Greenville Magazine - Winter 2024 by APG Eastern NC

Greenville LIFE in the EAST

WINTER 2024

On the rise Downtown hotel leading city’s vertical growth

WHAT'S NEW '24: HILTON GARDEN INN, CORNFLOWER AND BACKSTAGE, NATURAL SCIENCE MUSEUM, MORE

Photo By Michelle

Durdaller

WASHINGTON, W SHINGTON, NC NC SMALL SM LL BUSINESS BUSINESS DIRECTORY DIRECTORY

144 W Main Street, Washington, NC 27889 (252) 940-0109 • www.SecretGardenGallery.net

252.946.2611 121 N MARKET STREET N DOWNTOWN WASHINGTON

Come Dine With Us 129 East Main Street, Washington, NC

STEWARTSJEWELRYSTORE.COM • “LIKE” US ON

252-833-0701 • website: blufarmtotable.com

Custom Bridal Jewelry Swarovski Crystals Creations ~Earrings

Blu Boutique Fashion ~ Jewelry Accessories ~ Shoes & More! 129 East Main Street ■ Washington, NC 252-833-0701 ■ laneblushop.com 2

We Also Make Custom Creations

Find my jewelry at The Jewelry Nook inside Artisans in Greenville or The Harbor District Market In Downtown Washington, NC Thursday-Saturday

757-332-0500 michelleelainedesigns@gmail.com

Greenville Magazine — January 2024

Publisher Michelle Bowers Editor Bobby Burns Contributing Writers Kim Grizzard Pat Gruner Ginger Livingston Photographers Scott Davis Pat Gruner Aaron Hines - City of Greenville Regional Advertising Director

Kyle Stephens Advertising Representatives Christina Ruotolo, Dave Singleton Lewis Smith & Christina Spencer

ON THE RISE: DOWNTOWN HOTEL LEADING CITY’S VERTICAL GROWTH

4-7

NEW HOME UNDER THE DOME: HISTORIC CUPOLA BUILDING TO REOPEN AS SCIENCE MUSEUM

8-11

FLAVORS AND FUN: WOMEN PURSUE DREAMS AT BACKSTAGE COFFEE AND CORNFLOWER BAKEHOUSE

12-15

WHAT'S NEW GUIDE 2024

16-18

Creative Services Director/ Layout Design Jessica Harris

Greenville: Life in the East is a publication of The Daily Reflector and Adams Publishing Group ENC. Contents may not be reproduced without the consent of the publisher.

Greenville LIFE in the EAST

WINTER 2024

On the rise Downtown hotel leading city’s vertical growth

WHAT'S NEW '24: HILTON GARDEN INN, CORNFLOWER AND BACKSTAGE, NATURAL SCIENCE MUSEUM, MORE

An image captured by a City of Greenville drone looking west down Fifth Street in downtown Greenville captures the construction of the Hilton Garden Inn in January.

It seems like something new is popping up around Greenville all the time, but an eight-story hotel in the middle of downtown stands out. Watching the Hilton Garden Inn rise above the city’s skyline over the last year has been exciting. It puts an exclamation point on the growth the city has seen and offers a peek into where it is headed. The hotel and the city’s vertical growth is a centerpiece of this year’s What’s New edition of Greenville-Life in the East, which also features two more reports centered on the downtown district: the renovation of the Cupola Building to host the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences and the new occupants of the Jones-Lee House, who have brought flavors and fun to Greene Street with Cornflower Bakehouse and Backstage Coffee. A roundup offers more samples of some of the businesses that made moves in 2023 and others that are expected to have new offerings this year. The stories just scratch the surface of everything that’s coming up in 2024, a year in which the city also will celebrate its 250th anniversary. One of the biggest celebrations sure to come will be the opening of the downtown Hilton, which developers hope will be in time for football season. Keep your eyes on the sky and have a great 2024.

— Bobby Burns

Greenville Magazine — January 2024

ON THE

R SE

Downtown hotel leading city’s vertical growth Story by Pat Gruner An architectural rendering shows the vision for The Hilton Garden Inn once it is completed

aul Adkison recalls a Greenville that hung a bit closer to the ground during his time at East Carolina University, one where the only tall buildings were the residence halls on campus. Downtown Greenville, he said, while full of fond memories, lacked any real height. “It was kind of an old, southern quintessential college town, which is not a bad thing,” Adkison, who graduated in 1991, said. “I have such fond memories of going to school, but, it was flat. I think the highest building might have been three stories, excluding the dorm rooms there on campus, but downtown Greenville was very flat and there wasn’t a lot going on except bars that were for kids. “Now, I think Greenville is really starting into more of this true, multipurpose downtown. One that’s good for babies, toddlers, kids, teens, young adults, middle aged adults to older people. It can fit everybody.” Adkison and fellow ECU alum Scott Diggs, co-owners of Co-X Holdings, are erecting the 101-room Hilton Garden Inn on Evans Street. Attached to the Fourth Street Parking Deck, the $23 million, eight-story structure will certainly have a bit of air beneath it, and the builders have high hopes to open it before ECU kicks off the 2024 football, Adkison said. The hotel itself will light up purple on game days and has other, subtler touches Adkison hopes will make alumni feel at home without excluding visitors in town for other business. It’s a passion project for the Co-X duo, with Adkison and Diggs picking out details down to the paint and carpet. The hotel will not be out of place, he said, despite towering over most buildings in the general vicinity. “I spent a lot of time on the exterior building,” Adkison said. “Making sure that it fits into the street view. As you rise up, you see more of a modern approach but still not too modern that it

