Greensboro Daily Photo

Formerly Harris Teeter

For those of you who formerly purchased groceries at the Harris Teeter at the corner of Muirs Chapel and 4640 West Market Street, this is the space today. Formerly painted "Harris Teeter", look at the building now. It definitely grabs the attention! What kind of business could be going in near Joann's Fabric and the Shoe Market? It is a huge space and work is being done on the inside. That Harris Teeter opened in 1999, employing 60 people. It closed in the above location twenty-one years later in 2020. Remember, it was in 2006 that the Harris Teeter in Friendly Center opened. Known affectionately by locals as the Taj MaTeeter, at least at the time it was built, it was the largest Harris Teeter in North Carolina.

Scenes like this one are what we see every day, representing change in Greensboro. As soon as we see change, of course we want to ponder what a space was like in previous iterations and how it will transform in the future. That lone car in the middle is there to provide perspective. This, too, is a large space. Stay tuned!

Happy Saturday!

Shish House on West Market Street

Shish House is located at 4929 West Market Street, in the same plaza where you can find the international grocery store, Super G Mart. Shish House is a restaurant that served Middle Eastern food. The person who waited on us the night we were there indicated that the management was Yemeni. We happened to visit on a Friday night, during the time Muslims are at the mosque. However, once prayers were over, the restaurant fills and becomes lively. As you can see from the seating, there is plenty of room for large parties. Meat is halal certified and very tasty. We especially enjoyed the shish kabob shrimp.

It is fun to try new restaurants. Greensboro is so much more diverse than many people realize. The atmosphere and decor here definitely have a middle-eastern flair. They have generous portions and also offer family platters. They are open daily from 11:00 am to 10:00 pm.  We suggest stopping by when it is a little busier to really get a better understanding of how much middle eastern families value community and family time.

Happy Thursday!

Starbucks, New Kid on the Block in Downtown Greensboro

The long-awaited Starbucks is now open downtown. It is located across from the Bryan Y in the former location of Hardee's at 101 N.  Edgeworth Street. We first learned of this plan last year when it was reported on Fox 8. Hardee's had been looking very empty for years and then during Covid, it closed.  This corner on the western edge of downtown was looking very lonely and now is a hub of activity. While we all love our local coffee shops, the appeal of Starbucks is that it is the only downtown coffee shop with a drive-through window. Plus, many people have their go-to designer drinks crafted at Starbucks. With all of the growth in the north and northwestern parts of downtown, this store is sure to be a hit. Most of the other coffee shops are along Elm Street.

The .85 acre parcel of land does not have an overabundance of parking. However, between that generous patio and indoor seating, people walking and on bicycles will find it very convenient. Somehow, the word is out. While we were there, it was quite busy.

Happy Thursday!

Meet Watts @ Revolution Cycles

Today's photo features Watts Dixon, owner of Revolution Cycles, located at 1907 Spring Garden Street. Watts, originally from Atlanta, came to Greensboro to attend college. However, his passion for bicycling and working at Friendly Bikes helped hone his career path, as he bought the business in 2007. Seven years later, he moved the shop and changed the name.  Once at the current Spring Garden Street location, Watts added beer on draft and in cans to the shop- in addition to selling bikes and merchandise and making repairs.*  Stop by and partake on any day of the week, but especially at the Shop Social gathering every Friday, when people drop in and share their biking plans for the weekend.

This independent bike shop is the go-to place locally for those interested in bike-packing adventures, touring, biking on gravel, and mountain biking. If you need a bag for your bike or any specialty item, if he doesn't have it in stock, Watts knows exactly where to get it. Biking is such a great way to get from Point A to Point B while getting exercise and reducing your carbon footprint. Once you start, it becomes a lifestyle. Just ask Watts!

Happy Wednesday!

 

*reference and more information HERE.

Saints & Sinners Tavern

Saints and Sinners is located at 536 Farragut Street beside Jerry's Artarama and I-40. Sinners and Saints is sometimes billed as the best biker bar in Greensboro. It is owned by a husband and wife team and patrons say the owners work hard at building community. We were there a couple of weeks ago at the time a ride was departing. The roar of all of those Harleys heading out at once was deafening; however, you could feel the energy, camaraderie, and sense of community resonating through the parking lot. By chance, we were in the way of their high noon departure and had to remain motionless. There was no use trying to even pull over, as the roll out had commenced. However, not one motorcycle honked at us. They just drove around us. At Saints & Sinners, they host concerts. the next one will be on September, the Billy Creason Band. Rest assured, bikes will come out in droves. It is interesting to see all of the many ways riders outfit and customize their bikes. 

On another note, we missed the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb on September 11th at the Eugene Parking Deck this past weekend. It honored the public safety personnel who perished at the World Trade Center. People were encouraged to climb 11 times, representing the approximately 78 flights of stairs, the highest flight of stairs firefighters reached in the World Trade Center. We're betting there were some bikers at the event.

 

Glenwood Barrber Shop

In preparing this post for today and researching this "barrber" shop, we realized that we actually featured it seven years ago. It is located in the Glenwood neighborhood at 1106 Glenwood Avenue. The owner is William L Byers, Jr. and, in true barber fashion, he cuts, styles, shaves, and provides facial treatments.While the above discounted prices haven't changed, the facade has changed tremendously (see HERE)! How wonderful that the shop is still in business and that they are able to offer discounts to seniors, children, and college students.

