BEYOND THE PLATE WITH CAROL
You know when you sit down with someone and within a few minutes you realize…
this is going to be more than just a conversation about food?
That was this one.
When Nick sat down with me on Beyond the Plate with Carol Episode 3, I thought we were going to talk about Shoppers, the menu, and what he’s building there.
And we did.
But this conversation went way beyond that.
Because this one was really about Manchester.
“When one place wins, the whole city wins.”
It Started With History — And Respecting It
When Nick sat down with me on Beyond the Plate with Carol Episode 3, one of the first things that stood out is how intentional everything felt.
Shoppers did not start in Manchester.
It started in Waltham, Massachusetts, back in 1937.
That kind of history matters.
And when they brought Shoppers into Manchester, into the old Indian Head Athletics building, they did not try to erase what was there.
They leaned into it.
The floors. The layout. The character of the space.
It feels familiar for a reason.
And I think people can feel that the second they walk in.
Consistency Over Perfection
Of course, we talked about the food.
Because that always matters.
But what I really liked is how Nick described their approach.
He is not trying to be the best.
He is not trying to be flashy.
He wants to be consistently good.
And after 39 years in this business, I can tell you that is exactly the goal.
They are doing things the right way.
Making food in-house.
Paying attention to details.
Focusing on quality that people can count on.
The pizza is a big part of that.
Simple. Thin crust. Not overly greasy.
And honestly, that simple cheese pizza test tells you everything.
Competition That Actually Helps Everyone
This was one of my favorite parts of the conversation.
Nick talked about the social media back-and-forth with other pizza places.
And if you have seen it, you know what I mean.
But it is not really about competition.
It is about creating conversation.
Getting people to try one place.
Then another.
Then another.
And before you know it, people are exploring the city in a way they were not before.
That is smart.
Because when one place succeeds, it brings attention to everything around it.
Thinking Bigger Than One Restaurant
This is where the conversation shifted.
And honestly, this is what made this episode stand out.
We started talking about Manchester as a whole.
The Downtown Manchester Collaborative.
Business owners coming together.
Not just to talk.
But to actually do something.
And Nick has stepped right into that.
Organizing.
Connecting people.
Showing up.
Even taking the time to understand what is really happening downtown.
That matters.
Because it is easy to have opinions.
It is much harder to be part of the solution.
Creating Reasons for People to Come Downtown
We talked about something that I think is so important.
It is not just about restaurants.
It is about the full experience.
Retail.
Events.
Energy.
Things like Shop the Block, bringing businesses out onto the street, giving people a reason to walk around and discover something new.
That is how you build momentum.
Because getting people downtown is one thing.
Getting them to stay is another.
What Is Coming Next
There is a lot happening.
And this part really got me excited.
The old City Hall Pub space is being reimagined.
Mocha Pot is expanding into that space, creating more of a lounge feel.
Not just grab-and-go.
A place to actually sit and spend time.
And then there is the idea of a mocktail bar.
Which I think is incredibly smart.
The demand is there.
And it adds something new to the city.
When you start layering all of this together, you can see what is happening.
It is not one project.
It is momentum.
What Stayed With Me
After all these years, I have learned something simple.
Restaurants are never just about food.
They are about people.
They are about place.
They are about how something feels.
And this conversation reminded me of that.
Nick is not just focused on one restaurant.
He is thinking about the bigger picture.
How the city works.
How it grows.
How people experience it.
And honestly, we need more of that.
Full episode is live now. Episode 3 of Beyond the Plate with Carol.
Find us on YouTube at youtube.com/@beyondtheplatewithcarol,
on Spotify, and everywhere you listen to podcasts.
If you have not been to Shoppers yet, go.
Try the pizza.
Sit for a while.
Look around.
And then go explore somewhere else downtown too.
Because that is the whole point.
Carol
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ABOUT CAROL ERICKSON
Carol Erickson has owned Red Arrow Diner since 1987 -- four locations across New Hampshire, open 24/7. She started Beyond the Plate to tell the real stories behind the people who make New England's food and hospitality scene what it is. Not just what's on the menu. What's behind it.
Red Arrow Diner: redarrowdiner.com | @redarrow24diner