Greensboro Daily Photo

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If you've driven on West Market Street lately, chances are, you've seen this strip of about 6bbusinesses in the 700 block, just down from Plants & Answers. The businesses are located near Moore Music, Greensboro College, the Bryan Y, and Weaver Academy.  This space for rent is an end unit. It seems like this area has a lot of potential, if the right business goes in. However, it could be that once people get this close to downtown that they focus on their destination and not what they need along the way.

What could you imagine there?  The strip already has a frame shop, a hair salon, a tattoo parlor, and a convenience store.  It is fun to dream and imagine about what businesses go where. Happy Monday and tomorrow is the first day of autumn. We are starting to fall it in the air! Could be a good time to start a business!

Mexican Independence Day: September 16th

Yesterday, Greensboro's Mexican restaurants exuded a celebratory spirit. September 16th is a big day: Independence Day in Mexico and Mexican-Americans celebrate it, too. The above photo is a night shot of of La Bamba Mexican Restaurant on State Street. La Bamba opened on State Street in 1989 and continues today as a family-owned restaurant. Over the years, they have expanded and are now able to host large groups. La Bamba has lunch specials, house specialties, kids meals, and vegetarian meals; something for everybody. Their loyalty program is quite popular with patrons.

Mexico Restaurant on West Market Street opened in 1988, and La Bamba a year later. Since then, as the Mexican-American population of Greensboro grew in the 1990's more Mexican restaurants have opened and flourished here. There is something nostalgic about going to restaurants that have been around for over 30 years. We're betting some of the "Viva México" spirit will continue into the weekend.

 

Artisans Mercantile

The Artisans Mercantile by Sweet Tea Studio hopes to open in October. They will have 40 vendors in a store that will be brimming with things for the home and a place to gather. The store located at the corner of Golden Gate Drive and State Street. You may remember the Saltbox, formerly in this location. The Saltbox was Greensboro's "go to place" for artists' trunk shows, amazing fall candles, hand-crafted lighting, folk art, and so much more. It closed in 2012, after being in business for 38 years. Next, a dance studio moved in to this space. Now, the building will go back to being more like the Saltbox, a shopping destination with ample parking behind it. 

State Street is a Greensboro Street with the feel of a quiet North Carolina beach community: cozy shops, not much traffic, and very walkable. Eclectic by Nature, Vida Pour Tea, and Yamamoto Jewelry are a few of the businesses that have believed in State Street for a very long time. Many new businesses have opened over the last few years. Hopefully, Artisans Mercantile will be part of the reinvigoration of this part of town and will be around for a very long time. It is always nice to see new life breathed into a building.

Khoury Convention Center 2020

The above photo was taken on a sleepy Sunday afternoon, from the parking lot of Popeye's Chicken on Gate City Boulevard. If the photo were a 360º view, you would have seen a jam-packed, parking lot and drive-through line of Popeye's. Sunday and fried chicken just seem to go together. However, from the present view, as you can see, not a lot of traffic was coming and going on what was formerly High Point Road. The lone red car is like a punctuation mark, matching the red lettering of the hotel.

The Khoury Convention Center looks stunning with its pristine white facade. It is the tallest building around and easy to spot from just about every vantage point. Just beyond it, of course, is Four Season's Mall. You have to wonder how the convention center is doing with so many 2020 events being cancelled. With 250,000 square ft. of meeting space and 985 rooms and 27 floors. It has been a Greensboro institution since it was built in 1970. Let's hope that they will be able to do something to celebrate their 50th anniversary this year. The hotel was renovated in 2013, so it should be looking refreshed and ready for a toast to the next 50 years!

Hotel DENIM, Formerly Battleground Inn

The Hotel DENIM is the new kid in town. Located at 1517 Westover Terrace in Midtown, the Hotel DENIM is a trendy, upscale hotel that is replacing the Battleground Inn. The above photo was taken yesterday morning when it looked like they were still putting the finishing touches on it. Online booking indicates rooms are sold out this weekend, so, either people who have known about it are already staying there, or they aren't quite ready, so rooms aren't available. If you search online you will see that the decor is bright and cheerful, with a nod to Greensboro's history- especially the Cone family and textile industry. There are 48 rooms with interior-corridor access, a bar and cafe. It is located near all of the Irving Park Plaza restaurants and bars. IHOP and Outback Steakhouse are within walking distance. Hotel DENIM is part of the CN Hotel Group.

The front looks so bright and fresh. It is always fun to try something new and having a hotel on in the Battleground Avenue/Westover Terrace area sure looks convenient. Oh, and wear your best denim if you make a reservation!

The Old Mill of Guilford

The Old Mill of Guilford is such a fabulous piece of history dating back to 1767. It has gone through many changes and a few different owners over the past 253 years. Isn't that amazing that we have the history of this water-powered, grist mill dating back that many years. Truly, it is a point of pride for the community, providing mighty fine milled products: grits, corn meal, pancake mix, oatmeal, breakfast cereal, other grains, and many other products that can be ordered online. 

