Capital at Play November 2013 by Capital at Play Magazine

Choose-and-Cut Christmas Tree Farms

The Wedge

Bigger Than A Building

at ITAL AL

Peter Bloomfield Has a Lot on his Plate

LAY

The Free Spirit Of Enterprise

E.W.

Volume III - Edition VII

Grove an original early adopter

complimentary edition

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e call E.W. Grove an early adopter on the cover of this edition because, as you’ll learn when you read the article, he saw Western North Carolina and Asheville as the potential Hollywood of the East Coast—something that many people are just beginning to see in this millennium, yet Mr. Grove had seen this potential over a century ago. It takes an unusual vision not to just look ahead and to see what might be, but to look farther ahead and to envision what those looking backward at what you did will see. It takes courage to see the past from the standpoint of the future and then determine that leap forward. This was Mr. Grove. Just like the Grove Arcade, and the many other creations of E.W. Grove, the Wedge is a symbol of that once unforeseen potential of the Wedge building itself, of Asheville’s River Arts District, and of our love affair and addiction to good conversation, great beer, and other libations beyond. If we never did anything new, just because someone said it can’t be done—think of all we would have to do without. These early adopters and first movers didn’t know all that would come from their unique ideas. To quote Tim Schaller: “If I had wanted to open a bar, I would have located it downtown. I had no idea that people would want to sit in the dirt to drink our beer.”

Sincerely,

Harley O. Morgan

E ARLY ADOPTER noun 1. a person who starts using a product or technology as soon as it becomes available. 2. the first person or organization to adopt a new process or purchase a new product, because they see and, most importantly, act on that perceived potential.

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The Free Spirit Of Enterprise

publisher & editor

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Feature Articles

Those who take the risk and inspire others to do likewise. We bring every sector of private industry right to your fingertips.

p.12

The Grove Arcade

dreamers , builders , and stewards

p.54

Peter Bloomfield has a lot on his plate

p.70

The Wedge bigger than a building

November 2013 | capitalatplay.com

Contents

n o v e m b e r 2 0 13

lo c a l i n d u s t ry

columns

31 The March of Santa’s Helpers

36 Craig Madison

Holiday shopping from the merchants’ perspective

It ain’t bragging if it’s so

50 Emi Chiappa-Starnes Knife and Fork: a community collaboration

l e i s u r e & l i b at i o n 40 Choose-and-Cut Conifers In search of the perfect tree

62 Mike Talks Having personal integrity is the surest way to get rich

keepin’ it brief

politics

26 Carolina in the West

88 Red Tape Would you like sighs with that?

66 The Old North State 82 National & World News

c a p i ta l a d V e n t u r i s t 92 Rock Climbing

l i f e at p l ay

above your neck of the woods

86 How do they do it? We ask everyone featured in C@P the same question, for an entire year. The question this year is: “Do you pursue further education, and why or why not?”

10 CA ITALat LAY | November 2013

eVents 98 Get out of your Ofﬁce See what’s going on in your community this month

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THE

Grove Arcade DreAMerS, bUiLDerS, AND STeWArDS written by arthur treff

| photos by linda d. cluxton

September rain hisses through the morning air. Outside the Grove Arcade, restaurant lights are coming to life while waitstaff set tables under brightly colored awnings. The subtle hues of the buildingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Gothic decoration stand out against gray skies. Grotesques look down; gargoyles spout rainwater; office workers collapse umbrellas, and then trundle through rotating doors, en route to the office. The scene is reminiscent of metro Paris. November 2013 | capitalatplay.com

Inside all is quiet, save for the whine of a distant vacuum cleaner. Shops are closed, but the building still feels alive. Rivulets of rain undulate over the atrium skylights, which are supported iby a network of black, riveted steel beams, looking like they could have come from the Eiffel Tower. Period light pendants outline the mezzanine level and cast a warm glow. Spiral stairs appear to float suspended between floors, their curved ceramic underside reflecting the soft light. Brass railings from the mezzanine support lush hanging planters, which soften the marble and stone walls. An intricate ceramic frieze camouflages the elevator door, which opens for a resident on her way to the airport. The clickclick-click of her rolling luggage against terrazzo flooring fades as she exits. Cosmopolitan? Classical? European? Gothic? No stylistic word can adequately describe the feeling this piece of architecture conveys. The bakery shop is open, a steaming espresso machine center stage at the counter. Breads and other sweet gastronomic delights draw the eye and bathe the tile floor golden. Stand anywhere in the interior of the arcade and you never feel small, or swallowed by a huge space. Everywhere you look, the changing perspective and elevation belies the massive volume that the structure contains. Your eyes are continuously entertained by delicate figures,