looks, you know, weird. You have that in some cities where you have this old-school southern town and you have this modern hotel that doesn’t fit. I wanted it to fit and make sure everybody felt comfortable with it.” It is a study in place-making, according to Andrew Schmidt, president and CEO of the Greenville-Pitt County Convention and Visitors Bureau, as well as an interesting sign of what heights the city could reach. “Place-making is kind of the vibe of the city, how you feel about the aesthetics of the city,” Schmidt said. “With eight stories that will become a focal point of downtown. “It just kind of signifies a bit of a beacon there of activity when you see that in the downtown corridor. It’s definitely going to be an exciting add for us, that’s for sure.” Schmidt said that with all rooms full, the hotel can expect to see about 180 occupants. Those people will have the ability to traverse downtown on foot, he added, spending money at local businesses. That spending can be shown to outside investors as Greenville competes with bustling cities across the state like Raleigh, Charlotte and Wilmington, he said. The decision to build up, rather than sprawling out, was a bit of a necessity. While it is less expensive to “go wide,” Adkison said, features like a rooftop bar would be lost on a short, squat sort of building. The height also vibes well with the Fourth Street Parking Deck, a necessary amenity to ensure guests are not toting luggage a few blocks to their room. The hotel’s stature is also a statement piece, Adkison said. “We wanted to dominate the skyline and look over everything,” Adkison said. “That way when you drive into Greenville you see our hotel as one of the first hotels.” Chantae Gooby, Greenville’s chief planner, said as more property is developed, particularly in downtown Greenville, the only place

Greenville Magazine — January 2024

to go is up. Around 2005, she recalled that student housing complexes were starting to be built away from downtown, farther from campus. That model is fading, she said, as students want to be closer to the university. “You see that with the Jolly Roger (on Charles Boulevard and 14th Street),” Gooby said. “The only way to put in the number of units they need is to go vertical. “Any time you build, whether it be hotels, apartments, what have you, you need to make the math work. If you’re going to build something, how many units do you need to make it work? Do you buy more land and spread out … or do you have limited land, like the hotel, and the only way to go is vertical.” William Mills, the City of Greenville’s chief building inspector, said that building up rather than out comes with its own set of challenges. While, up to a point, there can be savings, materials and other factors come in once a certain stature is reached. “Yes, there are cost savings when building vertically,” Mills said. “It depends on how high and what type of construction practices are going to be used.” Buildings over four stories tall, like the Hilton Garden Inn, must be built of concrete and steel, while buildings four stories or less can be constructed of wood, according to Mills. He said that buildings that have occupied floors over 75 feet from the ground see significantly higher costs. They also have additional fire protection requirements including a fire command center. However, delving into the building’s bones as it goes up is exciting for Mills. As they climb scaffolding through rain and cold to ensure assembly is proceeding as planned, inspectors have a chance to experience the city from a new angle. “It is a view most people never see,” Mills said. “I have been fortunate to be on the roof and see the view over the city. The outside area on the seventh floor has a commanding view of the city. I have taken a few pictures, and the view up Dickinson to the 10th Street Connector is just awesome. Up Evans is just as breathtaking. This is an awesome project and we are glad to be a part and make it a success. It is a team effort.” In recent years, Greenville has stacked itself higher. Mills said he recently inspected a multi-story building on Thermo-Fisher Scientific’s campus. He added that, having grown up in Pitt County, most recent high-rise projects are hotels or student housing buildings. Adkison noted that one of the most important recent pieces of vertical infrastructure is not a building at all, but the 10th

File Photo Hotel developer Paul Atkison, center, speaks during the groundbreaking for the Hilton Garden Inn in January 2022, along with his partner Scott Diggs, left, and ECU Chancellor Philip Rogers. Atkison and Diggs are ECU alums.

