MAIN STREET NEWS

When John Walker and Kelli Simko opened 220 (two-twenty) Café in downtown Statesville in 2010, they weren’t just starting a restaurant, they were planting roots.

Doris Conner has been a powerhouse of creativity and community spirit in Ayden since joining the Main Street program in 2019.

“Downtown Rutherfordton has always felt like home to me—it’s where hard work, creativity, and community spirit come together,” says Christy Houser, owner of Mill Hill General Store and President of Rutherford Town Rising.

Chef Gregg Hamm has been a driving force behind the growth and vibrancy of downtown Sanford.

Todd Walker truly embodies the spirit of “One Community.”

When you think of the heart of downtown Mebane, you think of Peyton Rice Fuqua.

Jill Parker Puett has been a tireless advocate for Cherryville and a driving force behind its downtown transformation.

“We were looking for office space — somewhere affordable and walkable. When my business partner, Harrison Boyd, and I found something on Washington's waterfront, then we made the move from Greenville.

Jeff Holland, our Parks and Public Properties Superintendent, said it best. “You can see that pride in every sidewalk swept, every park cleaned, and every detail they touch. They don’t wait to be asked — they just do.”

Behind every smooth event and clean street in downtown Fuquay-Varina is a dedicated team from the Public Works Department.

For more than 25 years, Reynolds Lisk has been a driving force behind downtown Asheboro’s growth and vibrancy.

Wendy Cato has been a constant presence in Downtown Morganton’s story of growth and resilience.

“I’ve had the opportunity to move a lot in my life,” says Maura Johnston, “and I don’t want to live in ‘Anywhere, USA.’”

“In January 2017, we took a leap of faith. Opening Olde Raleigh Distillery had been a dream for years

In the heart of Elon, Pandora’s Pies is more than a restaurant; it’s a home away from home, thanks to Kimberly Holt.

“Hendersonville is just such a wonderful community” boasts Mayor Barbara Volk.

“What motivated me to serve as Board Chair not just once, but twice, was a genuine desire to give back to my community and support the incredible work of our staff and volunteers.”

Inspired by weekend visits to independent bookstores, they opened a cozy, welcoming space in December 2024—right in the heart of Belmont.

Downtown Elizabeth City was the host of a groundbreaking event that redefined what’s possible for their waterfront, the Bassmaster Elite Series Fishing Tournament and Hooked on the Harbor Festival.

Elm Street Pocket Park in downtown Lumberton has redefined what’s possible for downtown revitalization through art, collaboration, and economic vision.

The Sylva Depot Plaza is a project that proves small-scale infrastructure can have a big impact — not just on a town’s functionality, but on its identity, its economy, and its sense of place.

The Holland Building rehabilitation began with a simple need—a new home for the Statesville Historical Collection—and ended with the rediscovery of a powerful piece of our shared past.

Downtown Concord’s Streetscape project was designed with a bold goal: to reimagine their historic center city as a vibrant, walkable, and economically resilient destination.

The Old Cherry Inn beautifully bridges Tarboro’s past with its future — a shining example of how historic preservation can fuel economic growth, community pride, and creative entrepreneurship.