GirlBoss

Mary Murkin: Brightside Gallery

by Jordan Willis

Do you love artisanal teas, local handmade art, and lively conversations? If so, you are going to adore Mary Murkin! Mary is an Asheboro-based tea wizard, lover of the arts, storyteller, and this month’s #girlboss.

When she was five years old, Mary knew she wanted to own a business one day. In 2013, she finally realized her dream: Mary has owned and operated Brightside Gallery for eight years now, wherein she features and sells artwork created by local artists and crafters. A year later, she expanded her horizons and began Carriage House Tea, which she operates from the same charming, historic homestead.

“After raising and homeschooling my two children, I found I still had the longing inside me to own a business of my own. At that point I had decided: ‘Now it’s my turn.’”

Brightside Gallery and Carriage House Tea have continued to flourish over the last eight years. Carriage House Tea’s wonderful blends have been the feature beverage not only of local weddings, state events, and cozy kitchens – since Mary opened a wholesale account for her teas, thousands have been able to enjoy her artisanal blends all around the United States. She has also broadened the possibilities of tea business by contracting with locals to provide fresh, brewed tea to their events. Anyone who wants to have beautiful teas at their events with little hassle need only call Mary: she can provide air pots of warm drinks anywhere in the local area. For sunny summer celebrations, her Sex on the Beach blend (modeled after the famous mixed drink of the same name, though minus the alcohol) is sure to liven any party with its perfect blend of peach, orange, and cranberry herbal teas! If you need a smaller portion, you can enjoy a hot cup of tea onsite at Brightside Gallery for $2.50 per cup, or you can purchase tins of Carriage House Tea blends in the Gallery’s designated tea room.

Brightside Gallery is also the perfect location for intimate gatherings: with a wraparound porch that hosts 25 and a parlor that seats 12, folks can reach out to Mary for a cozy environment for their private events. If you or a fellow lovebird you know is interested in tying the knot soon, Mary has also hosted and officiated weddings within the Gallery before. In every way imaginable, love is truly in

the air at beautiful Brightside!

In her spare time when she is not being a successful businessowner, tea magician, ordained minister, mother, and wife, Mary Murkin also works hand-in-hand with the City of Asheboro and the Asheboro/Randolph Chamber of Commerce to create memorable events for our community. Five years ago, Mary reached out to local historians to collect true tales of mischief and horror that took place in downtown Asheboro. One year later, locals were thrilled and chilled by our town’s first-ever Ghost Walk. The City of Asheboro teamed up with RSVP Community Theatre to create walking tours downtown, wherein the “ghosts” of these historic figures (i.e., top-notch actors from RSVP) shared their haunting tales to riveted locals. Since its inception in 2017, the tour has continued to expand: local historians have unearthed new mysterious tales to share and the City has helped to provide more intricate costumes, sound equipment, and hire more actors to build this experience. This October, the ghost crew will offer the original tour for patrons 13 and older, as well as a brand new, tamer version for kids 12 and younger. If you and your loved ones want to experience an educational, spooky romp through downtown to put you in the Halloween spirit, be sure to contact the Asheboro Cultural and Recreation Services office to get your tickets!

Mary is always brainstorming new events for the local community. Last April, she and the owner of Grounded Elegance Car Club, Michael Allred, collaborated to create Cruising for a Cause. This event was created to alleviate folks from the boredom of COVID lockdowns, and soon became a charitable cause. If you would like to learn more about Cruising for a Cause and how you can become involved in it this year, be sure to read the next article where I’ll go more in-depth! Aside from this, Mary is also working with the city to create a not-spooky historic bus tour of downtown that will begin next May, as well as an innovative, theatrical bus tour performance called “A Christmas Carol(ing) Tour” for folks to enjoy this Christmas season.

If you would ever like to meet this Girl Boss, learn more about her involvement in the community and enjoy a fresh cup of tea, be sure to swing by Brightside Gallery. When it comes to anything local, Mary Murkin has got the tea!