Street Connector which opened in September of 2019. The overpass connects Evans Street to Memorial Drive, serving as a main vein between ECU’s east and west campuses. In doing so it also links downtown to the city’s Medical District. “I think the bypass actually helps significantly, getting people in faster and easier,” Adkison said. Upon crossing that bridge toward downtown, in a clear example of dominating a skyline, one of the first eyefuls motorists take in is the ECU logo emblazoned across the university’s Life Sciences and Biotechnology Building on 10th Street. The building is four stories with a tall facade shielding its rooftop infrastructure and adding to its height. Much like the twin towers that house ECU Health's heart and cancer facilities on the medical campus, the biotech building announces the main campus and downtown. More verticality is likely coming to the city too, Gooby said. It could take a different form as well. Right now, downtown Greenville is the only area of the city that can institute what Gooby defined as “vertical mixed-use zoning,” which allows residences to stack on top of ofÏce or retail space. That can be seen at the corner of Evans and Fifth streets, for instance. This year, staff is putting together a proposed amendment to zoning ordinances to install that practice citywide. Staff hopes to build consensus with residents before the amendment goes before the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission. If it passes, it could be approved or denied by City Council. “That’s something that staff has been working on for a

The hotel building under construction already marks Greenville’s skyline from a distance, seen below from Dickinson Avenue under the 10th Street Connector. The connector’s vertical lift has given travelers better access between the city’s downtown and Medical District and ECU’s Main Campus and Medical Campus. Pat Gruner

You should see what you’re missing! Compassionate, Quality Care. Every Day. For All.

Medical, dental and behavioral health care for the entire family.

252.758.5938 3600 Greenville Blvd. NE greenvillemarine.com

261 Belvoir Highway | Greenville 252-695-6352 (medical) 252-695-6355 (dental) contentnea.org This ad is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $8,820,802 with 100% percentage financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.

Greenville Magazine — January 2024

GREENVILLE’S TALLEST

while,” Gooby said. “We’re hopefully going to do the public engagement in January and hopefully get it taken to council in winter or early spring. “You don’t see it anywhere. It’s not because nobody is doing it, it’s that it is not allowed.” Gooby said stacking living areas on top of businesses makes for advantages like shared parking, while Schmidt acknowledged that putting a handful of different businesses under the same roof makes for one-stop economic spots too. “What it does, for visitors and tourists, it allows them to take advantage of multiple businesses under one roof,” Schmidt said, "It could lodging, culinary, entertainment. You can go into this business, park your car and have multiple different things.”

At eight stories, the Hilton Garden Inn will be one of the tallest buildings in Greenville. Its elevation on Evans Street makes it seem taller than nearby 10-story dormitories that sit downhill off of Cotanche. It’s easily taller than most buidings dowtown, including the four-story Self Help building, one of the district's older structures, and residential developments that have grown up in the last decade like the five-story Dickinson Lofts and Gather Uptown. Following is a list of some of the tallest structures in town.

TEN STORIES: Clement, White and Greene residence halls

NINE STORIES: Brody School of Medicine Building; TowneBank Tower

EIGHT STORIES: Hilton Garden Inn (under construction); Yugo Campus Towers Apartments

SEVEN STORIES: The Jolly Roger SIX STORIES: ECU Health heart and cancer towers; University Towers public housing

FIVE STORIES: The Hampton Inn in the Convention District, Dickinson Lofts/ University Edge, Gather Uptown

Service is Available Just Outside Your Door - Ready To Get You There

Greenville Magazine — January 2024

NEW HOME UNDER THE DOME Historic Cupola Building to reopen as science museum By Kim Grizzard Photos by Scott Davis

or more than a century, the Cupola Building downtown has served as a house of worship and a center of business. Now it is time for science. Following a yearlong renovation, the 108-year-old Classical Revival structure is scheduled to reopen in February as a science and technology learning center. The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences at Greenville will make its new home under the dome on West Eight Street. Emily Jarvis, head of the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences’ Greenville and Contentnea Creek branches, believes museum goers will enjoy seeing science being promoted and history being preserved under one roof. “We definitely have had people asking and very excited to get in here,” said Jarvis, who also is executive director of A Time For Science, a nonprofit that has partnered with the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences to operate the local museum. “Almost everyone I’ve spoken to prior to the move said, ‘I know exactly what building that is, but we have never been inside.’” Originally constructed as First Christian Church, the building was home to Sycamore Hill Missionary Baptist from 1968-97. Taff OfÏce Supply later purchased and renovated the building, preserving the stained glass. Those original windows have been maintained in the new museum; the light in the cupola has been restored and will be visible downtown mostly after hours. “Don’t ask me how to change the bulb,” Jarvis said, laughing. A Time for Science has been creating lightbulb moments for young learners since 2009, when John Bray and his wife, Nancy, began hosting school groups on hundreds of acres of conservation land outside of Grifton. The nonprofit organization offered environmental education activities and summer camps at the wetlands property near Contentnea Creek and

took science lessons on the road to schools and after-school programs. In 2017, A Time For Science merged with Go-Science in Greenville, taking over management of the science museum on Dickinson Avenue. Three years later, A Time For Science centers in Greenville and Grifton become the fourth and fifth branch locations of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. But less than a year after the newly renovated museum reopened in the former Pugh's service station building, the City of Greenville agreed to sell the property to a local developer in a deal that moved the museum to the Cupola space located

Greenville Magazine — January 2024

Above: The 108-year-old Classical Revival structure known as the Cupola Building is expected to draw more than 12,000 visitors a year as the new N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences at Greenville. Below: The new location of the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences at Greenville features murals created by local artists. "The art might be what brings people in and makes them want to engage and explore and create," Director Emily Jarvis said. "I think it’s super important to infuse the arts in a community space like this."

