Golden Pond Country Store    

May 24, 2008

Thanks to all who attended our Grand Opening.  It was a great day! 

Check out our Breakfast Buffet now open Saturday and Sunday from 7AM - 11AM.

For the second year running we are proud to announce that our chili was selected as the best in the Squam Lake region. 

The annual Winter Fest was held at the Squam Lakes Association in February and featured a variety of activities as well as the annual chili contest.  Competition was tough this year with some of the best of the regions restaurants submitting entries.

Renovations by new owners, Steve and Lisa Merrill,

turn a tired building into an inviting meeting place

 HOLDERNESS, N.H. – March 14 -- Golden Pond Country Store in Holderness was profiled in a highly respected national trade magazine for the convenience store market, CSP Independent.  The article focuses on the dramatic makeover of the Holderness landmark. 

 The new owners, Steve and Lisa Merrill, bought the store a little over a year ago and have given the tired building a long overdue facelift. The renovations were completed in two phases during the spring and fall of 2007, so that the store could remain open to service the community.  “Many people in town rely on our store for basic items so they don’t have to drive to Ashland or Plymouth, and we didn’t want to let them down, even for a day,” said Steve Merrill.

 Once the Pine Shore Restaurant, the building was converted to a convenience store in 1991.  After purchasing the store in December 2006, the Merrills hired a local architect to redesign the building to look more like an Adirondack-styled lodge, which is consistent with the overall environment.  Understanding that the building was an integral part of the Holderness community, the Merrills designed the store to be a local meeting place.  “We wanted to create a warm, friendly environment where you could come in and have a hot cup of coffee on a cold winter day; a place where everybody knows your name,” he said.

 The Merrills relocated to New Hampshire eight years ago after long careers in high technology and publishing.  Having always vacationed in the Lakes Region, they were drawn to the area’s beauty and tranquility and were anxious to leave the rat race of corporate America.  Moreover, they were looking for a better place to raise their three children and enjoy a more relaxed lifestyle. 

 For the Merrills, recognition in a national magazine is a welcome sign that their efforts to renovate the store are drawing positive attention. “So far, the feedback from the community has been favorable,” said Merrill. “But we’re interested in always improving, so we’ll continue to listen to our customers and make sure Golden Pond Country Store offers what they need.”

ABOUT GOLDEN POND COUNTRY STORE

Located near the shores of Squam Lake in Holderness, N.H., Golden Pond Country Store offers a wide variety of grocery items and homemade foods. The store offers a full-service deli, daily homemade lunch specials, an award-winning chili, hot soups, homemade pizza, Roadies fried chicken, subs, home-baked goods and breakfast items. The store also serves Green Mountain Coffee, Boars Head cold cuts and Hershey’s ice cream.

Golden Pond Country Store is open Monday through Friday, 6am to 9 pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 7am to 9pm.  For more information about the store, please visit http://www.goldenpondcountrystore.com/home

ABOUT CSP INDEPENDENT

CSP Independent (the Convenience Store/Petroleum for Independent operators) journal is a widely distributed periodical designed for the titled industry.  It details industry trends and forecasts and provides information regarding a variety of merchandise.  The magazine is a staple of every convenience store owner.  The article can be found online at www.cspnet.com

We are an official Marine Corps Toys for Tots drop off site.  Look for our drop boox next Christmas season.  Thanks to all who contributed last year..