The High Country’s newest brewery celebrates its grand opening on Saturday, July 5. Held at Flat Top Brewing Company on Main Street in Banner Elk, the event will feature at least six beers on tap, live music, catered food and raffle giveaways. The forthcoming opening is a long time coming and a welcome sight to owner Nathan Paris’ eyes.
BY JESSE WOOD
Photo by Jesse Wood
In two weeks, Boone Bagelry will turn 26 years old, which is the same age as Natalie Nicastro, the oldest daughter of owners Tony and Donna Nicastro. Natalie, who was practically raised in the downtown restaurant, is now a business partner with her parents. She became a joint owner of Boone Bagelry when a second location opened beside the iconic waterwheel along N.C. 105 last September.
BY JESSE WOOD
Photo by Ken Ketchie
The elegant yet unpretentious Gamekeeper Restaurant, famous for cuisine that fuses the traditional with the exotic, is back open after a two-month hiatus to address what was essentially bad luck on top of the costs of doing business. Just over a year ago, the owners of the Gamekeeper Restaurant had to dig a new well because of a planning oversight that occurred years before Ken and Wendy Gordon bought the restaurant in 2000.
BY JESSE WOOD
Photo by Ken Ketchie
If you take a look around the Grandfather Mountain Nursery Garden Center and Landscaping, you will be greeted by the smell of flowers, the sights of spring and one very particularly fluffy puppy. “Someone once said that the earth laughs in flowers, and I agree,” said Theresa Foxx, owner of the company. “I am grounded by everything here, no pun intended.” By Madison V. Fisler – Photo by Ken Ketchie
“So far, so good,” said Danielle Stewart with a laugh. Stewart and her husband, Robb did what many people only dream of doing 22 years ago, and some people just plain called them crazy. In 1992, the Stewarts quit their corporate jobs, packed up their 5-month-old daughter and opened up what is now a High Country gardening institution. For more than two decades, the Stewarts have operated The Mustard Seed Market in Blowing Rock. By Madison V. Fisler – Photos by Ken Ketchie
Leslie Sullivan was in high school whenever her father Harris Campbell, a reputable banker in Boone, started renting port-a-johns on the side. In 1972, Harris decided to buy a trailer load of these portable restrooms on the way back from vacationing in Newport News, Va., and parked them in a vacant lot behind their home on Farthing Street. To say the least, Sullivan wasn’t thrilled about the prospects of having a backyard full of portable toilets.
BY JESSE WOOD
Photo by Ken Ketchie
The dress, the cake, the venue and everything else are all just puzzle pieces that together make up the complete picture of a perfect wedding day. But wading through all the choices, making decisions and finding the right vendors and services for the big day is a daunting and intimidating task for many High Country brides. Elizabeth Hempfling, a Boone native and longtime professional event planner found the answer when she launched the Wedding Resource Center two years ago. Now centrally located on King Street in downtown Boone, the resource center pledges to help brides find exactly what they are looking for in a sea of options. Story and Photos by Madison V. Fisler
Celebrating its ninth anniversary this month, Capone’s Pizza has become an institution in downtown Boone, thriving in a location that once was dubbed cursed because of the many businesses failing before “partners in crime” – Chris Staggs and Pete Shurba – opened the pizzeria in March of 2005. “Now, people say we have a great location, but it didn’t start out like that,” Staggs said.
BY JESSE WOOD
Photo by Ken Ketchie
1st Tracks in Boone has truly become an institution to this area. Located on N.C. 105 close to Appalachian State University’s campus, the little shop in Boone has been serving skiers and snowboarders in the High Country for almost 30 years. by Madison V. Fisler – Photo by Ken Ketchie
It’s almost that time of year again. That’s right, the highly-anticipated annual Spyder Sample Sale will kick off at Sugar Mountain Sports Shop on Thursday, Feb. 27 and continue until the very end of the ski season. The sample sale allows guests to snag a first-look at Spyder’s entire 2015 line, and nab some product at fantastic prices. By Madison V. Fisler – Photo by Ken Ketchie
About 30 years ago during a major renovation period, representatives from the Biltmore Estate recruited Tommy Klutz to live onsite and work at the Biltmore House, restoring the impressive furnishings and architecture in the French Renaissance-styled mansion in Asheville. Tommy, however, turned down the offer. After all Blowing Rock is home – as it has been for the Klutz family since the Civil War.
