We are another step closer in the conversion of JP's Superette into a new restaurant. On Saturday, Feb 27, we received from the State of New Hampshire, notification that our Trade Name, How's Your Onion, has been approved. Therefore, it is with great pride that we update the website with this name and ask that you spread the word.
Owned by Doug and Roz for the past 26 years, JPs Superette, a small independent convenience store, has operated in Derry since the 1960s. Unfortunately, increased competition from chain stores and big box stores in town made it no longer viable or profitable and on February 27, JPs Superette closed its doors.
While the past months have been bitter-sweet, Doug and Roz are looking forward to the exciting changes going on. Having passed the zoning board unanimously to convert the store into a small eatery, destruction and reconstruction has already begun. Plans are moving quickly and should come before the Planning Board sometime this month or early April.
The restaurant will remain family run and Doug and Roz hope to see many familiar faces when "How's Your Onion?" opens this summer. They would also like to thank everyone for their support and patronage over the years as well as for all the kind words in recent days regarding closing.
By Julie Huss This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Wed Aug 25, 2010, 02:36 PM EDT
DERRY — Marc-Damian Hartley remembers hearing his grandfather greet the grandchildren with a favorite phrase.
"How's your onion?" the man would call out to the children, who would respond with "good enough to make you cry."
Now Hartley, a longtime restaurant proprietor, is bringing his traditions and a new business to town, celebrating his grandfather's favorite words and replacing a family-run convenience store that stood for decades along a busy Derry street.
How's Your Onion, a new eatery coming to an old superette near you...
By CAROL ROBIDOUX
Union Leader Correspondent
(Online Version)
DERRY – After 26 years in the corner store business, Doug and Roz Hartley called it quits. They sold everything from the dusty shelves of their little family-run JP's Superette a few months ago, turned out the lights and considered the future.
"Things changed in the 26 years since we bought the place," said Roz Hartley. "Back then, Londonderry was farms, there were only nine stores in town, and were were a full fledged grocery store. People came here for everything."
She said buying the store was a dream fulfilled, but not without calculated risk of failure.
This JUST in: the site survey has been completed and has confirmed that there is plenty of parking to accommodate our plan for 55 person capacity! Now...on to the planning board.
The Derry, NH planning board meets the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month. If we are lucky to get on the calendar (and are prepared), the earliest we could get a hearing is April 21st. And if we miss that, we will have to wait until May 5th.
Spiked mashed potatoes only a start at Derry eatery
By Angel Roy
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
A serious man, Marc-Damian Hartley’s late grandfather would show his grandchildren his whimsical side by asking them, with a sideways smile, “How’s your onion?”
“Good enough to make you cry, Nanno,” they would reply.
It is the warm friendly feeling of family gatherings at his grandparents’ house that Hartley has hoped to create at his new Derry eatery, named How’s Your Onion? in homage to his Nanno, who died 10 years ago.
Please wait...