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences at Greenville is scheduled to hold its grand opening in the Cupola Building, 226 W. Eighth St., on Saturday, Feb. 3. The event is being held in conjunction with the annual STEM Expo.

WE ARE ACHIEVERS OUR STUDENTS ARE CAREGIVERS, DESIGNERS, ENTREPRENEURS AND BUILDERS.

PITTCC.EDU

Greenville Magazine — January 2024

WE ARE PITTCC

less than 600 feet away. While the new museum space is in sight of the old one, the two are worlds apart. The two-story Cupola Building, previously renovated in 2008, has more than 12,000 square feet of space, giving the museum a larger footprint than the former location, which drew some 12,000 visitors a year. The extra square footage allowed room to create classroom space upstairs and to add restrooms and an elevator, all helpful additions for accommodating large school-group tours. “When we have field trips, which we typically have on a daily basis, in our last location, we had to teach on the floor, which made it awkward for (other) visitors. They felt like they had to tiptoe around and be really quiet,” Jarvis said. “Now we have space to actually pull our field trips away from the main exhibit floors for most of the directed programming.” New to the main floor will be the Deep-Sea Explore, a walkin theater designed to give visitors a virtual underwater experience. In addition to projection, the exhibit offers a 4-D experience, including vibrating seats and blasts of air. “It’s going to be a totally immersive experience,” Jarvis said. “People can go in and feel what it’s like to go down in a research vessel to the bottom of the ocean.” Another addition to the newly renovated space is a 300-gallon saltwater tank that will be home to some native species found along the North Carolina coast. Aquariums on the first floor will incorporate the museum’s first-ever living exhibits. “We’ve got a couple of reptiles that we will not only have on display but also will use in some of our programming so people can get up close and personal with them,” Jarvis said. “We’ve always had people come in and say, ‘Do you have any live animals?’ With this transition and this new space, we really tried to listen to the community and what they were asking for that we didn’t have before. “We’re trying to incorporate some of that into this new space, providing an immersive experience, live animals, more technology,” she said. “We are trying to check those boxes and just continuously build off of what we hear people want.” In some cases, what people wanted were attractions they enjoyed at the former location, including a Discovery Forest, a children's exploration area modeled after one at the state museum. Featuring characteristics of an eastern North Carolina cypress swamp, the section offers toys and books for children to explore and challenges them to find hidden creatures.

In the new museum, the popular section that is designed for ages 5 and younger, is enclosed to help control sound. A cavelike opening fashioned in a hollow, fabricated tree will give children a new space to explore. Additional features found in both the old and the new museum locations include the Art Lab, where a resident artist will work to create jewelry out of natural materials next to the new makerspace upstairs. Also upstairs is the museum’s Astronomy Lab and a Naturalist Center. The expanded Naturalist Center not only includes additional microscopes but features numerous pieces from the Estelle H. Womack Natural History Collection previously exhibited at Virginia’s Danville Science Center. David Womack of Greenville’s Womack Electric Supply contacted Jarvis about bringing part of the expansive collection to the local museum. The collection, which featured items ranging from taxidermy to rocks, minerals and fossils, was originally displayed in a museum facility constructed by his parents, the late Charles and Estelle Womack of Danville, on the campus of Danville Community College. “It’s an impressive collection,” David Womack said of the exhibit, which not only included animals indigenous to North Carolina and Virginia but also Asia and Africa. “It was over 1,000 pieces. The collection as a whole had over 200 sea shells and 300 insects and a large animal taxidermy display.” Womack estimates that as much as 20% of the collection has been donated to the Greenville museum, with additional

Y E S T E R DAY ’ S G R E AT E S T T R E A S U R E S - - TO DAY

Mention this ad and get 10% off your purchase

3722 Main St. Farmville NC Farmville, NC • (252) 347-2495 Top and middle: Insect specimens and taxidermy items, part of the Estelle H. Womack Natural History Collection, have been donated to the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences in Greenville. Bottom: A bearded dragon named Venus in her new home at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences. The new museum, to open in February, is incorporating living exhibits for the first time.