14 CA ITALat LAY | November 2013

molding and faces cast in the taupe terra cotta. All the visual changes conspire to trick the human psyche. Everywhere you go, the Grove Arcade feels cozy and intimate. It makes you want an excuse to stay just a little bit longer. The Grove Arcade building is an architectural landmark that lives up to all the hype surrounding it. Inside and out, it’s a space that sends you on a sensory journey back into a different time. Features in Capital at Play are always about the people behind a business, the ones with the ideas, the individuals who carry the weight of an enterprise on their shoulders. This article is a bit of a departure. It’s about a building, the entrepreneur behind its construction, and the manager who tends to the flock of small businesses that call it home.

November 2013 | capitalatplay.com

the groVe arcade ,

its Portico Market, and the Battery Park Hotel

t wo winged lions

guard the entrance to the Grove Arcade

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16 CA ITALat LAY | November 2013

Tonic Treasure Were he alive today, you’d probably be reading about Edwin Wiley Grove in the Wall Street Journal. He was one of the first players in the billion dollar, over-thecounter drug industry. In the time before income tax was invented, his fi nancial success was extraordinary. E.W. Grove was born poor in Bolivar, Tennessee in 1850, and moved to Paris, Tennessee, in young adulthood. He was employed at Dr. S.H. Caldwell’s drugstore, and at age 29, raised enough capital to buy the business from his employer. Soon afterward, he formulated his first popular product, “Groves Tasteless Chill Tonic.” The chill vernacular didn’t describe a refreshing cold beverage; it referred to the racking chills caused by malaria, a disease, which was prevalent in the mosquito-rich southeast of 1879. Liquid quinine was the only cure for malaria, but it tasted vile. Treating the disease required that patients drink between 600 and 1,200 mg of liquid quinine per day. The medicine’s bitter taste caused it to be known as: ‘the cure that kills you.’ By suspending the drug in a lemon and sugar emulsion, Grove’s tonic made the quinine cure easier to endure. Because the tonic helped malaria sufferers recover faster, the federal government bought it by the truckloads and pharmacies everywhere stocked it. His $50,000 pharmacy investment suddenly became the multi-million dollar Paris Medicine Company, which was eventually moved to larger headquarters in St Louis. The company grew their product lines and continued to satisfy the buying public. Paris Medicine Company’s name and product reputation was nationally known by 1898. It is said that everyone, recognized their logo.

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Battery Power Grove bought the Battery Park Hotel and land for the Grove Arcade from the Coxe family. How did they get it? Daniel Coxe III was King Charles II’s physician, and as such, received a land grant in 1680, which would later become all of North and South Carolina. In 1887, a Colonel Frank Coxe developed the Battery Park Hotel atop Battery Hill. What’s Battery Hill? The site originally served as a Cherokee hunting camp. Then, during the Civil War, the Confederacy used the hill as one of two strategic defense sites, thus the name ‘Battery.’

18 CA ITALat LAY | November 2013

To gain a better perspective of Grove’s success, it is important to note that Bayer did not introduce their newest product, Aspirin, until 1899—21 years after the Chill Tonic was introduced.