It is located in in northwest Guilford County, on Highway 68, near Oak Ridge.* The grinding process has remained the same for 200 years. Electricity to run the modern machinery is generated by the waterwheel. The wheel itself is 24' and rotates at a speed of 4.6 RPM. If you want to support a local business and purchase healthy natural products, order from the Old Mill of Guilford. If you are local, give them a visit. At the moment, it is not possible to go inside, but you can pick up products from the front door. They are open daily from 9-5, including Sunday. Needless to say, it is a great place to take photos.

* See their well documented history, HERE.

Bourbon Bowl

The Southeastern-most side of the 500 block of south Elm Street is getting closer and closer to getting a new business. Great progress is being made on the Bourbon Bowl. The Restaurant, bar, bowling alley is going in the building that Al's Furniture and Appliances occupied for at least a couple decades. You may remember the junk stacked floor to ceiling and the 3' tall giant plastic A in the window. The building, built in 1940, was last renovated in 1960- predating the gentrification of South Elm Street. The new business will be more in line with the building s around it.

The Bourbon Bowl will have a 6 lane bowling alley, plus a patio that extends into the empty lot to the right of the building. Paul Talley, owner of Double G Properties is developing the property. He has worked closely with the city, receiving a $80,000 urban development investment grant from the city. The goal was to find a business that would attract college students to downtown. It is always fun to try out something new. Let's hope the project comes together smoothly and that it opens soon. It will be so fun to see the inside of this building. We're left wondering how many truckloads it took to relocate Al's inventory.

Happy Labor Day! Hopefully, you are able to celebrate yourself and not have to labor.

Get your Al's Furniture and Appliance nostalgia view, here.

Dick Broadcasting Downtown Greensboro

If you are downtown Greensboro this weekend, check out the mural on the Dick Broadcasting Building at 192 East Lewis Street. Maybe you can find your favorite musician among the artists. The piece is eye-catching. Dick Broadcasting began in Tennessee in the 1950s and when they expanded to a new state, they came to Greensboro, North Carolina. Allen Dick, son of founder James Dick Sr. built out WKRR here.

The company has prospered over the years and Allen Dick is trying to navigate the changes in FM radio and the popularity of the streamed, digital world. The commitment to local content and community in each of their markets is one of the reasons for their continued success. Their Greensboro stations can be heard at WKRR 92.3 ROCK 92 and WKZL 107.5. Their other big market in North Carolina is New Bern. 

192 East Lewis Street, built in 1962,  used to be a quiet brick office building on a double lot on Lewis Street. Today, it is a two-story wall of fame for some of great talent that has received a lot of playing time over the airwaves! Happy Saturday!

El Camino @ The Antique Market Place

The Antique Market Place on Burnt Poplar Road was to hold a "Cruise-In" of vintage cars this past Saturday. Due to inclement weather, it was postponed until the next day. However, on Saturday, there was one car that showed up in all its glory. It was a Carolina-blue, Chevy El Camino. The El Camino was introduced in the Chevrolet line in 1959 and produced from 1959-1960 and 1964-1987. This car-truck hybrid looked spectacular with the brick and glass building as a background.

Tha Antique Market Place is a 45,000 sq. ft. facility with over 170 booths. It is one of those "little bit of everything" antique malls. When they hold special events, it is fun to see people both indoors and outdoors enjoying themselves, and reliving a little nostalgia brought about by viewing items from grandma's era. As for the above El Camino, it is very practical for hauling treasures. This particular one is about as close to Carolina blue as a vehicle gets. Happy Thursday!

Arthur's Fine Shoes

If you want comfortable shoes and someone to wait on you attentively, head to Arthur's Fine Shoes at 2920-B Martinsville Road- Winstead Commons. Stan Neerman, photographed above, has been with Arthur's Fine Shoes since Arthur opened the store in downtown Greensboro in 1957. Stan, a Grimsley grad,  is now the owner and prides himself on offering "sit and fit" service. He will make sure you find a shoe that suits the needs of your lifestyle and the shape of your feet.

Arthur's is open Monday-Saturday from 11:00 am- 4:30pm. They will also arrange to meet you other times if these hours are not convenient. Now, that is service! Originally, we took this photo to show a friend all of the color options for the Arcopedico shoe which  is amazingly comfortable and looks very stylish when worn. Stan was right. Once you wear a pair, you will want another, in a different color. With 14 colors to choose from, there are plenty of options! 