OPEN: Wed-Fri: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM Sat: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM

portions going to Virginia’s Museum of Natural History and to Conservation House in Texas. “The family’s really happy that places can still use it for education purposes,” Womack said. “We are all really pleased that a lot of it went to the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences. I can’t wait for them to get it up so I can go take a tour of it myself.” Womack will not have to wait much longer. The grand opening for the new museum is scheduled for Feb. 3. The event is being held in conjunction with the annual STEM Expo, which draws dozens of exhibitors from across eastern North Carolina. The following weekend, the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences at Contentnea Creek will celebrate the opening of the Nancy and John Bray Environmental Education and Visitors Center. The 6,000-square-foot center will feature classroom space, along with a 2,500-gallon freshwater fish exhibit. “Finally, I feel like getting to where we have the infrastructure to be able to do more of what we want to do and to have a more comfortable, welcoming space,” Jarvis said. “What we want to do is inspire people, particularly young people. We really want to have something for everybody.” The N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences eastern North Carolina branches are located at 226 W. Eighth St., Greenville, and 949 Contentnea Lane, Grifton. Hours of operation following February’s grand opening ceremonies will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays. Admission is free; fees are charged for some programming. Visit a timeforscience.org.

May 25 - 27, 2024 Aurora Fossil Museum FREE Festival - Aurora, NC

Join us for a family-friendly event steeped in tradition and good old-fashioned southern charm. This is a FREE festival, with special ticketed events. • Digging For Fossils

• Live Entertainment

• Fossil Displays

• Food & Craft Vendors

• Silent Auction • Displays by Partner Nonprofit Organizations • Movie Night

• Saturday Night Glow Party • Dinosaur Show • And Much, Much More!

• Parad de

252-322-4238 www.ncfossilfest.com 400 Main St., Au u o a, NC C 27 Greenville Magazine — January 2024

6 | www.au u o afossilmuseum.org 11

FLAVORS AND FUN Women pursue dreams at Backstage Coffee and Cornflower Bakehouse By Ginger Livingston Photos by Scott Davis reenville’s newest spot for an approachable gourmet breakfast and lunch and specialty coffees is now serving up flavors and fun at 304 S. Greene St. Backstage Coffee and Cornflower Bakehouse are the new tenants of the Jones-Lee House, which was relocated to its downtown locale during a celebrated move in 2019 and formerly housed SoCo Farm and Food Restaurant. The businesses operate independently, but the women who run them share a common goal of bringing joy to the food and beverages their customers order at approachable price points. “When you have a little fun, other people have a little fun and everyone drops their boundaries. That creates something really special and you can do that with something as simplistic as food and coffee. You can do things that leave people feeling happy and good,” said Anna Park, who operates Backstage Coffee with her wife and Backstage founder Mackenzie Park. The businesses are open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the weekend. They share the space inside the old Gingerbread House that was moved from its spot on Evans Street across from the Greenville Museum of Art to make way for new development. Cornflower, operated by award-winning chef Emily Parker and Realtor and now-restauranteur Khristi Dixon, offers pastries and sweet treats, biscuits and burritos, lighter bites, some vegan and vegetarian fare and more, all infused with Parker’s original flare. Prices range from $3-$11. Backstage offers lattes, cappuccinos, ice brews and specialty drinks, some known for their sparkles of pink, developed by Mackenzie Park, an East Carolina University grad and proud Pirate who followed a passion for brewing coffee after a stint in journalism and grad school. Prices range from $3-$6. Guests can enjoy their coffees in a pair of cool dining rooms at the JonesLee House, where they also can savour delicacies from Cornflower. Both businesses also offer take-out and online orders. Opening in the Jones-Lee House culminated a goal the women had worked for individually for years, they said, but it all came together quickly through relationships they built in Greenville.

Top: Backstage Coffee and Cornflower Bakehouse now occupy the Jones-Lee House at 304 S. Greene St. Middle: Staff works in the kitchen at Cornflower Bakehouse in the Jones-Lee House. Bottom: Chef Emily Parker places orders up for service at Cornflower Bakehouse.

Top: Guests place orders at the Backstage Coffee bar in Jones-Lee House. Middle: A pair of dining rooms welcome customer to sip coffee and have breakfast and lunch. Bottom: Mackenzie and Anna Park are the owners of Backstage Coffee.

