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North Main Station
2022 NC Main Street Award: Economic Vitality
Best Infill Building Project
InStep Properties, LLC
Belmont Main Street Program
City of Belmont
The original Belmont train station was constructed in 1910 as a water stop for trains along the Norfolk Southern railway. The station is now a popular restaurant and bar, with a cycle shop in the rear. Realizing the need for additional retail and restaurant space in Downtown Belmont, the owners of the train station, InStep Properties, undertook a $1.3 million new construction project called the North Main Station, located directly behind the original station.
No new construction had taken place in downtown Belmont since 1970, leaving a great need for additional downtown commercial space. InStep Properties, with assistance from the Belmont Main Street program and the Gaston County Historic Commission, began a 5,800 square foot new building project. The building was designed to complement the original train station.
The Belmont Main Street Director and Design Committee worked with the property owner on the building design. The Promotions Committee assisted in marketing the property and the Economic Vitality Committee helped recruit new businesses to Downtown Belmont.
The economic impact of this effort is two new businesses: a yoga studio and farm-to-table restaurant with a bakery. Twenty-six new full-time jobs and twenty-nine part-time jobs also resulted from this project.