Patricia Bowden: Chalk Paint Stockist Extraordinaire

Today's photo features Patricia Bowden at 3 Paint Girls, at 2920 Martinsville Road (near Wild Birds, Unlimited and Arthur's Fine Shoes). Patricia is one of the stockists of Chalk Paint, Annie Sloane's line of paint. Annie Sloane takes great care to ensure that Chalk Paint and her vast line of products are top quality and that stores and stockiest know how to use the products that they sell. Spend a few minutes with Patricia and you will get all kinds of ideas about how you can give an old piece of furniture new life with a pop of color (or colors). 3 Paint Girls opened in April and they have not had a grand opening; their business opened just as things were shutting down due to the pandemic. Instead, they have had to rely on a quiet, soft opening; mostly word of mouth of customers.

If you follow Annie Sloane on social media, you know that her paint can cover just about everything. If you want to use it out side, there is lacquer to seal it. If you want to paint fine details, there are small brushes to do so. If you need a little hand holding to walk you through the steps, 3 Paint Girls is the kind of place you want to seek out. From masks to hand sanitizer to social distancing, they will take every measure to help keep you safe. Patricia is so committed to her customers, on Saturday, she agreed to stay open past business hours to accommodate a customer driving in from Virginia who needed a specific color of paint. Only Chalk Paint would do! That is a good testimonial for customer loyalty and the store's commitment to its customers. Happy Monday! Happy home projects!

Contact information: 336-663-8005. or  www.3paintgirls.com

 

 

Elaka Treats

Last Friday, Elaka Treats was set up in front of Just Be at the southwest corner of Elm and McGee streets. The flavorful frozen treats were so refreshing. If you like flavors like cardamom and rose, these treats are perfect for you. People sampled Elaka's ice cream before and after strolling through the Just Be shop of hand-crafted and fare-trade items. It is so meaningful to take the time to get to know these proprietors and to shop local. Elaka is often set up at the People's Market on Thursday evenings in Glenwood. Here is the website for Elaka Treats, if you want to learn more about their cream, milk, and fruit based products. Their green apple, cumin, cardamom, and vanilla bean ice cream sound yummy! 

Downtown Greensboro will again make an effort to do special things today. We're not sure what all will be happing, but as far as we know, they will continue to create a pedestrian area on part of Elm Street. The fun of weekends is the serendipity of what comes along as we get out and explore our environment. Be safe, and be grateful that we live in such a beautiful city with so many creative people.

George Floyd Mural On West McGee

Today's photo is of West McGee Street, in front of MCoul's Public House and another view of the LFG/JP Building in the background. A recent addition to the area is the mural of George Floyd. The quote says "Daddy changed the world" and is attributed to Gianna Floyd. This art keeps the memory of Floyd alive and adds a bold pop of color on the side street, tucked between General Greene and Natty Greene's Brewhouse. The only artist's tag we saw was to the left, "[heart emoji] TGZ".

If you are feeling well and able to distance, consider heading down to Elm Street this afternoon. There will be plenty of opportunities to eat outside and to visit the nearby shops that are working so hard to keep their stores and merchandise clean and tidy. Hats off to this family; they seemed to be walking quite a distance downtown. We don't know who they are or where they ended up going, but they were making great time, and they add great visual interest to this little slice of life of photo of downtown Greensboro.

Have a great weekend, regardless of what you decide to do.

Furnitureland Truck Out Making a Delivery

The world's largest furniture store is located right here in Guilford County. The physical location of Furnitureland Sough is actually in the Jamestown/High Point area but furniture is such a part of the local economy, Greensboro can claim it, too. Today's photo features a delivery truck at the light where Hobbs Road intersects Westridge. How wonderful to know people are getting new furniture. It is always so exciting to get a new piece of furniture. The decision can be so difficult, but once made, the purchase signals a new beginning. Perhaps a family has ordered a new study station since the first 9 weeks of school will be at home. Perhaps someone got furniture that makes working at home easier. Maybe there is some new, comfortable den furniture. If you've ever been to Furnitureland South, you know the possibilities are endless. If you have never been there, put it on your to-do list. They are currently open and taking every precaution to keep clients safe. People come from all over the world to shop for furniture here and we have the store in our backyard!

That truck is such a pretty color and the new graphics are catchy. We should also note that the driver was driving safely and obeying all rules of the road. If the back of the truck is up-to-date, they are hiring drivers. 

Farmers Market at Providence Farm

Today, from 10am-1pm, Providence Farm will be holding their Farmers Market. It is located at 2569 Huffine Mill Road. Darryl and Joy Cobb, who live at the farm have a variety of products from local farmers, bakers, and crafters; including everything from eggs to goat cheese, to bread, and even bison meat. They have product menus at the gate and work very hard to keep you COVID safe. The farm has been in the Cobb family for over 200 years, but this is the first year Darryl and Joy have undertaken selling products to the public. Joy recently retired from teaching in the public schools and is able to dedicate more time to tending to all of the critters. They have horses, sheep, chickens, pigs, turkeys, and working dogs. Some of the animals, like the donkeys, are rescues; some have a home there until they can find homes (the potbellied pigs); some, like Mr. and Mrs. Tom Turkey have become pets and come running as the owners approach. 