Mackenzie Park, nee Tewksberry, launched Backstage Coffee to share her love of coffee, music and her favorite town in 2022 when she rented space in a corner of Farmers & Makers Market on Dickinson Avenue. She and Anna started looking for a house and connected with Dixon, who became their real estate agent and their friend. Park also struck a friendship with Jeff Sarvey, a commercial real estate agent, over a mutual love of Maryland blue crabs, Old Bay seasoning and Utz potato chips. Happy with the success of Backstage Coffee, especially the popularity of a one-time promotion of pink-tinted specialty beverages with sparkly toppings during Valentine’s Day, she told Sarvey she wanted eventually to move into a larger space. Sarvey and his business partner, Walter Perkins Jr., learned that the Jones-Lee House was coming on the market. They admired its history and wanted "to continue the tradition of the home being a flourishing survivor of growth,” Sarvey said. Sarvey and Park toured the building. A hallway between two dining spaces and the kitchen looked like the perfect spot for a coffee bar, Park said, but she didn't want to operate the kitchen. They put their discussions on hold. Sarvey met Dixon at the Parks’ wedding in August and they started talking. Plans for the Jones-Lee House came up, including Park’s concerns about the kitchen. Dixon immediately thought of Parker, a chef at Native Fine Dining on Dickinson Avenue who won the North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association’s 2023 Pastry Chef of the Year award at the organization’s annual Chef Showdown. “I have always loved and believed in her cooking,” Dixon said. “I’ve had some of the best meals of my life at her hands. I told her she needed her own restaurant.” “I get this text from Khristi, ‘Do you want a restaurant? If you do, we can do that,’” Parker said. Her response? Yes. Sarvey made an offer on the Jones-Lee House in early October. “I remember being really nervous when he first put the offer in,” Park said. “It was, ‘Oh God, what am I getting myself into,’ but we started talking and I started feeling really good about this." The sale was finalized later that month and the women were soon painting the dining areas and working on their menus. Parker and Dixon also had to name the restaurant. “We loved the fact that cornflowers are imprinted on the Corningware bakeware, which felt very appropriate for our bakehouse,” Parker said. The name also was linked to the Cornbread Twinkies that helped Parker win Pastry Chef of the Year. It was a tribute to summers spent shucking corn from her grandmother’s garden. Her grandmother fed her fresh fruits and vegetables from her garden along with the Twinkies and other junk food treats that Parker's mother didn't allow. The coffee shop and restaurant opened Nov. 25, Small Business Saturday. “We had hoped that a lot of people would be inspired to go out and support local and we wanted to be part of that,” Park said. They called the opening a leap of faith. Restaurants typically hold soft openings to work out kinks and finish last-minute 13

details. Parker and the kitchen staff had a day to prep for opening day and never practiced plating the food. “It was a little scary, but it immediately fell into place,” she said. The interior design seemed tailor-made for how the women wanted to operate the two separate businesses, they said, with the hallway bar area for Backstage and a Dutch door leading into the kitchen. “It was like we couldn’t have written the story better ourselves … you would think about someone walking into the place and walking up there to place an order,” Anna Park said. Dixon said the setup is like those at communal food halls and restaurant co-ops. Staff is there to guide guests through their visit, and the interaction creates a rapport with customers allows them to have fun together, Mackenzie Park said. Parker added that it’s important to keep their offerings affordable so anyone can eat there, even if it has gourmet touches like bee pollen and creative ingredients like beets. “I think people are sick and tired of expensive, tiny food. We don’t want to do that, we want to feed you,” Parker said. “And yeah, it has bee pollen on it and that’s really cool. I think the little touches are what people appreciate because there is so much food out there that is just so nothing and careless. It’s like eating a sandwich from a gas station. It’s nice to be well fed and excited.” Parker also focuses on seasonal cooking and using the freshest ingredients. Working with local farmers means they get quality ingredients, she said, Top: Guests enjoy coffee and brunch inside one of the dining rooms at the Jones-Lee House. Bottom: Khristi Dixon and Emily Parker are owners of Cornflower Bakeshop.

• No one beats our prices! • We carry and service all makes and models • We accept all insurance • We accept Medicare • We accept Medicaid • In-house financing is Available

Our Products Make Lives Better

• Service VA for FREE • We service all OTC

Jay Nichols Owner/HIS-BC

A1 Affordable Hearing, LLC No one beats our Prices or Customer Service

Call today! (252) 999-4994 Office (252) 689-6020 Greenville ◆ Washington ◆ Williamston

a1affordablehearingnc.com 14

Our growing company We design, manufacture, market and distribute a wide variety of everyday personal care products to baby diapers.

1029 Old Creek Road, GREENVILLE, NC

www.attindas.com Attindas is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will be considered without regards to age, race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, sex, or veteran status.

and customers recognize quality. Along with bee pollen, Parker likes to dress her plates with pepitas (roasted sunflower seeds), dripped pickle juices or oil infused with chives to produce a lime-green tint. She said she wants plates to look like an abstract painting once customers are finished. The women said they hope to eventually do beverage and food pairings. “We want to do light drinks on the menu. I want to incorporate beet juice cocktails,” Parker said. “We could even do some sort of collaboration with a coffee cocktail.” The restaurant eventually wants to offer alcoholic beverages. Parker also wants to give the kitchen staff opportunities to add items to the menu and have pop-up events featuring their food. “I’ve wanted this for a long time … but I felt like I was never going to get it,” she said. “This coming along was amazing. It’s hard for cooks, period, but it’s hard for women especially to be able to actually run your own kitchen.” Having women involved in running the businesses is an exciting aspect of the new enterprises, the women said, and something they think will help make them successful. “Something cool that I’ve noticed between all of us is (that) women have this unsaid language of being able to communicate telepathically … and we can communicate a lot more smoothly,” Anna Park said. If there are misunderstandings, they put it on the table and work it out, she said. “I think we are all bleeding hearts and we understand that when you lift somebody up it’s beneficial for everybody,” Dixon said. Top: Anna Park preps a specialty drink at Backstage Coffee. Bottom: Mackenzie Park’s coffee creations at Backstage Coffee have been known to lean into her penchant for pink.