The more things change in Greensboro, the nicer it is that some things stay the same. There are stylists, salons, and old-school, traditionally for men/by men barber shops. The above is, indeed, a barber shop. Glenwood Barrber Shop is celebrating its 15th year this year. To be sure, they've seen some changes in their neighborhood- hinting at gentrification. The barber shop  open today at 9:00 am if you need a haircut. They have a Facebook page if you want to get to know the barbers and their humor. Here's to the next 15 years fellows

Happy Wednesday!

Model A Car at Ozzie's

While we were at Ozzie's Ice Cream on Old Battleground Road recently, we ran into the Silers. Mr. Siler was standing in front of his 1931 Model A Ford. The vehicle is absolutely beautiful inside and out. While almost everything is restored to authentic fidelity, it does have air conditioning. An admirer of the vehicle and friend of Mr Siler said that he can fix anything. This summer, the car had the adventure of a lifetime. The Silers drove it to a show in Hamilton Ohio, 479 miles and it drove just fine up at cruising speed.

Mr. Siler recommended the ice cream highly. We hope to see him again there, sometime when he drives down from Bethany. Maybe he will even bring another vintage car. Greensboro has a lot of vintage car aficionados, as well as organized car shows. Then, there are the people who just show up with their vehicles and, like Mr. Siler, most are proud of their vehicles and eager to answer any question you may have.

Happy Saturday! 

The Habit Burger Grill at Brassfield Shopping Center

Habit Burger got its start in 1969 in Santa Barbara, California. They serve open-flame, chargrilled burgers. The franchise is mostly on the west and east coasts; nothing in the middle of the country. The above location, at Brassfield Shopping Center. The footprint of the building is mostly the same as then it was Chick-Fil-A; except, Habit has a covered patio, eating area and no playroom. When we were there last night, they had mostly drive through customers. Hopefully, they will build repeat customers and the word will get out about this new restaurant.

The promising news is that Brassfield Shopping Center is experiencing a Renaissance. Most of the stores are rented in the shopping center with great diversity in types of retail places. There is a Crumbl Cookie, Gold's Gym, Biscuitville, Trader Joe's, Trek Bike Store, Pet Supplies Plus, FedEx, and more. Brassfield opened in 1987 with PharMoor Drugs, Michaels, a movie theatre, and Stein Mart serving as anchor businesses. The cinema has not yet reopened, but there is a Red Box dumpster in front of the building, an indication that work has been started. How wonderful to have an existing shopping center experiencing a rebirth, as opposed to needing to clear land and building something new. If you are on North Battleground (NoBa), be sure to stop into one of the Brassfield shops, especially one that you may not have visited- perhaps the Habit Burger Grill.

Happy Friday! So many choices and weekends are short..

LFG & Greene Street

As you can see from the LED display on the top of the building to the left, it is the LFG building. Lincoln Financial acquired the Jefferson-Pilot Corporation and this iconic building in March of 2006. The FLG building is highly visible from most vantage points downtown. The light façade shines against the above dramatic sky. The photo was taken this past weekend and shows how a Greensboro sky can change before our eyes. Here, you see a bright blue sky completing with a dark, ominous patch.

Something that has been under discussion for years is that Greene Street is part one-way and part two-way. Do pay attention when driving on Greene. The part in the photograph will be close during the 2023 North Carolina Folk Festival, to be held right here in Greensboro from September 8th-10th. (See map/festival footprint HERE). For the folk festival, let's hope the bright blue sky will win out over the dark, ominous one.

Have a great Tuesday. Hope to see you downtown!

 

Ozzie's Ice Cream

(Sorry this is late. We usually publish at 5:30 am. Today, it was set for 5:30 pm)!! Nothing says summer more than ice cream. Last night, we headed to Ozzie's for ice cream and hot dog night. In the beginning (2014), Ozzies was located on Old Battleground at Westridge. Since 2020, has been located down the road at 3712 Old Battleground; about as far as you can go on on Old Battleground before you arrive at Guilford Courthouse National Military Park. This location is perfect. There is good car parking and since it backs up to the greenway, it is possible to grab an ice cream after a walk or bike ride. As you can see from the above photo, there is plenty of room for outdoor seating. Most nights, it is full.

Through the summer, Wednesday evenings was a time for hotdogs being grilled outside with live music at Ozzie's. However, the schedule will now change with is a couple of weeks off and then for the hotdog & music nights to resume outdoors on September 1st. Student workers will be going back to school and they will be able to work on Friday nights, but not on Wednesday. The owners, Adam and Betsy Greer are educators themselves. Plus, they have five children of their own, and their own children have developed a great work ethic as a result of working at the store.  Adam and Betsy  got the name for the business on a mission trip in Uganda. There is a diner on the Main Street of Jinja called Ozzie's. They became friends with the owner and the name is a nod to that friendship.

In 2020, Maria Johnson wrote a great article about Ozzie's for O. Henry Magazine.  Happy Thursday. It's a great day for ice cream!

Goodwill by the Pound

Last year, Triad Goodwill received more that 25 million pounds of donations. We're guessing once the donations get pulled from the shelves of the "regular" Goodwill stores, they move on to the by-the-pound Goodwill. Their ads, however, say that it is the same quality as in their retail stores. Definitely, the by-the-pound venture takes treasure hunting to the next level. The above outlet is located at 1235 South Eugene Street. Clothing, shoes, stuffed animals, and toys are sold at $1.59 a pound, and household goods, furniture, electronics, etc. are 79¢ a pound. If you are interested, here are the rules. It is interesting to see what is being sold there and how people are shopping.