If you have a chance, drive to McLeansville today and support this local business. Likely, Darryl will greet at the gate playing banjo music. If you love history, this website will tell you the history of Providence Farm, dating back to the  1700s, way before Greensboro became a town! The above photo features the gambrel roof barn, not the corner of the property where the food is sold. However, we just couldn't resist photographing the playful chickens. If you are asked to wait a few minutes to shop, ask Darryl to pick you a tune; the keys of A and D are especially popular with old-time musicians! Happy Saturday!

 

See, here for more information.

1916 Huffine Mill Road

Weekends are for exploring and there is plenty to explore around Greensboro! Today, we take you to 1916 Huffine Mill Road, north of Wendover, where it splits with Rankin Mill Road. Right at the Y is this little cinder block building that used to be a convenience store. Above the door, the signage says, "DISCOUNT GROCERIES AND MORE: A Bent Can Store."  How curious! What on earth is a bent can store? We purposely took the photo through one of the the mimosa trees on the property, because it evokes yesteryear and is an example of how there can be beauty even in neglect. The mimosa tree, while beautiful, can be considered an invasive pest. It was first brought to Charleston, S.C. in 1745 and over the past 275 years has established roots from California to the South and extending up to New York. Their allure is the beautiful pink plumes, they are fast growing, and the leaves fold up at night.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if this tiny store, a mere 864 square ft and built in 1951, would be restored to its original splendor. Now, it seems as if we all want to stop at convenience stores that sell gas, make sandwiches to order, and have every flavoring to put in coffee, and every bag of chips imaginable. But how fun it was back in the day, when you stopped at a store, maybe even put your purchase on your bill, and the owner and customer gave updates about their lives. It appears the current owners have had it for almost forty years. We'll bet they have some great stories to tell and lots of memories of this part of the county way out past the east side of Greensboro.

 

Peaches and Cream at Greensboro Farmers Curb Market

Phillips Farm Peaches and Cream, based out of Wadesboro, North Carolina, had a lovely stand at the Greensboro Farmers Curb Market on Saturday. This five-generation farm has all kinds of produce, but is especially known for their "Peaches and Cream" stand with peaches and ice cream- especially peach ice cream. July is the key month that North Carolinians seek out peaches and peach ice cream, and we are in the heart of the season.

The above farmers market, Greensboro Farmers Curb Market, is located on Yanceyville Street, across from War Memorial Stadium, now sets up outside. This is an effort to keep shoppers and vendors safe. The hours are from 7-11 am on Saturday and from 8-10 am on Wednesday. It is so nice to get to know the vendors and to get fresh produce. Did you know that freshly picked lettuce can last up to two weeks in the refrigerator? Peaches are usually meant to eat within the week. When you eat local food, you help these small farms and help reduce your carbon footprint. Plus, you get a little taste of summer. 

S.H. Kress & Co.

Today, we're on South Elm Street, a wonderful place to be on Saturday. In the background, you can see the S.H. Kress & Co. Building, on the street, you can see the "BLACK LIVES MATTER" sign painted right into the street. It is painted school bus yellow and every block is done by a different artist. 

S.H. Kress & Co. was a "five and dime" retail department store. They were known for their ornamented architecture and for being on main streets of town. The Greensboro store was just that. The Greensboro store was built in 1930 and the architect was Edward Sibbert. Perhaps it was serendipity, perhaps purposeful, that this original street art was painted here 90 years after the department known for its artistic details. Wonder if anything will be added 90-100 years from now. It is fun to think about. 

Happy Saturday!

Chandler Foods, Inc.

During out urban exploring of Greensboro yesterday, we stumbled upon Chandler Foods, Inc. Located at 2727 Immanuel Road, Chandler Foods has been bringing barbecue, chili, and kettle products to Greensboro (and beyond) since 1955. Sixty-five years ago, John and Edith Chandler developed a barbecue recipe and, as you likely know, the people of Greensboro, High Point, and all of North Carolina, love their BBQ. Chandler Foods has expanded their products, and their building over the years. They now have distributors all along the east coast and into the midwest, extending to Michigan and Texas.

The reflection of the clouds in the window is especially beautiful, as is the landscaping. Next time you are on Gate City Boulevard, near Florida Street, head over and check out Chandler Foods. According to their website, they are involved in the community by supporting Greensboro Urban Ministry and they give scholarships through Future Business Leaders of America. How wonderful that a Greensboro business is doing so well and that it continues to remain in Greensboro!

A Pretty Little Alley Just Off South Elm Street

This alley is a little taste of Europe right here off of South Elm Street. The combination of the bricks, plants, benches, lights, gates, and those fabulous awnings make this space so cozy. Those features, combined with the fact that the alley is narrow and off the beaten path, really contribute to the feel of Europe. The alley is located between a bakery, spa, and clothing store, and just north of Washington Street. The names of these businesses and the owners may have changed over the past decade, but great products and services continue to be available. During these times, we need to be a little more careful;  in many cases we need to call ahead for products and services. But, how wonderful to start the day with a fresh cup of coffee and warm pastry. You can even sit on the benches in the alley. Here is another view from a couple of years ago when streets were busier. Here is a view, looking the other way, eleven years ago!

