The Common Man Roadside convenience store chain is rapidly expanding in New Hampshire. The company touts that its stores have a uniquely New England look and feel. Building on the success of The Common Man Roadside at the Hooksett Welcome Centers on Interstate 93, The Common Man Roadside Market & Deli is a restaurant within a convenience store with an open kitchen concept.
The first Common Man Roadside Market & Deli opened in Plymouth, New Hampshire, in October 2019. A second store is set to open in Manchester, the state’s largest city, in May. More Common Man Roadsides are planned to be built across the state in the future.
Developed by partners in the New Hampshire hospitality industry, The Common Man Roadside Market & Deli has a Granite State theme, featuring a mill building architectural style with a granite façade. The inside features an arched ceiling with walls lined with wood recycled from a 19th Century New Hampshire barn. It offers a made-to-order food counter for breakfast, lunch and dinner, including classic breakfasts, pastries, deli and grilled sandwiches, burgers salads, pasta, homemade soups, and “fast-fired” pizza. There is a gas fireplace with couches, table and bar seating, a “grab-and-go” section, and a barista coffee bar. The convenience store also has Irving fuel pumps.
“While people want to be in and out quickly, they are still looking for good quality food,” says Common Man Roadside managing partner Brad Pernaw. “We also want to provide an inviting place for them to hang out. There are not many convenience stores out there where you can go and have dinner, but we’ve created a great alternative to cooking at home.”
Inspiration for the convenience store came from The Common Man Roadside at the Hooksett Welcome Centers on I-93, a public-private partnership between the State of New Hampshire and Granite State Hospitality. The welcome centers, complete with general stores, Common Man Roadside Food Courts, Hi-Way Diners, Common Man Joe Cafes, and fueling stations, opened to the public in the spring of 2015.
