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Remix Fallout Continues: Council Member, Police Chief Weigh-In

By Richard Girard Executive Vice President Sunshine Communications, LLC
Publisher of the Eagle Times
CLAREMONT, NH April 15, 2023—The Remix Coffee Bar and Social Club has decided to close its doors after being told by its new landlord, DUB Holdings, LLC of Bedford, NH that its lease won’t be renewed. In our last article (Let’s Make a Deal: Claremont Mayor Offers to Mediate Remix Rental Dispute | News | eagletimes.com), we shared the concerns of Claremont Mayor Dale Girard, who offered to meet with both parties in the hopes of keeping Remix alive and operating. As the drug crisis continues to wreak havoc on the region, Girard’s not alone in believing Remix is vital.

Ward 2 City Councilor Scott Pope, a former mayor, said he supported Girard’s offer to mediate a solution. “I’ll do whatever I can to support the mayor’s efforts,” he said. He’d be willing to be there with the mayor if the talks happened, calling Remix “a big part of our community.”

Like Girard, Pope worries about the impact Remix’s closure will have on efforts to battle the city’s drug crisis. “Remix is a valuable resource for the community,” said Pope, who praised both its good works in the community and transparency with the Claremont City Council. He was among those at Remix’s opening six years ago. He called the situation “unfortunate” and hoped Remix would find an alternate place to operate if things don’t work out.

When asked about the circumstances surrounding the announcement, Pope said, “You would hope that they would talk to each other and work it out. I hate to see this happening to them. They have a great mission and are valuable to everyone in town. I hope Remix can stay within our community and continue to be a vital part of it.”

If the mayor’s offer to broker a deal to keep Remix in its current space fails, Pope’s hope will be held in vain. In an interview with the Eagle Times, Remix proprietor Jimmy Neilsen said Remix would not relocate, explaining that they had raised more than $100,000 to improve their current space, not including the countless volunteer hours to do the work. “After having the lease terminated for no reason, we’re not going to put ourselves in this position with another landlord,” he said.

Claremont Police Chief Brent Wilmot sees the looming departure of Remix as a big loss for the community and a negative for public safety. “It’s a shame. Remix offers something good for the city and the recovery community. When we lose good businesses downtown, it’s damaging.” He added, “It’s no mystery that Claremont has struggled with substance abuse and recovery. We need a robust recovery community and Remix is a huge part of it.” Wilmot said recovery services are critical to reducing drug related crime and that Remix’s approach to creating a recovery community attracts people downtown who want “to do things that are wholesome.”

Wilmot has attended several events at Remix, including “Coffee with a Cop” where citizens are welcomed to speak with him and any other officers present about public safety concerns. Remix has done well soliciting grants, including for the PD, that help people get into recovery or maintain their sobriety. It’s even contributed to the department’s Red and Blue youth summer programming. “This city needs more positive, can-do people like Jimmy Neilsen and more businesses like Remix to make it a better, more attractive place. In 2023, we’re starting to wear away the stigma of Recovery and Remix has had a big role to play in that.”

Eliminating that stigma is critical to helping people get into recovery and remain clean and sober. In our next article, we introduce Shawn Cannizzaro from Hope 2 Freedom Recovery Homes. He said Remix not only saved his life but also inspired him to come to Claremont and help others with their recovery. It’s a story that demonstrates how effective and important Remix and Neilsen are to recovery in the Sugar River Valley.

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