Building Vision When he wasn’t working at his medicine facility, Grove used his financial power to give back to the communities that had supported him. He bolstered the coffers of the Paris, Tennessee, school system, enabling the construction of a new high school. Concerned for the health of the students, he financed a fresh fruit and vegetable delivery program. Atlanta was a city he frequented on business and on holidays. Here too he put money to work developing neighborhoods. The Atkins Park area of midtown Atlanta was a trolley suburb that Grove developed. Twenty years of running the Paris Medicine Co. and investing his money found Grove suffering from bronchitis and insomnia. His doctors prescribed rest and relaxation in the clean air of Asheville, North Carolina. Grove first visited the city in 1898. He liked the mountains so much that when he returned, Grove decided to stay. He brought ideas and money…lots of it, but much to his doctor’s chagrin, he didn’t relax at all. E.W. Grove was one of Asheville’s visionaries who held onto the idea that the little Appalachian city would someday compete with its larger brethren, so he got busy. During his address at the dedication of the Bon Marché department store (now the Haywood Park Hotel) in 1923, Grove looked back on his time in Asheville and said, “I stated more than twenty years ago, that Asheville could be made a great playground for eastern and western tourists, and…could be to the east and south what Los Angeles is to the west.” Grove invested much of his time and money to support that statement. In 1913, he built the Grove Park Inn with the help of his son-in-law Fred Seely. The Grove name was stamped on several other projects in the area: Grove Stone, a quarry and gravel factory; Grove Park, the subdivision near his Inn; and Grovemont, a community in Swannanoa.

Enter the Arcade With all that development behind him, Grove turned his attention to the highest point in the city: Battery Hill. He purchased the decaying wooden Battery Park Hotel in 1923, then tore it down. On the northernmost edge of the property, Grove built a new and improved brick version of the Battery Park Hotel, which still stands today. From a suite in his new building, Grove managed construction of his pièce de resistance: the Grove Arcade. “I will locate stores of every kind of merchandising business in Asheville…so that a lady can park her car anywhere in this place and can let [it] remain just as long as she pleases, and do all of her trading in that one vicinity, so that she will not have to run around in the narrow streets of the old part of the business section to do her trading.” —E.W. Grove Charles Parker, a one-time assistant in Richard Sharp Smith’s architectural firm, was hired as the architect for the arcade. Grove’s choice of Parker is curious, as his only solo architectural experience was the Tudor style residences he designed in the Grove Park development near the Inn. Parker had never taken on a commission of this magnitude. Grove’s project would be constructed in steel, covered by decorative (and fireproof)

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terra cotta and marble, fashioned in the neo-Gothic style. Easily cut, shaped and molded, terra cotta was used extensively to decorate English buildings in the 1860s and began being used in the United States in 1870. Neo-Gothic architecture was in vogue during 1920s America, with both the Woolworth skyscraper in New York and Chicago’s Tribune Tower embracing the style.

Brilliant Subtlety The arcade would be a large rectangle with retail shops placed around the perimeter. Inside, a wide promenade would run down the north-south centerline, flanked on both sides by more store fronts. Light for the interior would come largely from atrium skylights high above the walkway. What was genius about the design is the pitch. The site was graded with a 15’ elevation change from the north to south. The streets and sidewalks flow toward the south, as do the outer storefronts. Inside, the pedestrian promenade follows the same contour of the land. When viewed from the long side, the pitch change is almost imperceivable, everything looks horizontal…until you notice that the building has three stories on the southernmost end and only two on the north. The second floor begins as a low ceilinged office at mid span, becoming a full sized floor on the south end, a remarkable design trick. Sloping the lower level of the building was a challenging design detail, but one that works to the Grove Arcade’s appeal. Additionally, people in wheelchairs can shop anywhere without having to negotiate one stair. This was the Roaring Twenties, long before ADA building requirements were instituted. We know that Grove and Parker removed a considerable volume of earth where the arcade now stands. The hilltop they

Architectural Glossary: 20 CA ITALat LAY | November 2013

removed was pushed into the valley to form the basis for what is now the south slope neighborhood, so we assume that this elevation change had to be intentional. Work on the arcade began in 1926, but Asheville’s medically touted curative powers failed to reach Grove. He suffered from bronchitis, anxiety, hiccoughs, and insomnia. He died the following year. Construction paused while William P. Taylor purchased the arcade project from Grove’s estate. Grove’s arcade was completed in 1929. The stock market crash, and ensuing depression, caused Taylor to abandon Grove’s original plan of a fifteen story tower rising out of the center of the arcade. Leases were granted for retail as well as office and apartment space. The Grove Arcade was up and running.