Today is First Friday, and Elm Street will not be as busy as usual, but some businesses will be open and the window shopping and art admiring are fun activities. If you like selfies, there are some great backgrounds Whatever you decide to do today, we hope that you have a nice day. If you are staying in town for the Fourth of July, by now you know that Fun Fourth is cancelled. However, with a little effort, we can all make a day, or a holiday feel special. Greensboro is such a lovely community.

McKay's Books: View from Behind the Building

Reading a good book is such a good way to spend time over the summer. McKay's Used Books, formerly Edward McKay's, is open from 10 am- 8pm. If you do not want to come in, they are offering themed bundles curbside. How fun! Wonder what they would say if you were really creative in your request. The Battleground Avenue location offers over 10,000 sq. feet filled with books, DVDs, books on tape, video games, action figures, and more. Their Facebook page is a lot of fun.

This vista from Mill Street just seemed to jump out at us. The stark, almost-monochromatic layers are eye catching; the organic, golden-green grass, the black and white angular buildings, and the sunny blue sky all stack up to providing a scene that would be hard to guess is Greensboro. If we ever published a book about Greensboro, this one would make the cut!

Greensboro: 1045 West Market Street Is Now 1015 West Market Street

Today's post is prompted by the above post card of the Manor Motel. The motel was located at 1045 West Market Street, across from the State Employees Credit Union at Tate Street. According to the post card, Manor Motel was a quiet and restful room with TV, telephone, tile baths, room controlled air-conditioning, heat, and a swimming and wading pool. It was owned and managed by Mr. and Mrs. S.T. Dickinson. Mrs. Dickinson was a teacher in the Greensboro City Schools and at Smith High School when Smith High opened.

On p. 105 of her book "Greensboro," Gayle Hicks Fripp, writes and provides photos that reveal the Manor Motel was demolished by D.H. Griffin to be replaced with a new location for the Central Y, a change that was not without resistance by the local College Hill Community. Construction, by the W.H. Weaver Company, would have happened in the late 60s-early 70s.

The top photo shows the building on now the former Manor Motel site. The Central YMCA became the Royce Reynolds Family Student Life Center, the westernmost building on the campus of Greensboro College. Royce and Jane Reynolds donated $2 million dollars to Greensboro College, where Royce Reynolds was also chairman of the board of trustees. 

So, what was an elegant mansion just west of downtown Greensboro, became a motel, which was replaced by a YMCA, which became a student life center at Greensboro College. When 1045 West Market Street was demolished, the current building on the lot is now 1015, the last property on that side of the 1000 block. Those who are lifelong residents of Greensboro, and are senior citizens, may remember the Dickinsons, the Manor Motel, the Central Y, and the opening of the Reynolds Student Life Center. For us, putting the pieces together involved much sleuthing. We found a vintage postcard, searched the Fripp book on Greensboro, and talked to a long-retired educator who knew of Mrs. Dickinson. Our friend called a retired Smith High School teacher, who called a friend who remembered Ms. Dickinson in the early years of Smith High School (circa 1963). It is so easy for this information to slip away from us and so special when people document and share the stories of their community.

Clark, Farm, Lawn, and Garden

If you ever drive on North Summit Avenue, you've likely seen the Clark, Farm, Lawn, & Garden building. Located at 4210 Summit, the building stretches for what appears to be a city block. Clark opened in 1945, making it 75 years old. Summertime is the time to do yard work and Clark is one of those places that can help you with any type of equipment you would need to make your lawn and garden beautiful. They also service the equipment as needed, too.

It is so wonderful to know this locally owned business has been in Greensboro for over seven decades, especially with all of the national chains competing in the industry. Clark is the type of place that enjoys hearing how well your tomatoes are doing this year, how you are keeping deer from eating your hostas, and how much land you decided to farm. Heck, they probably even enjoy hearing about those fish you caught off the pier on your last trip to the beach. Let's hope Clark is here for another 75 years! Next time you need a piece of equipment, consider buying local. You have nothing to lose by giving them a visit.

Just think, the sun will set at 8:40pm tonight; there is lots of daylight for doing yard work.

Thornless Blackberries @ Butler Lighting

This beautiful thornless blackberry bush is located in front of Butler Lighting on North Church Street in Greensboro. This is such a fine example of planting edibles. The bushes line the sidewalk as you approach the main entrance to the lighting store. The bushes have examples of blackberries at every stage of development from blossoms to ripe blackberries. The more edibles we plant, the happier the birds and other wildlife will be, and, humans can also share the bounty. On the overcast rainy day, the bushes were such a bright welcome

We should also add, that when we went inside the store, we were greeted by lighting professionals who helped talk us through all of the lighting variables from type of bulb to the way a certain fixture emits light in a room or on an exterior wall. In this era when it is so popular to order everything online, sometimes you just can't beat working, in person, with professionals. Butler Lighting has the Church Street showroom and also one on Highway 68, near I-40. We're wondering if the larger showroom on 68 also has thornless blackberry bushes growing! Have you ever considered planting them?

