Service Merchandise (Manchester)

This store opened as a Bi-Rite catalog store in the mid-1960s, being their second location. The location was around 20,000 sq ft. Sometime in the 1960s, Bi-rite was bought by Value House catalog stores. Starting in early fall 1977, the store would receive a 20,000 ft expansion, including 10,000 sq ft of new warehouse space and 10,000 sq ft of showroom space. This expansion also included the demolition of the building next to the store for more parking and the new store space. In 1978, Service Merchandise bought out Value House. The store would remain a Bi-Rite until February-March 1979, when Service Merchandise would take over the space. Around the same time, Service Merchandise closed the first Bi-Rite store in Franklin, New Hampshire. The store remained in the building until Service Merchandise decided to close the store. The store started its going-out-of-business sale around late September 1991. The store later closed on December 24th, 1991, most likely because of their other store on South Willow St. The store would have a fixture auction on January 6th 1992, and would remain vacant until being purchased by WMUR ( New Hampshire's Main news broadcaster) on July 30th 1994. The space would be converted into their newsroom and would later be expanded throughout 2000-2001 with new entrances and storage spaces. Throughout the years, there have been changes in signage.