The Tough Years The depression hit Asheville hard. According to a statement he made in 1993, Walter Taylor’s son said his father lost several other properties he owned while trying to keep the arcade afloat during that period. Tenants had difficulty paying their rent and attempted to exchange shelf merchandise as payment. Perhaps what happened next was a godsend for Taylor. In 1942, the rapidly expanding federal government, under the law of eminent domain, appropriated the building to house 1,000 employees of the Postal Accounts Division of the General Accounting Office. Taylor was paid $275,000 and the 140 small business owners who were making a living in the Grove Arcade were given less than 30 days to vacate the premises. Grove’s grand arcade was open for a scant thirteen years when, without regard for exterior appearance, the new owner bricked over the elegant storefronts ringing the arcade. Using a hideous bright-yellow brick, masons capped the noisome closure with a course of glass block.

Arcade: a series of arches supported by columns or piers, either attached to a wall or freestanding. Art Nouveau: a style of architecture that was most popular during 1890–1910, inspired by natural forms and structures, not only in flowers and plants but also in curved lines; architects tried to harmonize with the natural environment.

Gargoyle: a grotesquely carved figure that serves as a spout to carry water from a gutter away from the building. Grotesque: a strange, carved figure on Gothic buildings, not used as a drain-spout. (see the example on the next page)

Neo-Gothic: an architectural movement that began in the late 1740s in England. Its popularity grew rapidly in the early 19th century, when increasingly serious and learned admirers of neo-Gothic styles sought to revive medieval Gothic architecture, in contrast to the neoclassical styles prevalent at the time.

Terra Cotta: a clay material that has been molded and fired, often used for building ornaments or cladding. After 1890 all architectural terra cotta was glazed, allowing for a more durable and colorful ornamentation.

November 2013 | capitalatplay.com

Arcade by the numbers:

The visual effect was devastating. Glass block and modern brick kept the passerby’s eye toward the lower level and the wonderfully varied neo-Gothic décor appeared to vanish into the gray winter sky.

Public Dissent

5 ﬂoors plus underground parking levels 42 apartments 22,000 sq. ft. of office space 66,000 sq. ft. of retail space 269,000 sq. ft. total space

In the 1970s, Asheville citizens began a drive to have the building restored to its original grandeur and purpose. In 1974 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which could yield valuable tax credits to any organization willing to restore the arcade. The arcade’s owner turned a deaf ear; it would be 20 years before Uncle Sam would relinquish his grip on the grand landmark. Finally, in 1995, the city of Asheville was granted title to the Grove Arcade for the sum of one dollar. Two entities stepped forward as partners to restore and operate the city’s new building: CP&L (now: Duke Progress Energy) and Grove Arcade Public Market Foundation. After spending approximately $20 million on the restoration, and a well-publicized grand opening, the Grove Arcade was reopened for multi-use business in 2002.

Keeping the Doors Open

a grotesQue ,

carved on the exterior wall of the Grove Arcade

Ruth Summers walks across the terrazzo promenade on the ground floor of the arcade. After greeting the security guard, she passes through an elegantly decorated passage in the marble and ceramic wall, to climb the stairs. Her hand grips the original bronze stair rail as she ascends to the office. Along the way, there is always something to look at, some small decoration or detail that Charles Parker dreamed, a small something to entertain the eye. Keys out, she unlocks

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the large wooden door with “270” painted into the glass in period font. Her desk flanks a window, where the Art Moderne style Citizen-Times building plays a supporting visual role to Mount Pisgah in the distance. Autumn has begun on the peaks, and from her downtown perch, it’s dazzling. “I’m the luckiest person in the world,” says Ruth. “I am fortunate enough to work within this amazing structure. I spent a lot of time in Virginia, surrounded by history and historic buildings; it’s where I came to love architecture.” Ruth Summers is the president of Grove Arcade Restoration (GAR), which has a 99-year lease to manage the 66,000 sq. ft. retail space within the arcade. GAR is a limited liability corporation operating under the control of the nonprofit, Grove Arcade Public Market Foundation. “What’s the largest building in downtown Asheville?” asks Ruth. Most people, us included, automatically think ‘up,’ and declare it to be the BB&T skyscraper, but Ruth will instruct you otherwise. “You can fit two BB&T’s into the historic Grove Arcade,” she says. “BB&T is 130,000 sq. ft. and the arcade is 269,000 sq. ft.” Wow, that still leaves 9,000 sq. ft.—enough to install Kanye West’s new Bel Air abode and still be able to get the doors closed. In 2004, Ruth was looking for another challenge after spending eight years managing the Southern Highland Craft Guild, when she noticed that Grove Arcade Public Market Foundation’s board of trustees was looking for help. The board was in a tough spot. The arcade had been open for two years, and retail occupancy was still below 70%. Vacant storefronts do not provide the much-needed operating capital, and they scare off shoppers as well as potential retail tenants. Some of the existing tenants were struggling to break even. Ruth knew what would turn the building around, so during

