NH seeks lease to redevelop Hampton Interstate 95 liquor store properties

The New Hampshire Liquor Commission is moving forward with finding a partner to enter into a long-term lease to redevelop 88 acres along Interstate 95 in Hampton, currently the site of two NH Liquor & Wine Outlets and rest areas.

The commission announced this week that it issued a combined request for qualifications and request for proposals seeking a company to construct and operate new service areas on the property.

The move comes after the state abandoned plans in May to sell the properties on Interstate 95 in Hampton despite a lengthy process where four companies were in the running to take ownership of the property.

At the time, Gov. Kelly Ayotte defended the decision, stating the location is “a gateway to our state and should reflect the character and beauty of New Hampshire — not the New Jersey Turnpike.”

“Over the past 90 years, the New Hampshire Liquor Commission has delivered more than $4.7 billion in revenue to support essential state services through sales at our NH Liquor & Wine Outlets,” said NHLC Chairman Joseph Mollica. “We look forward to introducing two new, state-of-the-art NH Liquor & Wine Outlets on I-95 alongside first-class, New Hampshire-centered offerings that will continue to support our mission for the next 90 years.”

According to the RFQ and RFP, the new service areas architecture should convey themes embodied in New Hampshire’s culture, history and visual aesthetics that are emblematic of the state’s four-season tourism appeal. Essential services should be provided, including fueling and parking, restrooms, a visitor information center, a convenience store and more. Facilities shall provide locally or regionally branded food concepts and major branded or locally recognized fuel concepts.

The Liquor Commission plans to enter into a ground lease agreement with the selected developer/operator for a minimum of 35 years, with two optional five-year extensions at the commission’s sole discretion. During the lease term, the developer/operator will assume full financial responsibility for redeveloping, maintaining, and operating the service area facilities — excluding the NH Liquor & Wine Outlets, which will remain financed, owned, and maintained by the commission.

The commission is looking to build two new 22,000 square-foot Hampton NH Liquor & Wine Outlets on the site, offering twice the selection of the existing locations. The commission projects that the two new outlets will result in incremental increased sales surpassing the current $45.4 million generated annually.

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, according to state officials, carries an average of 86,000 vehicles per day in both directions, with summertime peaks of over 125,000 vehicles per day. The Hampton NH Liquor & Wine Outlet properties are less than 5 miles from the Massachusetts state border and less than 20 miles from the Maine border.

In late 2022, the commission secured a significant rezoning of the property via a Hampton Town Meeting vote to create an “interstate corridor overlay district,” enabling multiple permitted uses on the property. The new zoning allowed retail, restaurants, gas stations, emergency response roadside vehicle repair, electric vehicle charging stations, higher education recruitment center, visitor/welcome center, and outdoor recreational areas.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald. Reporting by Staff report.