Our big take-away, however, is the fact that in the Greensboro area alone, more than 25 million pounds were donated to Goodwill. Over-consumption is definitely an issue; however, as we learn to reduce consumption, reusing and recycling helps. Wondering just how long we could go without making purchases of non-essentials!

Treva at cycles de ORO

Tuesday is the day for the group bicycle ride that leaves from Cycles de Oro on Hill Street at 6:30 pm. It is a slower paced ride where someone rides in the back to make sure that everyone makes it through the ride. Above, is Treva, one of the store employees at Cycles de Oro. Treva usually rides on the rides and is so fun to talk to. When we first met her, she had just purchased a new bicycle and took it on an inaugural ride on the Tuesday ride. Treva also helped us find the perfect helmet and lighting system so that we could ride more safely. If you want to find a bike store and a person who will help you on exactly the level needed, find Treva at Cycles. 

While riding with her, we learned that during Covid, she retired from nursing, left her home at the North Carolina coast, and bicycled all the way across country to Oregon. Can you imagine? Coast to coast!. She has so many adventures and memories from that cycling adventure. We asked about her route and she said there were two states she avoided, due to the mountains, West Virginia and Colorado. Her smile in this photo is insight to her sunny disposition. 

Gary Jobe, Custom Home Builder

We have never had the good fortune to meet Gary Jobe, one of Greensboro's premier custom home builders. However, we have seen many of the homes he has built. He is a third generation custom home builder and has had a tradition of excellence since 1972. After five decades, he is retiring. While the name, Gary Jobe Builder will remain in place, Todd Powely is now President of the company. 

While out bicycling a few weeks ago, we stopped at Latham Park for a water break and noticed this office. How impressive that a person who has one of the most recognizable names in construction in the area has a humble office with no fancy fanfare. After all, we're wondering just how much time he actually spends in the office. We imagine he is out on the job or out overseeing that work is being done correctly. One very memorable complex that he built is on Stanley Huff Road. Apparently, the owners even have a helicopter pad on the property. To be sure, the next time we undertake an A-Z people of Greensboro, we'll try for "J" is for "Jobe"!

346 Elm Street

Look at all these fabulous pennants denoting various places around the United States. Go to 346 South Elm Street and you can travel without leaving town. A pennant, your imagination, and the sky is the limit. This tiny shop between Two Brothers Artisan Brewing and Design Archives always has an intriguing window display. So far, the store has not opened, but the merchandise changes regularly. We love a shop window that changes often. Kit Rodenbough, Design Archives entrepreneur, has the space and plans to open it on Saturdays. She's dubbed it Design Archives Estates. You know if Kit is involved, it will be fabulous.

One idea we had for Greensboro Daily Photo was to find an address that matches the day of the year it is. For example, in 2023, 346 will be December 12th. We could wait and publish this photo on December 12th. Somehow, we suspect that would be REALLY hard to get 365 engaging photos with numbers in them. Plus, we wouldn't want to wait until December to share Kit's latest venture.  

Happy Monday!

Triad Stage, Gone But Not Forgotten

By now, you likely know that Triad Stage at 232 South Elm Street has closed. For twenty seasons they brought amazing plays to Greensboro, including some world premieres. The official closing date was June 20, 2023.  It was often said that this was one of the best theaters in North Carolina. They had staged over 140 productions. They brought live, professional theatre to town and helped with the regentrification of downtown Greensboro. Originally, the building was a Montgomery Ward store and it remained vacant for nearly 40 years before renovations began for Triad Stage. 

Greensboro now has the wonderful Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts. However, that venue seats 3,000 and books Broadway Plays and national shows. Triad Stage seated 300. That makes Tanger ten times larger. And while this is a wonderful resource for Greensboro, where can the smaller, local shows be performed? This niche venue is irreplaceable. Hopefully another group can come in and open a theatre in this space.

For more details, see this Fox 8 article here.

Happy Friday! While it isn't First Friday, weekends are always a great time to head downtown.

Golden Corral Lawndale Drive

It seems we've been noticing a lot of change in Greensboro lately. The above building, on Lawndale Drive, was formerly a Golden Corral.  It was always crowded, but for some reason in January of 2020 it closed. The Golden Coral off of West Wendover is still open. The first Golden Corral opened on January 3rd 1973 in Fayetteville, NC. Golden Corral is headquartered in Raleigh, NC. As of 2022, they had 397 locations throughout the USA and Puerto Rico.

Last week, we were driving by and noticed that construction is going on inside the building. The property is 2.84 acres. It will be interesting to see what moves into that space. So far, that we can find, nothing has been published. Do you know? If so, please let us know.

Happy Saturday! It is a great day for exploring- Greensboro and beyond!

Westover Terrace & Friendly Avenue

 The above photo, taken earlier this week,  is on West Friendly Avenue at Westover Terrace. Much construction in this area took place in the late 1930s and early 1940s and it has continued to evolve over the decades.  This is the part of Greensboro where the cluster of locally owned shops is trying to rebrand as West End. There is a consignment shop, restaurants, a designer and home furnishing store, a sewing shop, and more. If you are looking for stay-cation ideas, and you don't know about "West End", consider having lunch at one of these restaurants and visiting another store or two. Since the weekend is upon us, this would be a good time to do so.