her job interview, she was very direct with the foundation board. The leases were cumbersome, with an arcane rate schedule that varied monthly; they would have to be revised. Lease terms needed to be enforced, and all future retail businesses needed to be screened. She secured the presidency of GAR nine years ago, and during her tenure, occupancy has never dropped below 87%. A building needs tending, just like any business. In a way, managing one with a block of retail spaces is doubly difficult. On one side of the scale, Ruth has to attract shoppers who fit a certain market segment. At the other, she has to attract retail business owners whose target market will appeal to the same shopper demographic. Additionally, the store mix has to be just right to keep visiting patrons from going elsewhere in town. Ruth’s job is to juggle all these balls to yield a satisfactory retail experience for shoppers and shopkeepers alike.

Tailored Position Ruth Summers is uniquely suited to her position, it’s almost a custom fit. First, she has retail experience. In Los Angeles, Ruth was an owner of the Kirkland/Summers Gallery, a highly successful contemporary art gallery featuring the work of iconic glass artists. Through her gallery, Ruth knows that owning and operating any small business is very difficult: it’s a 24/7 job. What makes retail even more challenging is customer relations. No matter how badly your day is going, or how tired you become, the shopkeeper has to present a positive presence for every customer that walks through the door. Second, Ruth’s work is overseen by a nonprofit organization. This experience is not new either. Right after she graduated from Richmond Professional Institute with a degree in interior

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design, Ruth went to work for a nonprofit: “Handwork Shop,” a craft guild in Richmond, Virginia. Ruth became adept at navigating within the boundaries of a nonprofit structure and discovered that she had a talent for communicating with the sometimes-temperamental artist personalities. At Handwork, Ruth also developed her grant writing skills. She secured the funding for outreach projects that would host after-school craft workshops in economically depressed neighborhoods. It’s important to note that during her eight-year tenure at the Southern Highland Craft Guild, Ruth wrote grants, which would ensure the future financial health of the guild. In her last year alone, she pulled in grants totaling $800,000.

Space Race When a Grove Arcade storefront becomes available, Ruth has to fill it, but not with just any business. Starbucks has been turned down, as have all the other big-name retailers who’ve applied. First time entrepreneurs are usually not granted a lease either. Businesses that secure retail leases do so by passing muster. They first have to explain their business plan to Ruth. Then come credit and background checks. As insurance, a business must show proof of sufficient capital to sustain them through the lean winter months. She then has to step back and survey the mix of businesses which cohabitate the building. There are four broad categories of renters: shopping, essentials, dining and real estate. Within each of these, variety is essential to keep existing renters happy and shoppers interested. “I’ve been through the coffee wars and the wine wars,” says Ruth. “Good communication on the front end is essential to

keeping everyone’s business operating smoothly.” If she’s interviewing, say a women’s clothing store, she gets the candidate together with existing clothing shopkeepers to check that there is no product overlap. Ruth sees her role as more of a consultant than a landlord. “Time spent during the application process is valuable not just for me, but for the business owner too,” says Ruth. “A business that fails isn’t good for anyone, not the owner nor the building.” Enforcing the retail leases back in 2004 has been the most painful part of the job for Ruth. What sustains her through the difficult times is the love of the arcade’s amazing architecture and history. If the building can’t be operated in the black, all the work and millions of dollars spent on the restoration will have been for naught. Her sense of attachment and stewardship in this national treasure sustains her through the tough times. E.W. Grove never saw his arcade finished, which spared him, no doubt, the pain of seeing it defaced by the government’s lack of taste. Grove’s vision of an elegant and unique shopping destination lives once again, thanks to everyone who cared. It has been kept alive by the dreams of a new generation of entrepreneurs and a cadre of caretakers. The Grove Arcade, like all historic buildings, is a bookmark. It’s a flag between the pages of a story worth telling. The original author is long gone, but the book’s inspirational story continues to teach us that anything worth doing is worth doing well.