Happy Wednesday! If you are out exploring Greensboro, let us know what you discover!

SHENANIGANS on State Street

In Greensboro, State Street is the closest thing we have to a "beach street". It is such a cute walkable part of town, a bridge between the mill villages of yesteryear and Irving Park. The above photo features Shenanigans, a gift store in the heart of the area. The OPEN sign is something of a metaphor for restarting, as businesses slowly find ways to adjust to Phase 2 openings and with continued physical distancing.

In this photo, the unidentified mother, with child in arm, is the only hint of movement on the street. However, were we to turn around, you would see people out enjoying a cup of tea at Vida Pour Tea and, across the street,  people at Wonderland Bookshop perusing the delightful book options for children. Perhaps the mom is headed that way. If you want that cozy feeling of being at the beach, take a stroll along State Street.

500 Block of South Elm Street

The 500 block of South Elm Street in Greensboro has so much color and history. The above photo shows a group of people talking in front of Hudson's Hill at 527 South Elm. At one time, the two story, red brick building was the original Coe Grocery. The blue storefront behind the red truck is the second, former Coe Grocery, and now the Gate City Candy Company.

There is so much history in downtown Greensboro. It is nice as the businesses change that in many cases the building facades remain the same. The sign of a healthy, happy city is when people are out mingling together. It is really easy to meet people when strolling along Elm Street. With all of the artwork covering the storefronts, people are flowing to the area to take photos. The artwork is so lovely and the messages are powerful. The painted sign on the side of the building harkens back to the beginning of the last century. The sign on the front of 527 reflects the pulse of the previous century. 

We hope your day is lovely and full of joy!

Westin Hotel South Elm

The Westin is building a hotel on South Elm Street. The above photo features construction on the Davie Street side of the project. To help orient, you can see the Lincoln Financial Corporation building in the background, as well as the long-faded sign for the Ellis-Stone Department Store- built in 1949.

Clearing the lot and working out the details has been a tremendous undertaking but the hotel is finally coming to fruition. This Westin is one of three new hotels being built downtown. Westins are known for combining wellness and hospitality to hotel guests. With the Tanger Center for the Performing arts nearby, having more lodging will make it possible for people to attend performances, dine, exercise, and get a good night's sleep without having to drive. The hotel will help in the revitalization of downtown Greensboro. If you have time, drive by and see for yourself.

McLeod Belting Company

It is so fun to explore Greensboro and find new places. The above business McLeod Belting Company is located at 910 Scott Avenue between Spring Garden Street and Oakland Avenue. Notice in the background the former Rolane Factory. The white building would be easy to drive by without noticing it. However, the Kelly green awnings and font really stand out.

According to their website, the company makes belts for transmissions, conveyors, and processing. The company has been around for 90 years and in this site for approximately 16. They have technicians on call 24/7 and have locations in Virginia and Georgia. Belts are the kind of product that you may never think about if your business doesn't use one. But, if you do need one, having a place you can count on, 24/7 is important. It would be fun to see inside the factory. If you need an industrial belt, now you know where to go! Happy Tuesday.

Exploring Summerfield, formerly Bruce's Crossroads.

Exploring Greensboro and the surrounding communities of Guilford County is something fun to do on the weekend. The above photo features the inside of the old Gordon Hardware Store at the Crossroads of Upper Summerfield. The building is one of the historically significant buildings in the National Register of Historic Places district. Most of the buildings in this area date back to the 19th century. Summerfield, formerly Bruce's Crossroads has been a community since 1768.

When 220 North was built in 1952, travelers no longer needed to cross through Summerfield and many businesses, including Gordon Hardware, closed. After nearly 70 years since being a hardware store, the interior still has strong bones, including beautiful hardwood floors. Even the plaster remains is good condition. With so much growth in Summerfield, hopefully the building will be reincarnated as something special.

Have a great weekend. We hope you find something fun to do. After all, in less than 48 hours it will be June!

Read more about the history of Summerfield here.

Floral Installation at Cone Health

Floral designer Lewis Miller has taken NYC by storm with his flash floral installations!*  As you can see in the above photo, Greensboro received its own impromptu, floral installation this past week. Tonya Anderson, owner and passionate designer at ABBA Designs, created the above installation. She said, after seeing Miller's creations, she knew she wanted to design one for Greensboro. Tonya made the arrangement to thank healthcare workers and to simply spark joy during this difficult time. Truly, the act was one of generosity and giving back to the community as Tonya didn't even put up signage to show that the flowers were from her shop.  ABBA is that beautiful little shop, a sort of oasis in the 700 block of Eugene street, not too far from Deep Roots Market.

