O’Brien’s turns 50: The little store that became a Seabrook landmark

SEABROOK — It has stood on Bachelder Road since 1975, but Carmel O’Brien never imagined her namesake general store would become a beloved local landmark — serving residents and travelers for half a century.

In the mid-'70s, 8 Bachelder Road was nothing but an empty lot when Skip McDonnell purchased the property on the corner of Route 107. With Interstate 95 only a stone’s throw away, the location was perfectly positioned to welcome commuters and out-of-state visitors alike.

By the time construction wrapped, McDonnell had built a Citgo gas station, a restaurant called Master McGrath’s , and a convenience store named for his sister, Carmel O’Brien. All destined to become local icons, they welcome visitors to New Hampshire at I-95's Exit 1.

“My brother told me, ‘Why don’t you put in