As you can tell, this is a view heading east, into downtown. The sky was looking rather dramatic on the day the photo was taken.  On the horizon, the city's iconic beacon, the Lincoln Financial Group (LFG) building, attracts our attention and always helps us navigate the city. Dare we say, all roads lead to LFG? This photo gives you a good view of the rolling hills around town, proof positive that we are in the Piedmont region, between the mountains and the flatlands at the coast.

Happy Friday!

Bryan Bielanski, Played at Common Grounds Last Night.

Last night, acoustic-rock, singer-songwriter Bryan Bielanski performed at Common Grounds Coffee Shop in Lindley Park. Bryan is from Charlotte, North Carolina, but has been on tour for the last nine years;  so, chances are you are more likely to find him elsewhere than at at home. His list of places where he has performed can just about fill a page. He has performed all over the world, on several continents and throughout the United States. Bryan's music is upbeat and many of his original songs have references to pop culture. Three of his original songs, early in last night's set, were "I'm your Super Mario,"  "Star Wars Marathon," and "Elf Girlfriend."  As we sat there watching and listening to Bryan, we couldn't help but notice that he resembles Leonardo DiCaprio who is in the painting behind Bryan, sipping and listening.

After playing at Common Grounds at 7:00 pm, Bryan was headed to Chapel Hill to perform. Today, he will be in Wilmington, DE. We're so glad the we serendipitously happened to be at Common Grounds when Bryan  arrived. Summers are like that is Greensboro. You just never know when you are going to get to hear some really great, live music- and often for free.

If you are headed out somewhere tonight, tip your musicians, your baristas, and anyone else who serves and entertains. Can you believe Common Grounds at 602 South Elam Avenue has been open for ten years now? Something about a coffee shop makes a neighborhood feel like home. Something a about live music makes an evening memorable.

Happy Thursday!

More North Battleground (NoBa)

Continuing our exploration of North Battleground (NoBa), we want to share another photo from that area. This is the view of the Cone Health facility on Drawbridge Parkway at North Battleground. The red and white building behind the truck is Jake's Diner. The Cone Health MedCenter has been open a year now- Since May 2022. In a news article about the facility, the following is said: "People can drop a child off for a dose of exercise and learning at Play!, head to their doctor, get in a workout and pick up a prescription while driving out the parking deck. The facility also brings wellness and health care closer together than ever." Given their mission is to integrate health care and well-being services, with all of the new housing in this area and Well-spring Retirement Community on the same street, the vision of the center seems very sensible AND innovative.

As for Jake's Diner, it is getting harder and harder to find a home cooked breakfast and Jake's delivers. It is very convenient to dine here if you are visiting someone at Well-spring, need to use the MedCenter, or during the school year, if you have a child at Kernodle Middle School. This photo makes there area look deceptively green; however, it is, indeed, refreshing to see a retaining pond this clean. The water matches the sky and the blue and green look so lovely together.

Happy Wednesday!

Lowe's Outlet in Brassfield Opening Soon

Brassfield first opened in 1987, buthad been struggling for a few years. Phar-Mor Drug Store and Pizza Hut closed, as did the movie theater. However, things have been turning around quickly. Trader Joe's moved in and Biscuitville built in the Pizza Hut location. Chick-Fil-A relocated across the street, but Habit Burger is moving into Chick-Fil-A's former location. Now, as you can see from the above photo, the Lowe's Outlet is close to opening. It will be one of ten scratch-and-dent outlets for the home improvement store (read HERE). No scratch-and-dent products are sold online, which makes sense. There will be no surprises when appliances arrive at one's house. It will be interesting to see what else they end up selling. Gabriel Brothers, started out as a store of seconds clothing, but by the time they were rebranded as Gabe's in 2013, they were selling overstocks and so much more than the seconds of the early years. Likely, Lowe's Outlet will have many great deals. Greensboro is about to find out!

The Lowe's corporate headquarters is located in Mooresville, NC. While this Brassfield location, soon to be their tenth outlet store, it is their first in North Carolina. The urban loop makes north Battleground easily accessible and appealing to customers and retailers. Someone needs to work on branding the area. For now, we're going to call it NoBa (North Battleground). So, you heard it first on Greensboro Daily Photo. Mid-town has lights and murals. Do you have suggestions for business owners in NoBo to make the area cohesive and distinguish it from Mid-town?

Mortgage Investment Corp, Building

Mortgage Investment Corporation is located at 1808 Spring Garden Street. We are drawn to the 1808 address because that is the year Greensboro was established. We cannot find documentation for the year the building was built, but learned that for this part of Spring Garden, the buildings date to the mid-1950s. However, since the building is called "Mortgage Investment Corp, Building," we're guessing that this company built the building for the business and the business dates to 1962 (see here). This is a 61 year old business and perhaps a building of that age. Also, the decorative concrete block work on the building was popular during that time period; they afforded privacy, but allowed in light. They are even known as breeze blocks. We're wondering if the brick came from the Old Carolina Brick Co. in Salisbury, NC. Buildings have so much history in them and as the saying goes... "if these walls could talk."

