Roy’s Market will officially expand to offer a kitchen and cafe bar, seating and more accessible entrance options after the Peterborough Planning Board unanimously approved its plans on Wednesday.
The plan to expand Roy’s Market into the building formerly known as Maggie’s Market includes an accessible ramp entrance and large awning on Main Street and an additional formal entrance and smaller awning facing Depot Square, as well as 10 more parking spaces in Depot Square.
The plan is to build out Maggie’s Market to include a kitchen, cafe bar, indoor seating and outdoor seating facing Main Street, according to Brad Miller, co-owner of Roy’s Market. They also plan to add a bathroom compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Eventually, Roy’s Market will expand by removing the wall between the two buildings.
Miller said this plan lets Roy’s stay open throughout the process. The goal is to complete construction by summer 2027.
The loading docks for the Maggie’s Market building will be removed and the floor will be raised about nine inches to meet federal standards, said Chris Anderson, co-owner of Roy’s Market.
Additionally, the historic entrance to Roy’s Market will be closed and replaced with a more formal and accessible entrance at the Maggie’s property.
Chad Branon, owner of Fieldstone Land Consultants, presented the plans and said since the preliminary hearing in August, they added landscaping in front of Roy’s Market and along the walkway between Maggie’s Market and the Bellows-Nichols Insurance building.
In response to board comments and weather concerns, the construction will also replace the cobblestone walkway between the two buildings with concrete for easier access. Branon said this will make snow clean-up easier and allow people using the handicap parking in the rear to access the ramp to the front entrance.
The select board will discuss placement for the handicapped parking since it’s considered a town issue. Branon said they’ll provide a handicap spot on the far right behind Maggie’s Market if the town places one on the other side of the walkway.
“We believe that these will be significant improvements, and will allow Roy’s and Maggie’s to get back into full operation,” Branon said.
Minutes after approval, the plans were signed and submitted to Danica Miller, director of Planning and Building. Branon said the site plans were already finalized to meet the timeline.