Seniors see a changing landscape in Hanover and at the College

As the 2021 class passed through their four years of study, they saw significant closings, openings, and construction in the Hanover area.

by Andrew Sasser | 06/12/21 4:40 am

This article is included in the special edition at the beginning of 2021.

Since the 2021 class moved into the campus in autumn 2017, both the university and Hanover have undergone a significant change: construction projects, renovations and company closings and openings are changing the landscape both in the city center and on campus.

The past four years have seen construction of the new Center for Engineering and Computer Science building on the west end of the campus, due to open in the fall of 2021, as well as multi-million dollar ongoing renovations by Dartmouth, Thornton and Reed Halls. Other recent projects include renovations to Anonymous Hall, a building at the north end of campus that houses the Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies and the college’s undergraduate linguistics program, and the renovation of Moosilauke Ravine Lodge.

Hanover City Director Julia Griffin said that the “face of Hanover” on both the Dartmouth campus and in the city center has changed significantly over the past decade. She noted that although there was a “brief pause” in campus construction after the 2008 recession, there has been a lot of construction on campus since then.

“A number of companies have also migrated over the past decade and four years,” Griffin said. “Students in the 2011 class who might be returning to campus would be shocked to see that stores like Dartmouth Bookstore and Canoe Club have long since ceased to exist.”

Still North Books & Bar and My Brigadeiro both occupy the space previously occupied by the Dartmouth Bookstore, which closed its doors in 2018. Allie Levy ’11, owner of Still North, said that while Hanover looks “architecturally the same” as it did 10 years ago, companies have seen “a lot of sales”. She added that some “standout” businesses during her time in Dartmouth – like Everything But Anchovies, a pizzeria and the long-running Hanoverian staple often referred to as EBAs – have since closed.

In recent years, some retailers – such as Zimmerman’s and Rambler’s Way clothing stores, Wheelock Books, and Eastman’s Pharmacy – have all gone out of business. Last year, numerous restaurants in Hanover, including the Salt Hill Pub, The Skinny Pancake, Market Table and Morano Gelato, also closed permanently. Griffin added that while the COVID-19 had influenced their decisions to close, all four restaurants were “financially fatigued” prior to the pandemic.

“It was really sad to see how many of these Hanoverians are walking,” said Griffin. “However, with the pandemic nearing its end, the commercial property market is really booming and many new restaurants are preparing to move to the city.”

Lou’s restaurant manager Craig Morley said the past year has had a “big impact” on restaurants in Hanover as many have “experimented” with expanded take-out and al fresco dining that were limited before the pandemic.

“We were really fortunate enough to have the city support so we could take over parking lots and sidewalks for al fresco dining,” said Morley.

New restaurants that have opened in recent months include the Dunks sports bar, Impasto Italian restaurant and The Nest café. Other stores such as Still North and the J. McLaughlin clothing store opened before the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Griffin noted that while there has been a lot of “bullism” in setting up new restaurants in town, interest in opening new retail stores has remained low in recent years. She referred to the “Amazonization” of the retail trade – smaller retailers are “unable to compete with large retail stores and online sellers”.

“With a large proportion of our city’s population being college students who are more online-minded, interest in smaller retailers has declined significantly,” said Griffin.

Griffin added that there has been a “resurgence” in support of local businesses, including both restaurants and retailers, during the pandemic. She said many of the Upper Valley’s “year-round” residents had developed an “increased appreciation” for local small businesses because many of them were able to stay open in some way during the pandemic.

“Looking ahead, I think these retailers will try to pay more attention to our year-round residents than to students who are more likely to shop online,” Griffin said.

Morley added that the people of Hanover, who wanted to make sure that shops could stay open, “give a lot of support” to the catering industry.

“We still get takeaway and alfresco dining people every day to thank us for staying open,” said Morley. “Also, even though many students weren’t around in the spring and summer, they flocked to us to take out and eat outside.”

Levy said that Hanover residents supported Still North and had “a great emotional bond” with the existence of a bookstore in the city.

“Even though we were only a three month old company, during the pandemic people came out to support us and buy books,” Levy said. “People were very patient with us when we figured out how to do business online, as it wasn’t my plan originally to have online orders.”

Looking ahead, Griffin and Morley said that Hanover’s landscape will look different in the future, but much of the city’s “character” will remain the same. Morley added that he expects some changes from the pandemic, such as more extensive outdoor dining options, which will continue for years to come.

“The business scene in Hanover will continue to adapt, grow and be successful,” said Griffin. “We don’t know what Hanover will look like in five or ten years, but the local economy will stay.”

Levy said she hoped that many of the “proven” Hanoverian establishments would continue to exist in the years to come, despite the fluctuation in business in the city.

“Since it’s a small university town, renting will always be a challenge because the town is a sought-after market,” said Levy. “In view of the current vacancies in the city, however, I hope that we will continue to attract new companies and make Hanover an exciting location for gastronomy and retail.”

source https://collegeeducationnewsllc.com/seniors-see-a-changing-landscape-in-hanover-and-at-the-college/