You might not recognize this facade or know about the Mortgage Investment Corp.; however, if you were in Greensboro in the mid-1990s, you likely recall the restaurant at 1808, down below on the basement level: Hayble's Hearth. Hayble's had great home cooked food. It was the closest to eating at your southern grandma's house that you could get at a restaurant. Sundays were packed from opening to closing. Today, that lower level is a hookah lounge. As part of a summer fun quest, we think we're going to driving around Greensboro looking for places with an 1808 address. Here is the first one.

The Parisian Promenade

Yesterday, Greensboro Beautiful presented the Parisian Promenade in the Tanger Family Bicentennial Garden on Hobbs Road. What a fabulous opportunity for families and friends to gather and stroll along the park seeing and being seen. The above scene is so Parisian, a street cart with buckets of flowers and a striped awning. The flower truck business is known as The Myrtle Cottage. The truck was located up by the Poodle Promenade Ring and flower sales were brisk. Prices were reasonable and people seemed to really enjoy buying flowers for themselves and their loved ones. The idea of being able to purchase flowers in a park or on a street corner is so quintessentially French. It is nice to see it in Greensboro and maybe  The Myrtle Cottage will make the opportunity more commonplace in Greensboro.

The weather yesterday was overcast, but it never did rain; making it perfect for the Parisian Promenade. The event is a project of the Greensboro Parks and Recreation and Greensboro Beautiful. Greensboro Beautiful is a 501 (c) 3 volunteer organization dedicated to enhancing the beauty and ecology of Greensboro. The Parisian Promenade in the Tanger Family Bicentennial Garden is a beautiful example of Greensboro at its best. The venue is beautiful, the vendors and activities were delightful for people of all ages. Ecology deals with the relations of organisms to one another. Seeing people out enjoying the flora of Greensboro was such a great way to kick off June. Summer will be here before you know it. Next year will be here before you know it. Mark your calendar for the first Sunday in June for the next Parisian Promenade.

Carolina's Diner

Today's photo is of Carolina's Diner. There are several locations in the Triad and the corporate office is out near the airport. This is the location in Quaker Village.  On the day we visited, we didn't think the diner was open because there weren't many cars in the parking lot. It is located in the breezeway with Elizabeth's Pizza and the Mexican restaurant and we soon learned most people park on the Wal-Mart neighborhood store side. The diner is open 24 hours 6 days a week, with shorter hours on Sunday when they are closed from 9pm- 6am on Monday. That is probably "deep clean" day.

If you like diner-style food, Carolina's Diner is as good as it gets and the prices are very reasonable. We're always in search of a good, home cooked, over-easy egg and this place delivered. The location, near Guilford Collage, probably attracts a lot of college students. Hopefully, in July the Eastern Musical Festival residents discover it, as it is one of the most conveniently located places to eat near the Guilford College campus. Carolina's Diner was established in 2001. It is hard to believe that was twelve years ago. Wonder how many dozen eggs they use in a week! 

Happy Saturday!

Krispy Kreme Doughploma

Yesterday was the first day for graduations for Guilford County Schools. They day started with the graduation of the Early College of Guilford, Greensboro College Middle College, The Middle College at UNCG, Kearns Academy, and the Academy at Smith. High School graduation ceremonies will continue through June 11th (see schedule here). The above photo; however, features "dough-ploma" day at Krispy Kreme Donuts. Yesterday, any student who could verify they are graduating this year received a dozen original glazed donuts for FREE from Krispy Kreme. This tradition started during Covid and has been so well received, that it continues today (read HERE). No purchase was necessary.

The above photo was taken at the Krispy Kreme on Battleground Avenue. When we stopped by around 6:00 pm. the store was so busy, some students had to wait in a line outside. When we drove back by at almost 9:00 pm, the line was equally long. It was only one day, but as quickly as information spreads with teens through social media, the word got out quickly. How wonderful they offer these doughplomas. We're wondering what other businesses do something so generous. This was not just one doughnut, but a whole dozen. 

Congratulations to the Class of 2023!

Happy Thursday!

Northern Roots Coffee Shop

Northern Roots is a coffee shop downtown near Scuppernong Books and on the same side of the street. This past weekend, they celebrated their one year birthday. While they are known for their coffee and tea drinks, they do have some sweet and savory croissants and bagels. People especially enjoy sitting in the cozy seating, especially at the windows. When we stopped by this weekend, they were 5 minutes from closing, so we grabbed a coffee to go and snapped this photo. The store is much busier early in the day. Coffee shops become our third spaces, a sort of home or business area. This is a "palate cleansing" coffee shop with the relaxing and neutral colors. Elm Street now has several coffee shops. It would be fun to start the day at Dolce Aroma at 233 North Elm Street, and work our way to Common Grounds at 631 South Elm Street, visiting everything in between How much caffeine would be that in all of the establishments in those 8 blocks?

Happy Tuesday!

Southern Fried Burger in a Pretty Great Hamburger Town

Greensboro is known as the Gate City; however, we're also known for some pretty good hamburgers. We even have a square downtown known as Hamburger Square! The above photo is from dinner last night at Hops Burger Bar. The restaurant opened on Spring Garden Street in 2013 and by 2015 had gained national attention when TripAdvisor voted it as America's Best Burger Restaurant. A second location of Hops Burger Bar opened on Lawndale Drive in Irving Park in 2015. One special aspect of Hops is that every Sunday they create a new burger that they only offer for a week. In the 10 years they've been open, that is over 500 different burgers.

