competitors bid on the project,” Kenney said.
Kenney confirmed that the project has to go through the Executive Council in December for final approval.
He said it has not been a clear process — nor one that’s been smooth — but said it’s one that there are rules and requirements to follow during the bidding process.
“I’m sure all the people on the scoring team, which were probably from many other departments in state government, looked at this and weighed in on who was more qualified, who had the wherewithal, and the necessary financial assets to build this project,” Kenney said.
The Common Man Roadside — which runs the popular welcome centers in Hooksett — sued the NHLC in late August after it disqualified the business from entering the bidding process to redevelop the two liquor stores on Interstate 95 in Hampton. It argued that that the NHLC “acted in an unlawful, arbitrary, or capricious manner in connection with certain aspects of the ongoing RFQ/RFP process.” That lawsuit is still ongoing in Merrimack County Superior Court, according the the court website.
According to a letter to the committee from New Hampshire Liquor Commission (NHLC) Chair Joseph W. Mollica, the proposed concepts consist of a single building at each Service Area that “houses convenience retail, dining, restrooms, a Visitor Information Center, and related guest amenities, as well as the liquor and wine outlet.”
The letter also noted that for the sites in question, the northbound building is proposed to be completed by June of 2028, and the southbound building by December 2028 assuming approval by Gov. Ayotte and the Executive Council in December of 2026.
I-95 is the primary highway connection between the seacoast, mountain and lakes regions of New Hampshire, the State of Maine, and the greater Boston metropolitan region. The interstate carries an average of 86,000 vehicles per day in both directions, with summertime peaks of over 125,000 vehicles per day.