The future of the one hardware store for miles around, a landmark Allenstown enterprise for several decades, is coming closer to an end. The Aubuchon Hardware Store has been a landmark for several decades and has served area residents with every need from nuts and bolts to shrubs and plants to pallets of wood pellets and propane tank refills. It is now to be replaced by a famous fast food restaurant, McDonald’s.
At the April 23rd Zoning Board meeting, Connor Ennis, the McDonald’s Engineer, explained that the site would consist of a new 690 square foot McDonald’s restaurant, a paved parking lot with 42 spaces, and updated landscaping. The drive-thru would be side by side with two order points merging into one lane to the cash window. This will reduce customer waiting time and help with the flow of traffic.
In addition to the one 25 sq. ft. business sign, McDonald’s requested a variance for four additional smaller signs to display the available menu and what the customer ordered. After some discussion, the variance was granted.
It was also estimated that the restaurant would require about 5,000 gallons of water per day. The Pembroke Water Dept. may be able to supply that quantity but the Allenstown Sewer Dept. would need to investigate the old sewer line to determine if the line is big enough to handle that additional flow.