As a fun, little self challenge, when we go to Hops, we order the special, regardless of the combination of ingredients. Yesterday ws about the most unique burger we've had to date.  Here is the description of it up on the chalk board of "The Southern Fried Burger". It is a battered and fried hamburger , topped with Tabasco marinated tomatoes, bourbon pickles, country gravy, and crumbled applewood bacon on a piece of thick, diced garlic toast. It is served with a side of corn fritters and a spicy maple sauce. (We opted for cole slaw instead of the corn fritters).

We hope you had a great week even if it didn't include a "Southern Fried Burger."  It isn't too late, you've got  six more days to try one! Happy Monday!

 

Lisa Rawlings, Local Author

The above photo features Lisa Rawlings, who has recently published a book about her childhood called, "One Girl's Story." Lisa was on hand at at Just Be for First Friday in May to read from and promote her book. We saw her yesterday when she was working at Just Be for her daughter Kathryn, who owns this lovely gift shop at Hamburger Square. Lisa was born into a Navy family in Saigon, Vietnam and her dad's career took the family to many places around the world. However, she considers Meridian, Mississippi to be her hometown. The book is a collection of short stories. Lisa was prompted to write down these memories of her childhood after losing her sister, also her best friend, to an aneurism. Lisa teaches 5th grade at Caldwell Academy and wrote a book that she felt would appeal to her students. On the back cover, she encourages children, about her students' age, to read the book and compare how much their life is like hers and to see what aspects of her life were unique.

Lisa loves to read, write, teach, and spend time outdoors. She currently has a book series she wants to write;  her idea is too good to share at this point. Once she writes and publishes the first book in the series, we think it will take off. Meanwhile, if you want a copy of "One Girl's Story,"  you can get it at Just Be, or log on to her Instagram site lisa_rawlings and get details there. When asked what she likes about Greensboro, Lisa says she loves the location, given she can easily get to the beach or the mountains. Hopefully, once the school year ends, she'll have time to vacation somewhere in North Carolina and start that book series.

Happy Saturday!

Art & Supply Pop Up

Our friend and artist, Cassandra Liuzzo, is featured today at her pop up art sale at the corner of Grove Street and Lexington in the Glenwood neighborhood of Greensboro. Cassandra had Shelf Life Art & Supply Co. in Irving Park for several years. After closing that store, she now sells art at Design Archives in downtown Greensboro. At her studio in Glenwood, she sells art and craft supplies, as well as gives private and group art lessons. Her pop up sales will continue throughout the summer on the same day as the Glenwood Market. Cassandra's hours are a little earlier, 4:00 pm- 6:00 pm on Thursdays. If you are at the Glenwood Market, just follow the path to from the market to the front of the church and you will see her pop up. 

Cassandra, a Grimsley High School graduate, is a talented artist herself. She had a Greensboro Residency for Original Works (GROW) downtown in 2021. Not only is she accomplished at drawing and painting, she has beautiful journals and is quite a fiber artist. It will be interesting to follow her career and see the direction her talent will take her. You can find her website on Facebook (Shelf Life Art & Supply Co.) and connect with her at shelflifeart on Instagram. If you get a chance, stop by Cassandra's pop up next week. Not only will you have the opportunity for a good conversation, you will find some great supplies at a reasonable price. Thank you Cassandra for always having a great smile and welcoming spirit.

Happy Friday, dear readers. 

KIND

Did you know that the KIND healthy snack company has an office and factory between Greensboro and High Point? Located on Mendenhall Oaks Parkway, off of Highway 68,  KIND acquired the Creative Snack Company in 2019. Only recently have they changed the signage in front of the building and it has stand-out visibility on the otherwise plain structure. The only windows are in the front office area, but that didn't  stop us from noticing the smell of chocolate as we walked through the parking lot. It reminds us of the Lorillard days in east Greensboro when there were days the scent of chocolate blended with the tobacco. Another place with noticeable "tasty" scents is Mother Murphy Flavoring Company located off of Elm-Eugene. There, butterscotch is especially noticeable.

KIND comes by its name honestly as they serve healthy snacks and  support non-profits. KIND is a company with a not-only-for-profit mission. The company was founded in 2004 by Daniel Lubetzky who wanted a tasty, nutritious snack. Corporate is located in New York, how wonderful that they have a location in Guilford County.

Happy Thursday!

Remembering Baskin Robbins Battleground

Remember the days when Anton's was open and quite a destination restaurant and Baskin Robbins was next door, the "go to" place for a date night ice cream? The above store on Battleground Avenue closed  December 24, 2020. The building looks so empty and abandoned. Hopefully something will open there soon. It looks like renovation may be in progress. It was always such a challenge to park there, but when you got inside, the flavors were oh so delicious.The store had been there for decades. Their original slogan of "31 flavors" was so creative. They also introduced ice cream cakes to the public. We happened to drive by on Thursday when all of  the work on the above-ground wires was being done. We parked near the very empty store. We miss it a lot and can't wait to see what goes in the space. We're wondering if they will keep the bright pink! What was your favorite flavor?

Happy Saturday!