Together with her assistant, Carrie Little, the duo worked their design magic. They spread 300 roses- that's 25 dozen- around the Cone Health sign at Wesley Long, on the Friendly Avenue side. If you see Tanya or Carrie, be sure to thank them for their generosity. If you need someone to design flowers for a special event, give them a call. See other examples of the ABBA aesthetic, here. Stop back tomorrow, and we'll feature Tonya herself, as seen via our Zoom call! Unfortunately, the installation is no longer there, but the memory will stay with us for a very long time.

 

*see here for some of Miller's floral installations.

 

Shops Opening Back Up

The above photo shows people waiting in line to enter the Spectrum store this past Sunday at Friendly Center. Slowly, stores are opening up. Some people are more diligent then others about wearing masks, but for the most part people were maintaining reasonable physical distance. There was also a line a couple of stores over at Pier 1 as they are going out of business. Several people were inside Barnes and Noble; one woman, purchasing a puzzle, said that was the first store she had been other than a grocery store since mid-March. Another woman was purchasing a book for her book club. 

As the weather warms up and schools come to a close, it will be interesting to see how people spend their time. People seem eager to get out and spend time together... but apart. Happy Tuesday. Happy, almost summer.

Gibsonville, City of Roses, City of Maple View Creamery

Gibsonville, known as the City of Roses, is a community just east of Greensboro on the border of Alamance County. The above photo shows people this past weekend, trying to social distance while enjoying an ice cream from Maple View's County Line Creamery Company. You can see the ice cream shop, in the background, to the left of the tree. This Main Street favorite has a very interesting history leading back to Maine.*

The Maple View Farm is firmly committed to dairy farming and land conservation. One hundred eighty seven of the 400 acres of the farm have been granted to the Triangle Land Conservancy. This designation means that the property will remain for agricultural and open purposes. Everyone involved in the farm, from the land and dairy cows to the end products, is firmly committed to making practices as sustainable and good for the animals as possible. Read the link about the farm, and purchase an ice cream next time you are in the Gibsonville area. Current flavors include, vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, butter pecan, honey toasted almond, double chocolate, coffee, cookies and cream, cookie dough, banana, Carolina crunch, and mint chocolate chip. What is your favorite?

 

* read more here.

The First Baptist Church and Lincoln Financial Building

Underneath that glorious sky, two Greensboro institutions peek out at us. In the middle half of the photo, the First Baptist Church of Greensboro is featured prominently. It has been a Greensboro institution since 1859. However, the above facility in the present location was constructed in the middle of the last century.* Today, the expansive church, that does so much for the community, takes up almost a whole city block on the south edge of Westerwood at Friendly Avenue.

The Jefferson Pilot building, now part of Lincoln Financial Group, is the 20 story tower in the middle of the leftmost church building. The JP Building is the iconic beacon that blinks the time and temperature for all to see. On Greensboro Daily Photo, we like to see how many different ways we can capture the JP building and even tag it every time it is in a photo. See here for over 60 other shots, which isn't too excessive, considering we've shared over 4,000 photos of Greensboro since 2009.

If we're counting, First Baptist has been delivering services for 161 years which amounts to over 8,000 Sundays. That is a lot of spiritual guidance. To worship with them today, watch their online sermon, here.

* more church history, here.

Super G Mart

Super G Mart is an international grocery store on West Market Street. It is the largest in North Carolina and offers selections of foods and spices that can be hard to find in most grocery stores.

They provide a wide array of foods for different many ethnic groups. You can find food and spices from virtually every continent (well, maybe not Antartica).  We went yesterday to purchase essentials and the shelves were well stocked.  A wide variety of chicken, beans, rice, and every kind of pasta and noodle you can imagine were on the shelves. Employees were helpful and used gloves and masks at the checkout counter, and hand sanitizer was available for in-store use.

If you need staples for your pantry and absolutely cannot remain in quarantine because you need food, consider shopping at Super G Mart, if you don't already. You may even want to purchase something that you have never tried before and expand your international cooking skills while you are spending more time at home.

Humans of Greensboro: Gwen Frisbie-Fulton

This past weekend, we met up with Gwen Frisbee-Fulton at Vida Pour Tea. This dynamic and energetic person dedicates her professional and personal life to the well-being of others. Gwen, a UNC Chapel Hill graduate, has made a career of working in non-profits, mostly in Greensboro. Currently, she works at Down Home, a statewide advocacy organization which helps build multi-racial coalitions in rural communities.