Special thanks to William F. Wescott for his contributions to this article, the Grove Arcade, and the city of Asheville.

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Amazon hiring thousands of seasonal workers in Upstate Amazon.com plans to hire thousands of seasonal workers for its distribution centers in Spartanburg and Lexington counties. The company announced the jobs are part of the online retailer’s plans to hire at least 70,000 temporary workers nationwide during the holiday season. That is 40% more seasonal workers than the company hired last year. According to Amazon spokeswoman Kelly Cheeseman, more than 1,000 people will be hired for its Spartanburg County location, and thousands will be hired for Lexington County. The seasonal employees will work full-time hours earning up to $11.50 an hour. They are also eligible for health care benefits. Cheeseman claims some of those jobs could lead to permanent employment.

West Asheville development revealed Plans have been revealed to restore a mixed-use development on the western end of Haywood Road. The project, planned by a Georgiabased developer, would be one of the largest the progressively growing area has recently seen. The project for the Village on Haywood located at 919 Haywood Road includes 75 additional housing units, as well as a small allotment of commercial space on the 2.9 acre site. The project is expected to go before City Council in late October. As new residents move near the Haywood Road area, a boom of restaurants and other

businesses has become evident. The site of the proposed Village on Haywood is between the center of commercial activity on the street and its western end on Patton Avenue. Developer Pace Burt says he anticipates the buidling of the Village on Haywood to progress in four to six months. The first units would be finished in nearly nine months, if his projections are accurate, and will likely rent for $750$1,100 per month. According to Jim Diaz, principal broker at CoveStar Investment Realty, which will market the units, there is high demand and relatively small supply of rental housing on or near Haywood Road.

Mission Health announced new collaboration with Western Carolina’s Women’s Specialty Center Mission Health announced a new collaboration with Western Carolina’s Women’s Specialty Center (WCWSC), which has been dedicated to providing care for women throughout Western North Carolina since 2003. This new collaboration aims to enhance patient access to a broader network of sub-specialized gynecologic care. The WCWSC specialty center on Ridgefield Boulevard in Asheville focuses exclusively on women. “Our collaboration with Western Carolina’s Women’s Specialty Center aligns directly with Mission Health’s dedication to education, outreach, prevention, research and treatment, while reflecting our core values of innovation and the pursuit of excellence in women’s medicine across the region,” said Jill Hoggard Green, Ph.D, RN, President and COO of Mission Hospital. “It is a privilege to collaborate

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Keepin’ it local and fresh.

Larry Morton was approached a few months ago by folks at DuPont State Recreational Forest asking if it would be possible to build a scaled model of the popular outdoor mecca. Larry’s hobby is building model trains and the natural scenery that surrounds them. He is also the Apple Valley Model Railroad Club’s president. Morton said he was thrilled about the idea, but he “just had to sell it to the club.” That,

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WCU researchers predict profitable fall season Hoteliers across 21 counties of Western North Carolina can expect an increase in guests during October’s annual fall leaf season. However, according to student and faculty researchers from Western Carolina University’s Hospitality and Tourism Program, a prolonged government shutdown could put a damper on the economic gain to the region. Students in a class taught by Steve Morse, an economist specializing in tracking business trends in the hotel, restaurant and tourism sectors of the Southeast and United States economies, predicts that counties from Cherokee in the far western corner to the high mountains of Alleghany and Wilkes will see a rise in occupancy rates this autumn,

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Model railroad enthusiast creates DuPont diorama

however, did not take much effort. The club and Morton were able to complete the task and successfully create the model. It will be set up inside the Aleen Steinberg Center at the park as of mid-October. When Steinberg visited the Historic Train Depot in Hendersonville to see the model, she explained its appeal, “You see (the forest) through an entirely different dimension…Here, you see the lay of the land.” It’s an accurate model, Morton added. Park officials gave the designer a topography map, and Morton designed the model of a section of the forest that includes Hooker, Triple and High Falls. The model forest is made of styrofoam that he filed with different saws. The waterfalls were new territory for Morton, but he said new scenery materials have made it easier to do models like this one.

