Portsmouth Liquor Store Construction Officially Completed

PORTSMOUTH, NH — The New Hampshire Liquor Commission has announced that the construction of the new liquor store at the Portsmouth traffic circle is now officially complete. Since the new 22,000-square-foot outlet was opened last fall, the location has already seen a 20-percent increase in sales year-over-year, compared to the original outlet that had been at that location, according to the commission.

Over the past several months, the new building has been open as workers have been completing parking improvements and other construction at the site. The original 11,000-square-foot building has been demolished as part of the project.

With a 20-percent sales increase, the new outlet has already exceeded the Liquor Commission's initial projections of $26 million in annual sales , which would have represented an increase of $3.5 million, or 16 percent, the commission said in a statement.

"The success of our new Portsmouth NH Liquor & Wine Outlet is a perfect example of how our investments in enhancing our Outlet locations are paying off for New Hampshire residents," said N.H. Liquor Commission Chairman Joseph Mollica. "The Portsmouth Traffic Circle is a marquee location and is the fifth-highest grossing Outlet statewide in terms of total sales. We anticipate continued sales growth with the busy summer travel season approaching quickly."

One of the location's benefits is its location at the traffic circle, with an easy access from Route 1, Interstate 95 and the Spaulding Turnpike. The outlet serves no only area residents, but also millions that travel to New Hampshire's seacoast and to Maine, the commission said.

The new outlet features coastal architectural themes and a selection of more than 6,000 sizes and varieties of wines and spirits. Other enhancements include efficient LED fixtures and HVAC, epoxy resinous flooring, spacious aisles, Outlet Price Busters and Wine Power Buys section, an expanded selection of premium and ultra-premium products and iPad kiosks for wine and food pairings.

The New Hampshire Liquor Commission has opened 30 new or renovated locations since 2012 in communities of Bedford, Colebrook, Concord, Epping, Gilford, Hooksett, Hampstead, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lincoln, Londonderry, Manchester, Merrimack, Milford, Nashua, New Hampton, North Hampton, Pembroke, Peterborough, Plaistow, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Rochester, Salem, Seabrook, Warner and West Chesterfield.

The commission also announced this month that it plans to build the first liquor store in Tilton. Construction is also well under way on the new outlets in West Lebanon and at the Dover-Somersworth city line.