MANCHESTER, NH – Pramod Nyaupane announced in April that he had purchased the old CVS pharmacy space at 947 Elm St., and that his plan was to have a “grab-and-go” convenience store open by June.
After checking in yesterday on the progress, it looks like everything is going as planned for Nyaupane, who will continue to operate Bunny’s Superette on Webster Street – known for being “the most winning” store for the NH Lottery faithful, also specializing in meat and other grocery items.
“It will be another week – we’re very close. By next week all the shelving will be in place,” Nyaupane says.
The new downtown location will be more of a convenience store than a supermarket, says Nyaupane. “I don’t want to be Subway. Grab-and-go – everything will be prepared.”
The idea is to have a little bit of everything – and if you need it and can’t find it at Bunny’s Convenience, let Nyaupane know and try to get it in stock for the next time you visit.
“We’ll be focusing more on convenience – anything people ask for, we’ll make a note and keep improving. We’ll start with the basics and build from there,” he says.
Workmen were busy Monday constructing the guts of the place – a large walk-in cooler area for beer and chilled wine takes up most of the side wall. And historic photographs are installed, framing the space just below the ceiling with iconic scenes from Manchester. Nyaupane gathered them with some help from John Clayton of the Manchester Historic Association.
Outside the store are giant Pepsi decals affixed to the windows, teasing what’s to come. The windows also are covered from the inside with brown paper, obstructing the interior view and adding to the anticipation of the big reveal.
There are also “No Loitering: Police Take Notice” signs posted on the exterior of the adjoining business, still vacant, to deter the homeless from congregating, which has been happening, especially while the place was empty.
But all that is changing. Developer Bill Binnie is bringing in residential and retail tenants on the next block for his property at 875 Elm St., making the addition of a downtown convenience store a seemingly wise investment.
Nyaupane says he expects to hire five or six new employees. He’s hired three so far, and will bring in some of his employees from the Webster Street store to fill in as needed. He has no idea how busy it will be, but based on the buzz, he’s expecting it will be a success.
“Everywhere I go everyone keeps asking me, ‘When are you going to open?’ I tell them soon,” Nyaupane says. Once everything’s in order he still has to pass a final inspection from the fire department. And then, a ribbon cutting.
He said it was always his hope to expand on the success of Bunny’s Superette with a second location since taking over Bunny’s Superette in April of 2010. Before that, the neighborhood market was run by Thomas Burke, says Nyaupane, who started the market in 1971 and named it after his kid sister, Bunny – now Bunny Donelson.
“She’s still around. She’s a Realtor. Maybe I need to bring her in for the grand opening,” says Nyaupane, with a broad smile. “I wanted to keep the name Bunny’s going, to have a link – not just to my other store, but also to its history.”