RA RAISE A THE STANDARD The Standard Dog Salon and Supply Co. is Eastern North Carolina’s newest premier dog grooming service provider and high-end retail stop. With years of prior experience in salon management, competitive grooming shows, and utmost customer service quality, we are redefining what it means to have a dog’s life.

215 E. Arlington Blvd., Suite A Greenville, NC 27858 ww www ww.thestandarddog.com Email- contact@thestandarddog.com

WHAT'S NEW GUIDE Coastal Fog, a local home store complete with an interior design studio and European-style market, is relocating from its 5,000-square-foot home on Evans Street in downtown Greenville to a historic building on 14th Street that’s over 25,000 square feet. The new location was set to open Jan. 17. The new space means an expansion in retail – which includes home decor, apparel, kitchen goods and more as well as its market-to-table dining experience, The Market at Coastal Fog. The store’s new location also has a wine tasting room, a spirits bar, a Sunday brunch menu, a gated kid’s area and a private event space. 210 E. 14th St., Greenville • (252) 347-2632 • www.coastalfog.com Hours: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday

Washington-based theater chain Golden Ticket Cinemas is set to open its doors to viewers at the former Regal Greenville Grande this month. The new location will create a modern theater experience for its Greenville viewers, equipped with an IMAX theatre, heated luxury recliners, stadium seating, direct food and beverage delivery, upgraded screens and unlimited refills. Phase one of the project, which includes food and beverage stations and six finished auditoriums, will be complete in late January. Phase two will bring six additional auditoriums to the theater in February, while the IMAX theater will open with phase three later this year.

Local home store and interior design company Halo Home has relocated to Hardee Crossings Shopping Center, upsizing from its original 3,000-square-foot storefront on Dickinson Avenue in downtown to a 10,000-square-foot superstore with free parking. The increase in size has allowed for additional products as well as an expansion of the store’s online shop. Halo Home offers a variety of home goods including home accessories, lighting, furniture and home fragrance. The store also provides commercial and residential interior design services and one-day accessory installations.

750 S.W. Greenville Blvd., Greenville Hours: TBD • Phone: TBD • www.gtcinemas.com

4300 A E. 10th St., Greenville • www.halohomestore.com Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday • (252) 864-4256

A new latin-inspired restaurant made its way to Greenville in November 2023, offering a flavorful menu inspired by the roots of its owners and staff, from Panama to the Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico. Latin Roots Bar & Grill creates a trendy dining experience fit with a full bar and a menu ranging from fresh chicharrones, Dominican sancocho, Peruvian ceviche, empanadas and more. The atmosphere is perfect for a quick and casual workday lunch as well as a chic date-night dinner. 101 Eastbrook Drive, Greenville • www.latinrootsbarandgrill.com (252) 999-8708 • Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday

Greenville Magazine — January 2024

2024

SEEMS LIKE BUSINESS IS BOOMING IN GREENVILLE. HERE’S A SAMPLING OF SOME THAT HAVE MADE MOVES RECENTLY OR ARE EXPECTED TO MAKE THEM IN THE NEW YEAR

North Carolina-based supermarket chain Lowes Foods will open its doors to the Winterville community later this year. The supermarket is committed to “quality, value and service,” offering a number of unique shopping experiences for its customers, including a Chicken Kitchen, The Beer Den, SausageWorks and The Cakery. The supermarket also offers catering services and store pickup. Located near the corner of Fire Tower Road and Memorial Drive, the 50,000-square-foot building will also be surrounded by 20,000 square feet of retail space, creating up to 17 retail and commercial spaces available for lease.

A new colorful boutique has opened in Downtown Greenville, offering a wide range of accessories and apparel just minutes from East Carolina University’s campus. Located on Evans Street along a strip of several other boutiques, Park’s Jewels has selections for occasions ranging from everyday wear to clothes for formal outings and game days. The store is fit with a dressing room and online shop. “We definitely try to find styles that you can’t find at other places in town, so whenever we do go to market and pick out things, we’re definitely looking for different things that you can’t find everywhere else,” said owner Parker Pitchford.

2025-1 Flower Drive, Winterville Hours: TBD • Phone: TBD • www.lowesfoods.com

409 Evans St., Suite B, Greenville • (252) 751-0859 Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon.-Sat. • www.parksjewels.com

WELCOME WAGGIN’ ANIMAL HOSPITAL COMPASSIONATE AND AFFORDABLE ANIMAL CARE

• Wellness Exxams • Radiographs • Vaccinations • Ultrasounds • Spay/Neuter • Emergency Services

Martha Worthington, DVM Meagan Shupe, DVM www.welcomewagginvet.com (252) 746-1503 | 949 Old Snow Hill Rd., Ayden Greenville Magazine — January 2024

Convenience store chain Royal Farms opened two locations in the Greenville area in 2023, one on Dickinson Avenue and the other on Greenville Boulevard. Open 24 hours a day, the stores offer snacks, beverages and “world famous” fresh fried chicken, among other fast-food menu items. The locations also include fuel stations and a car wash. Two more are coming in 2024.