 

 

Guilford Works NC Works NextGen

Yesterday was a sunny, beautiful day downtown. While we were standing on West Washington Street to photograph the building on the southeast corner of West Washington and South Greene Street, a policeman on a bicycle rode by. The police station is just down the street, so, likely, he was heading back to the office. We wanted to photograph the building on the right, because we noticed a new business: Guilford County NCworks Nextgen Young Adult Program. It is a free service serving young adults from ages 16-24 years of age. They can learn about jobs and internships, get training and earn credentials, and get career counseling. Today from 10:00 am- 2:00 pm, they are holding a workshop for resume building. During the time time slot, they will have a mobile career center parked at Urban Ministries. It sounds like an opportunity for people to get help and to build hope. The building looks so fabulous and inviting. If you look closely at the windows, you can see the vinyl wrap that adds a pop of color and makes the place stand out. With this signage, 301 South Greene Street is hard to miss.

We hope you enjoy your Thursday and we hope you get a chance to drive around downtown and see what is new since the last time you were there. That is one of our favorite passimtes.

Here is a link to start checking and see if you qualify. For those who are interested, there is also a High Point location at 607Idol Street.

Krispy Kreme "HOT"

It has been a while since we've had a Krispy Kreme donut, so we stopped into the store on Battleground Avenue. While Greensboro isn't where the recipe was perfect or where the donuts were first sold, Greensboro is the first city to get a "retail only" store on High Point Road in 1989. This 2016 article from WFMY News reminds us that in that first Greensboro location, donuts were delivered to your car. If we did the math correctly, Krispy Kreme turns 86 this year. However, the now-iconic HOT light was not introduced until 1990. Now, there is an app to see if the hot sign is on. Fresh donuts are like sushi and coffee- every minute matters!

Originally, Vernon Rudolph brought the yeast donughts to Old Salem, North Carolina. Currently, there are 358 Krispy Kreme locations in the United States, with 36 in California and 28 in North Carolina (see here).  While the company has had some ups and downs with expansion efforts, they seem to be going strong. Let's hope they are around for a very long time. It is so fun to go into the store and watch the donuts being made. You can almost see the whole process. You can't however, get that original recipe. It is one of those closely guarded secrets!

Happy Saturday!

 

Oscar Oglethorpe and the Magical display!

Since we were in the 200 block of South Elm Street yesterday, we'll stay there today at 226 South Elm, admiring the window of Oscar Oglethorpe. This eyeglasses shop aways has fabulous windows. This one was staged by Tammy Tamster Pegram. The window has been stalled for the Month of March. In asking Tammy about it,  * we learned that she wanted a spring "flower power" decoration. Tammy tells us, she was thinking about "springing into new growth while embracing styles of past and having NEW retro Eyewear to SEE the world's beauty thru diversity." Tammy added that she wanted to "show the joy of vibrant colors in eyewear and elsewhere."  Finally, Tammy wanted to embrace, along the way, for Women's History Month. The pink and orange window sure appeals to us. 

Thank you Oscar Oglethorpe and Tammy Pegram for bring us a little joy in the heart of downtown!

 

* Learn more about Tammy, HERE.

901 Spring Garden Street: High on a Hill in College Hill

901 Spring Garden Street looked absolutely spectacular on Sunday afternoon when the air was cold but the sunshine was glorious. If you have been around for a while, you likely remember the days in the early 1990s when Mary Garvey had her shop here (The Clothesline). Mary had a talent for finding clothing for college students and faculty. You never knew what you would find there, or who you would find shopping there. Next, Adelaide's Vintage was there- with more emphasis on home goods.

Fast forward to now and Vanderveen Photographers have a studio there.  As they say on their website, "Becky and Bert Vanderveen have been together in life and photography since 1999, capturing art, beautiful moments and dynamic events along the way." Both have degrees from UNCG and their studio is only a block from the Weatherspoon Art Gallery. It seems like 901 Spring Garden would be perfect for a studio: good lighting, conveniently located, and off street parking. We hope to get to interview them sometime and to get a peek inside and see exactly how they have transformed the space. Just look at how well appointed that corner view is and how that white brick and fence sparkle of spring's sunshine. Does anyone know the original use of this building, built in 1961?

Happy Wednesday!

Temptations "Ain't Too Proud" Show at Tanger Center for the Performing Arts

Today's photo features a truck at the Tanger Center this past weekend, one of two used for loading in the "Ain't Too Proud" show about the Temptations and the Four Tops. Just as we stepped back to take a photo, a group of theatre-goers walked by. We took several more photos, but this one was the best; an action shot, showing movement in front of the "Classic 5" lineup of the Temptations:  Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, David Ruffin, Melvin Franklin, and Otis Williams. The people in the foreground are a little Abbey Road-esque. The music and show about the Temptations were fabulous. The Tanger is a fabulous venue, too. 

The weather in Greensboro has been sunny, but cold over the last few days. The lows have been in the 20s and the highs somewhere in the 50s. It is officially spring now. We hope you have a happy Tuesday and, if you haven't been to the Tanger yet, we hope you have an opportunity to get there soon.

 

College Hill Sundries

College Hill Sundries is located at 900 Spring Garden Street at South Mendenhall. Most people know the corner establishment from the iconic Pepsi sign painted on the South Mendenhall side. See our post from 2009 (HERE- 14 years ago!!!), and you will see the Pepsi sign. We like this photo from yesterday because it shows what a dynamic place this neighborhood bar is. First, you see the "WILD FREE" hand-painted sign on the wooden, corner door. We believe that that is from the artists' pop up held there yesterday. On the left, you see one of the artists showing his work. Above his head, you see the "bike lane" sign, an important features for a college neighborhood. On the right, is a masseuse giving a massage at the special event. Finally, the sun was very bright yesterday and formed an arc over the middle of the photo. To the very right, you can see someone sitting at the bar. The place was hopping. From patrons to bartenders to vendors, everyone seemed in a cheerful mood. 

