JUNE 18, 2009 ISSUE
Where Are They Now?
421 Widening Forcing Businesses to Move or Close
Since NCDOT informed several businesses along the section of East and West King Street between Highway 194 and Coffee Street in Boone of right-of-way acquisitions for the Highway 421 widening project, owners have been living on borrowed time, trying to go about business as usual before either choosing to close or finding a new location.
In recent weeks, several of the business have vacated their longtime locations while others have shut their doors for the last time. In the months to come, the Highway 421 widening project will forever change the face of one of the town’s main arteries.
Like several of her neighbors, Boone Florist owner and operator Lean Rudell wasn’t at all thrilled with the prospect of packing up her shop located near the corner of West King Street and Blowing Rock Road. According to Rudell, the location helped bring her a steady stream of business from students.
“It was sad to move because it was a nice location,” said Rudell. “People had been coming in there for years.”
Boone Florist’s new location between Robert Charles Salon and the Downtown Boone Development Association at 740 W. King Street opened last week. According to Rudell, the new space is less than half the size of her old shop, while her rent is more than double. Fortunately, some customers have been by the old shop and found her new address.
“I guess I’ll get used to it,” said Rudell. “Hopefully they will find me and come here too. I think all [the business owners] wish we didn’t have to do it, but we did. Change happens.”
Rudell’s former neighbor Bob Meier recently moved his Doe Ridge Pottery business to 585 W. King Street, Suite D in the Vetro Building. Meier was very vocal about his displeasure with the circumstances of being forced out of his former location—a spot his business occupied for 22 years. Fortunately, Doe Ridge Pottery’s new location has garnered the business increased walk-in traffic and has put it in a prime location to take advantage of the monthly Boone Art Crawls.
“It’s ok. [The rent is more expensive] than our last spot, but we had a very limited amount of time to finally move when the state told us to move,” said Meier. “Spaces don’t come open very often and when they do, they don’t last very long.”
It was Meier’s new landlord, attorney Michael Vetro, that suggested a prominent window display could help bring customers to the downstairs location. Meier liked the idea and Doe Ridge moved in last month. Like Rudell, Meier is having to adjust to running his business in a smaller location—1,800 square feet down from 3,200. According to Meier, the space will not allow him to run his ongoing pottery classes.
“I’m really kind of disappointed that we’re not going to be able to do that,” said Meier. “Aside from that, I’m happy with the space. The showroom worked out very well and the windows are working out.”
Several other businesses have already or are in the process of vacating their spots. Massage therapist Kirsten Tiedemann and computer repair business P.C. Medics are now located at the Carriage Square shopping center on the 105 Bypass while Board Paradise has moved downtown to 140 S. Depot Street A spokesperson for Blue Ridge Bedrooms & Mattress Company said their business would remain open through July until moving to an undisclosed location.
Along with recently closed businesses such as High Country Cleaners and Clyde Jones Auto Parts, another Boone staple that won’t be making the move is Trailway Laundry & Cleaners. According to part owner Johnny Gragg, who along with his brother Ray has been running the business since 1962 (the cleaners has been at its current location since 1947), the business will close its doors for the last time next week. According to Gragg, a letter from NCDOT said the cleaners had to be out by July 19.
“I wasn’t quite ready to give it up, but I guess we don’t have any control,” Gragg said with a good-natured laugh.
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