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WHAT’S GOING ON? Starbucks Construction Begins in Boone

Starbucks will be located next to KFC off of U.S. 321 in Boone. Photos by Ken Ketchie

By Jesse Wood

Brenda Henson of Boone Planning and Inspections said that the building permit for a standalone Starbucks was issued on March 2. The coffee house will be located on the site where High Country Host operated since the ‘80s on Blowing Rock Road.

The demolition of the old building took place last fall. While the visitor’s center was operating in the building, the N.C. Department of Transportation owned the property. Whenever the old Kmart property was sold to make way for a Publix Super Markets, developers also started to sniff around the High Country Host building.

The NCDOT agreed to put the 1.17-acre property to bid, and Nash Three LLC submitted the highest bid of about $1.34 million. Starbucks didn’t return a request for comment on when the location will open.