It took a little internet sleuthing and a some math to figure out when College Hill Sundries opened as a bar. In a News & Record article from 12/12/2001, we saw a reference to the King family who turned the location from a drugstore to a bar "19 years ago", which, since the article was written in 2001, would mean the bar opened in 1982, making it 41 years old this December! College Hill Sundries had its years as a dive bar with bathrooms that were barely tolerable. As explained in the 2001 article and verified by us yesterday, the bathrooms have been upgraded and  the beer selections modernized. From that same era (2001), the magazine "Men's Journal" listed College Hill  as one of the 50 best bars in America. The only bar in North Carolina to receive recognition in the publication. Oh the things one can happen upon, merely driving around town. 

We hope to see an add for the next pop up. If you are a vendor, you may want to inquire within to see about getting a spot.

Happy Monday!

A Bit of A Nonconventional Church

A church is a public place made available for worship. Today's "church" is a display set up in the middle of the Antique Marketplace on Burnt Poplar Road. Master interior decorator and room stager, Lori Gray, often stages the displays at the entrance of Antique Marketplace. Sometimes she brings in items to use. Other times, she just walks around the antique mall and takes items for sale at the different vendors' booths and assembles them in the middle of the store. The above photo is a scene, a church, she staged recently. The more you look at the display, the more references you will see. A fan on the altar for hot days, before there was air conditioning, shine brightly reflecting the light from the lamps. There are crosses on the doors- probably 20 feet tall.  The trumpets represent the music in church. Ladies Sunday-go-to-church hats are on the chairs beside purses, and a collection plate. In the middle is a painting of the Last Supper. 

This display is so creative. Have you ever seen one quite like it in an antique mall. As we walked the aisles, passing by the display a few times, by the end, we really did want to sit, rest, and have a little silent meditation. A church is a public place made available for worship. So, technically, last Tuesday night, we went to church. However, we need to get back and drop a few dollars in the collection plate. Remember church, synagogue, temple, or mosque is not about the physical space as much as what we do there.

Happy Sunday!

Tribe Thrift at "West End"

Trive Thrift has relocated its store from North Spring Street to 1607A West Friendly Avenue, the part of Friends being rebranded as West End. The Tribe is part thrift, part new, and part hand painted art. In the above photo, you see proprietor, Kandice Russell and her daughter who just happened to be at the store the night we visited. If we did the math correctly, it opened on March 1st. The store is heavily curated by Kandice; you have clothing at all price points and styes. One of the fun features Kandice offers is that you can do a shoppers night with friends. If you bring in 10 friends for a personalized, private after-hours event, you earn $100 in store credit. Kandice provides al the snacks and drinks; you provide the customers. It is a great way to bring your friends together in a cute space outside the home.

Kandice (Russell) is from Greensboro, and attended Grimsley High School. Her store is literally just a few blocks away from her alma mater. If you are looking for something to do this weekend, stop by and visit the Tribe and then have a look around "West End". While you are there, congratulate Kandice for getting the new shop set up. The clothing is really fashionable and at a good price point.

Wylie's Gourmet Cafe and Desserts

West Friendly Avenue, around Tex and Shirley's and Bandito Bodega, is slowly becoming branded as West End. Wylie's Gourmet Cafe and Desserts  is located in that area, and is part of a series of businesses that have opened over the last year or so. Wylie's opened October 1st 2021. Featured in the above photo is Sonya Wylie. She is a fabulous cook who learned from her grandmother and mother. Originally from Salsbury, Sonya has been in Greensboro for over 30 years. Formerly, she was a hair stylist and also had a food truck. However, now, she pours all of her time and love into the restaurant at 1608 West Friendly. 

Especially popular are wings, subs, chicken salad, and pimento cheese sandwiches. The chicken wings are very large and portions are generous. Wylie's is take out only and no beef or pork are served. There is ample parking beside the restaurant. It is always special to support local businesses where owners and regular customers get to know each other rather quickly. A heartfelt thank you to our friend, and loyal reader, Alice Hill, for encouraging us to feature Wylie's. We're confident we'll be back. When we asked Sonya if she knew Alice, she said "Of course we do and we love her."  Local businesses, with the proprietor on site, make a community feel like home.

Happy Wednesday!

M'Coul's Public House

M'Coul's Public House seems to stay busy, especially on weekends. However, as we inch towards St. Patrick's Day a couple of Fridays from now, it will get super busy. Simmone McClinton, founder and owner, opened the establishment at 110 W. McGee Street in 2001. The building is historic and Simmone is committed to maintaining the integrity of the original structure, while adapting and updating whatever is needed to bring the restaurant into the 21st century. The building dates to 1892, and a lot has changed in 131 years.

In 2022, M'Coul's was recognized in the book "Hidden Gems of America: Restaurants" as one of their top pics in North Carolina. The above photo was taken upstairs, one of their  five options for dining. We love the mural and know there has to be a great story behind it. We're not sure, though. Do you know? It captures so perfectly the vibe of M'coul's. When we find out, we'll let you know.

Happy Saturday! Happy exploring!