New Hampshire Charm Or Massachusetts Muscle? Two Very Different Bids For I-95 Welcome Center

By Leonard Robinson, NH Journal

When Gov. Kelly Ayotte pulled the plug on plans to sell land along I-95 and create a state-owned welcome center in Hampton, she called it a “gateway to our state that should reflect the charm and beauty of New Hampshire — not the New Jersey turnpike.”

But does she want it to look like the Mass Pike instead?

Two companies are competing for the contract to develop and operate the welcome center. One is the locally owned Common Man Roadside — a spinoff of the popular Common Man restaurant chain founded by Alex Ray.

The other is convenience retailer Global Partners, based across the state line in Massachusetts.

Supporters of the Common Man Roadside bid say that if you want New Hampshire charm, it’s the obvious choice.

“I worked with them on developing the Hooksett service center, and they did an excellent job of weaving in aspects of the New Hampshire lifestyle,” said former New Hampshire state tourism director Lori Harnois. “We felt like they really brought the essence of what New Hampshire is all about.”

Global Partners, which has teamed up with New Hampshire businessman and casino developer Dick Anagnost, says it has been doing business in the Granite State for years.

“Global Partners owns, operates, or supplies 92 retail locations in New Hampshire — fuel stations and convenience markets that serve Granite State families and commuters every single day,” a spokesperson told NH Journal.

The more serious challenge for Global Partners, however, may not be that they’re based in the Bay State, but how they do business there.

When the company lost a $1.5 billion bid to operate 18 MassDOT service centers to an Irish firm last June, Global Partners didn’t do what the other bidders did and accept the outcome. Instead, it took Massachusetts to court, challenging the decision and filing a lawsuit against MassDOT.

Global Partners also waged a PR war against the winning bidder, Ireland-based Applegreen. After months of attacks and delays, Applgree abandoned the deal in September, citing “continued litigation threats from an opposing bidder that have jeopardized the project’s timeline and financing.”

Now Global Partners is pushing for the contract again, and Massachusetts is years away from having a deal to operate its service centers.

Global Partners is also being sued by the Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) for allegedly polluting the waters of Chelsea Creek with petroleum byproducts at its oil terminals in Chelsea and Revere. A judge ruled in September that the CLF lawsuit can proceed.

Contacted by NHJournal, Brad Pernaw, Managing Partner of The Common Man Roadside, promoted what he sees as the positive aspects of its bid.

“We believe our approach is the best for New Hampshire. We’re confident it reflects what travelers to our state actually expect from a welcome center experience,” Pernaw said.

“The Hooksett Welcome Centers on I-93 are proof of our concept, where we have spent 10 years showcasing the best of New Hampshire — local vendors, local products, local character. The performance data speaks for itself.”

The Hooksett location was the original inspiration behind the Sununu administration’s decision in 2024 to seek a buyer to redevelop the Liquor Commission’s properties on either side of I-95 in Hampton. They currently only offer liquor sales.

“Very few sites in the country offer the unique development opportunities available in Hampton,” state Liquor Commission Chairman Joseph Mollica said at the time.

The target was to raise $15 million from the sale, and both Common Man and Global Partners were among the bidders.

But Ayotte reversed course, turning the project from a land purchase to a partnership.

“One of the things I love about the way we have done the rest areas in New Hampshire is that it is a very New Hampshire solution,” Ayotte said during an October 29, 2025, press conference. “You go into the rest area, and you can tell you are promoting New Hampshire.

“My hope in the end is that this is a wonderful opportunity for New Hampshire not only to raise revenue but to do it in a way that promotes New Hampshire and New Hampshire vendors.”

Global Partners believes it is the right choice for the state.

“A 30-year public-private infrastructure commitment is only as strong as the partner standing behind it, and that is where Global Partners’ story becomes most compelling,” the company said. “Together, we are bringing development expertise, strong financial backing, experienced operators, and a hospitality-driven retail experience designed around travelers and the character of New Hampshire.”

George Bald, who served as commissioner of the Department of Resources and Economic Development for Gov. Jeanne Shaheen, says he would pick Common Man, “and feel very good about it.”

“Common Man has shown over history what a good job they do. They are a showcase for New Hampshire when you walk in their doors.”

A decision on the Hampton project is expected later this month. Which side has the advantage?

When the principals involved in the deal gathered at the property in November, Anagnost flew in on his helicopter. According to multiple sources, he landed on the wrong side of the interstate.

He may be on the wrong side again.

This story was originally published by the NH Journal, an online news publication dedicated to providing fair, unbiased reporting on, and analysis of, political news of interest to New Hampshire. For more stories from the NH Journal, visit NHJournal.com.