BY JESSE WOOD
Photo by Ken Ketchie
Ski Country Sports in Banner Elk has been a High Country institution since it first opened in 1982. Started by husband and wife team Bill and Susan Leonard, the shop has been catering to the winter sport needs of the area for more than 30 years. And through the years it has always remained a family affair. Story by Madison V. Fisler – Photo by Ken Ketchie
While epitomizing the classic diners of the ‘50s with neon lights and retro memorabilia on the walls, Troy’s 105 Diner serves anything but your run-of-the-mill diner food. No. It serves “fresh, comfort food,” said Troy and Sandy Bryum, who bought Mel’s Diner nearly ten years ago and immediately revamped the line of ingredients while maintaining the décor. “We do a lot of things fresh as opposed to before when it was frozen or canned,” Troy said. “That’s important to me.”
BY JESSE WOOD
Edge of the World Snowboard Shop, located in Banner Elk, started out as a great shop for locals and visitors alike, and became the shop for serious snowboarders who only want the best. Jeff Johnson has been at the reins of the operation since 2007, heading up a spectacular team of ten employees that keep the shop running day in and day out. This shop is truly run for boarders, by boarders. by Madison Fisler – Photo by Ken Ketchie
Many changes – including the recent hiring of veteran chef Joe Turner – are occurring at Café Portofino, but co-owner Olga Esterson promised that its signature dish, the spiced sirloin, is to remain on the soon-to-be revamped menu. “The spiced sirloin is not going away,” Esterson assured. “That’s what everybody is crazy about.”
BY JESSE WOOD
Photo by Ken Ketchie
Through the years, Snow Toys has become synonymous with spectacular, personalized service from Ric Crosby, the “head ski guy” in Banner Elk. Guests can expect the employees to come out from behind the counter to help get customers into their gear, make sure they are fitted correctly, and ensure that they have the proper safety equipment. It is those kinds of customer experiences that Snow Toys hangs its hat on. By Madison V. Fisler – Photo by Ken Ketchie
“Are you crazy?” That’s how Trudy Shell responded to her husband’s idea to buy Mountain Tile in 2010. But what else were David and Trudy Shell going to do. Several months earlier both lost their longtime jobs – cast aside like so many other individuals during the Great Recession. David had been employed for 25 years as a regional sales manager in the flooring industry and Trudy worked 22 years with a company that distributed business forms such as checks and business cards.
BY JESSE WOOD
Photo by Ken Ketchie
Farmers Ski Shop might just be the oldest ski shop in Boone, but everything the shop offers, from equipment to tune ups and everything in between, remains timeless. Farmers Ski Shop opened its doors in 1969 on the top floor of what used to be Farmers Hardware. In 1976, the shop was expanded to its current location on Depot Street by David Greene. Owned since its inception by the Greene family along with The Shoppes at Farmers Hardware and Farmers Rentals, Farmers Ski Shop is a family operation to its core. By Madison V. Fisler – Photo by Ken Ketchie
Blue Ridge Realty & Investments has come full circle since John Rice founded the company in 1981. In the early ‘80s, Rice opened an office in the same building that Able Body would eventually move into a decade later. Now more than 30 years since Rice began the enterprise, Blue Ridge Realty has since repurchased the property along N.C. 105 in Boone and recently finished renovations to what is now its main office.
BY JESSE WOOD
Photo by Ken Ketchie
For many people, snowboarding and skateboarding are a beloved past time that helps them recharge, compete and have a great time year round. Not many people, however, get to say that they get to make a living out of their passion every single day. For Ashley and J.P Pardy, owners of Recess Skate and Snowboard shop in Boone, what started out as an unbridled passion for snowboarding and skateboarding grew into their own business. by Madison V. Fisler – Photo by Ken Ketchie