By: Paul Briand, Seacoast Online 
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Judging from social media, a lot of people were surprised at the bang-bang closing announcements of two downtown coffee shops late last month.

But, for two real estate brokers based in Portsmouth, the changes are just part of the normal ebb and flow in the downtown market that they say remains very desirable to commercial and retail enterprises.

“The demand is there in downtown Portsmouth,” said Christian Stallkamp, senior broker with the Boulos Company, a commercial brokerage company at 14 Manchester Square at Pease International Tradeport. “Businesses want to be there, and they’re willing to pay that dollar amount.”

“Leases come up all the time,” added David Choate, executive vice president of Colliers International at 500 Market St. “There’s always that ebb and flow. New tenants come in. Some tenants just move from one location to another for better visibility.”

Social media started to buzz in late December with the announcements that Breaking New Grounds and Profile Coffee Bar were closing.
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Breaking New Grounds, located in the heart of Market Square, announced Dec. 28 it was closing for good Jan. 3 in order to sell its building to Tuscan Kitchen, which plans to move its market from its current location on Lafayette Road to the downtown location and add a café.

By: Tom Eastman, Conway Daily Sun

The owner of the North Conway Grand Hotel is planning a three-story addition at the property adjacent to Settlers Green in North Conway.
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Bellevue Properties of Middletown, R.I., is expected to appear before the Conway Planning Board on Jan. 24 to begin site-plan review for a 8,335-square-foot, 33-room, three-story addition as well as a 10,260-square foot enclosed pool, according to Conway Town Hall.

The project also would involve a new, 2,560-square-foot lobby and porte-cochere.

Plans were filed with the planning board Dec. 31, 2018, by David Fenstermacher of VHB Engineers of Bedford.

“I plan to be there on the 24th along with one of the owners,” Fenstermacher said Monday.

“We have received an application, but the deadline for the agenda for the Jan. 24 planning board meeting is not set until Friday, so that could be subject to change,” said Town Planning Assistant Holly Meserve.