Local sports bar and grill Tie Breakers has opened its third location on Greenville Boulevard. Famously known for its burgers, beer and wings, the restaurant offers a range of menu items, including sandwiches, salads, quesadillas and more. Complete with a number of TVs for sporting events and games for people of all ages, the location provides a separate area for its bar, creating a family-friendly atmosphere for its customers.

2610 Dickinson Ave. and 1604 S.E Greenville Blvd., Greenville • (252) 320-7326 and (252) 275-8041 Hours: Both locations 24/7 • www.royalfarms.com

1840 S.E. Greenville Blvd., Greenville Hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday-Saturday www.tiebreakersnc.com • (252) 439-0555

Virginia-based TowneBank was expected to open its Greenville location on Red Banks Road on Jan. 16. The two-story building sits on a three-acre lot at the corner of Red Banks Road and Arlington Boulevard, the ground floor home to the bank, its mortgage ofÏce and processors and Towne Insurance on the second. The new location is complete with a drive-through window, a night-time drop box, ATM location and conference room. The conference room, available to nonprofit organizations in need of a meeting space, has been upgraded to accommodate this service. 1000 Red Banks Road, Greenville • www.townebank.com • (252) 214-7500 Hours: 9 a.m to 5 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday

Wholesale restaurant supply warehouse US Foods CHEF’STORE opened its 90th location in Greenville in November 2023. The store spans over 20,000 feet and offers a variety of wholesale produce, meat, dairy, pantry items and kitchen supplies. With no membership or fees required, both restaurant owners and home cooks are encouraged to visit CHEF’STORE for a range of kitchen needs.

An Arkansas-based coffee franchise made its way to Greenville with a variety of menu items ranging from bold signature coffees to smoothies and shakes. 7 Brew Coffee offers a unique drive-through only experience, the store’s “Brewistas” meeting customers with their drinks in record time. The franchise offers both hot and iced coffees, energy drinks, cold brews, sodas, smoothies, milkshakes and a variety of teas and lemonades.

915 S.W. Greenville Blvd., Greenville • (252) 999-7785 Hours: 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday-Monday www.chefstore.com/locations/store/greenville-8113

1805 E. Fire Tower Road, Greenville • (479) 358-9274 Hours: 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday • www.7brew.com

Greenville Magazine — January 2024

Eastern North Carolina Real Estate Service Directory

Sharon Alexander, REALTOR norianamaz@seacoastrealty.com

Best of Greenville-Best Re ltor 2021 HOME AT LAST 3 words that exemplify feelings of peace, pleasure and relaxation at the conclusion of a journey. It’s the place you want to be. Whether you’re a property owner or a property seeker, we find real solutions for your real estate needs.

Office: 2 5 2 .3 7 1 .1 7 1 0 ~ Sharon@HomeAtLastNC.com 3 0 1 1 S Memorial Drive # 4 , Greenville, NC 2 7 8 3 4

Your Full-Service

Diane Edwards

Local Realtor

CSSS, GREEN, SRES

Multi-million Dollar Producer Former WBCBR Realtor® of the Year Coldwell Banker Sterling, Diamond and President’s Circle

Representing buyers, sellers and investors with experience & integrity.

REALTOR® GRI, SRES

mobile: (252) 945-0981

“Waterfront and Luxury Home Marketing”

mobile: (252) 945-3030 office: (252) 975-8010

dianeedwards@seacoastrealty.com

Lic #: NC 218684

Each Coldwell Banker Office is Independently Owned and Operated

Greenville Magazine — January 2024

WHERE OUR VOLUME SAVES YOU

MONEY

COME SHOP OUR INVENTORY OF NEW & CERTIFIED USED VEHICLES

AWARD WINNING SALES & SERVICE F L E C T O R.C O M

THE

F L E C T O R.C O M

THE

Y REF DAIL LECT

THE

Y REF DAIL LECT

Y REF DAIL LECT OR

unty prese t co

nts

pit

THE

Y REF DAIL LECT

A I LY R E F L E C T

21 RE

F L E C T O R.C O M

THANKS FOR VOTING US #1

BEST NEW CAR DEALERSHIP & BEST AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE 3615 S Memorial Drive, Greenville • Main: 252-321-3000

www.greenvilletoyota.com

FREE

Greenville Magazine — January 2024

No Cost Oil Changes* Tire Rotations ► Courtesy Shuttle ► Multi-Point Inspection ► Free Loaner Vehicles for Life ► ►