When not busy helping others through Down Home, Gwen can be found working hand-in-hand with her middle-school-aged son addressing the needs of her beloved Glenwood neighborhood. Currently, Glenwood residents are mobilizing to help the elderly, disabled, and those who might need medicine, food, or other essentials during the COVID-19 pandemic. Gwen loves living in Glenwood because it is so ethnically and economically diverse, and she says "magical things happen in my neighborhood." As examples, there are community gardens, a community market, and neighbors who are always helping each other. Glenwood residents are deeply committed to the needs of the community. Gwen is known for putting out "all call" messages of clothes or provisions for others and, she is likely to find an abundance of what she requested on her porch within 24-hours. While it seems that Gwen does all of the giving, when you listen to her, it becomes obvious that she believes she receives even more than she gives. There are some who refer to her as the unofficial mayor of Glenwood. Thank you, Gwen for all you do and thank you for giving up a big chunk of your Saturday morning to talk with us.

Also, thank you, Sarah, for making Vita Pour Tea such a special place to gather on State Street.

HICAPS, Winston-Salem, and Cheesecakes by Alex

Great things continue to happen on Trade Street in Winston-Salem. You may ask what a street in the next county over has to do with Greensboro. Well, the answer is, a lot! Since 2002, Alex Amoroso has been baking cheesecakes at Cheesecakes by Alex on Elm Street. His business continues to grow as does his lineup of cheesecakes. He now has 24 varieties of cheesecake. Alex, a Western High School graduate, is expanding his business to Winston-Salem. HICAPS, headquartered in Greensboro,  has the contract for the Winston project. They also helped Alex when the Greensboro location expanded in 2015 (see here).

HICAPS, a full-service project management company, was established in 1984 by Dan Hood. He and his family have been an integral part of the Greensboro community for over thirty years. HICAPS has worked on many exciting projects, including the renovation of the Piedmont Triad International Airport. Whether it is a public project or a private endeavor, HICAPS has a reputation for meticulously minding every detail. Soon, if you are in Winston, eating cheesecake on Trade street, you can know the community has Greensboro to thank for the experience- from concept to completion. Congratulations Alex and HICAPS!

Common Grounds Coffee Shop

Common Grounds Coffee Shop on South Elam Avenue in Lindley Park is one of those local, goo-to spaces when you want to get some work done and get out of the house at the same time. They also have a lot of local, live music. They are known for their specialty coffee drinks with creative names. They also offer a few sweet snacks.

If you are out today, head over to the corner of Elam and Walker and enjoy the vibe. Start your day at the Corner Market and then head over for a cup of coffee. Saturdays can be so much fun in Greensboro. Note the calendar on the wall at Common Ground. At least stop by and see what you might want to attend. Happy Saturday! Happy February 29th. It is Leap Year!!!!!!!!

Mahjong in the Afternoon

Imagine how fun it would be to meet up with friends and play Mahjong in the afternoon. The above photo shows two groups playing at Delicious Bakery on Lawndale. Mahong is a tile-based game, originating in China. At first, it seems complicated; however, once you get to know the pieces and how to play, it is easy enough to socialize and enjoy while you play. Plus, if you meet somewhere like Delicious Bakery, you can play while drinking fresh coffee and eating tasty and visually appealing desserts. Delicious Bakery first opened in Greensboro, in a tiny location on Battleground Avenue across from Lowe's Home Improvement Store. While they have doubled their space, their commitment to good desserts and building community has not changed.

Happy Saturday, and don't wait for someone to ask you to join some kind of group game, organize it yourself and do the inviting. Also, the more you get out and enjoy Greensboro (or your own city, if from elsewhere), the more you will serendipitously stumble upon groups of people engaging in fine fellowship and making memories with each other. At the very least, dash out and get a cinnamon roll or floral cupcake!

Hyalyn Lamps, Shades, and Repairs

 

In Greensboro, Hyalyn has been the go-to place for lampshades and lamp refurbishing for 32 years. They are located inside Carriage House Antiques on Golden Gate Drive, near North Elm Street, Cornwallis Drive, and State Street. The above photo features Lynne Watson, whose family purchased the business in 1974. Lynne has been an integral part of the family business since graduating from college.

Lynne is holding a vintage, teal, slag-glass table radio lamp that arrived to her in a state of extreme disrepair.  It was in two pieces with frayed electrical wires, a worn out socket and switch that would have made the fire marshal panic! First, Lynne worked her magic, reconstructing the lamp to make it safe to use again. Next, she offered suggestions to the owner regarding a shade shape, color, and size that would complement the lamp. It is so nice to shop locally and to work with someone, like Lynne, who is not only personable, but also has great expertise.  If you have an antique lamp that you'd like to use, but know that it needs to be rewired, stop by and talk to Lynne. If you have used a bulb that was too hot and the inside of the lampshade is damaged, Hyalyn has a replacement. Be sure to text or call first to make sure Lynne will be available to help you. 336-545-1721. You can also check out her website at hyalynlampsandshades.com   Happy Friday!

(For our glass-loving readers, the above lamp has a tag on it that says Globe Specialty Company, Chicago, Illinois. The glass itself looks like the batches that were made by Akro Agate of Akron, OH or Houze Glass in Point Marion, PA).