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with WCWSC, because together we are one step closer to achieving our BIG(GER) Aim: to get each patient to the desired outcome, first without harm, also without waste and with an exceptional experience for the patient and family.” The practice includes physicians, who are the only Fellowship-trained Urogynecologists in Western North Carolina, and who are among the first specialists in the United States to be Board Certified in Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery. Dr. James Theofrastous, with WCWSC, expressed, “We are pleased to establish this collaboration with Mission Health because they share our view that every patient is someone’s mother, daughter, sister or friend…Working with a nationally recognized Top 15 health system supports our goals of expanding patient support services and patient access to research opportunities. By working together, we will have access to the additional resources of a superb health system, and this collaboration will allow us to provide care to more women throughout the region.”

November 2013 | capitalatplay.com 27

specifically during October. “We found that hotel occupancy rates are highest in October, more than any other month of the year, mainly because of the fall foliage travel season in Western North Carolina… The economic impact of the important October travel month could be jeopardized by public perception of the shutdown of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and possibly the Blue Ridge Parkway,” Morse explained. Although visitor centers and campgrounds will be affected, United States Highway 441 through the national park and the Blue Ridge Parkway will remain open despite the government standstill. In the study, students divided 21 WNC counties into five groups, analyzed the total number of hotel rooms sold and the overall occupancy rates for October 2012; compared weekday and weekend occupancy rates from last October; and identified the average change in the number of hotel nights sold for October during the previous three years. Here are the students’ findings, by region: Region 1 (Cherokee, Clay, Graham and Macon counties) had a 2.1 percent increase in the number of hotel rooms expected to be sold this October compared to last October. The weekend occupancy rate for Region 1 last October was 89.6 percent, compared to a 59.6 weekday occupancy rate. The region experienced 3.5 percent growth in the number of hotel room nights sold in October over the last three years.

Community celebrates new skate park The Waynesville Skate Park, which has been in the works for several years, is officially open. During the opening ceremony, Waynesville Mayor Gavin Brown greeted the crowd, and told a brief history of how the $400,000 park came to be after many years of planning. During his speech, Brown added that longtime Waynesville alderman Gary Caldwell had been one of the most influential people in pushing the project forward. Caldwell was the first to suggest the idea of a skate park in 1998. Brown also acknowledged members of

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the community like Jared Lee who assisted in the park plans. Lee is a resident of Maggie Valley and has been skateboarding for 15 years. Donated skateboarding items were offered to the local skateboarders after the ceremony.

Smoky Mountain Center board approves merger The Smoky Mountain Center board of directors voted almost unanimously to merge with the Western Highlands Network, adding eight counties to SMC’s service area for mental health, substance abuse and developmental disability services. Watauga County Commissioner Billy Kennedy, who voted “nay,” had continued concerns about county representation on the unified board of directors. The two agencies revealed plans for their consolidation in April, after the Department of Health and Human Services terminated Western Highlands’ Medicaid contract. As of October 1, Smoky Mountain Center is responsible for managing Medicaid and state funds for 23 Western North Carolina counties, including the eight previously overseen by Western Highlands Network. As part of the consolidation, both boards of directors have been striving to establish a joint board. State law requires that the new board must be in place either 30 days after the merger is approved by the state or by April 1, 2014, whichever is sooner. They also must comply with a 2012 law change that redefined who sits on the board. Under the new arrangement, the board must have between 11 and 21 members with expertise in specific categories, including largescale health care administration, insurance, finance and hospital administration. It also must include at least one county commissioner, one person representing individuals with mental health disease, an attorney with health care expertise and other appointees. Watauga County commissioners were recently concerned about the new board rules, which will not permit direct representation from all 23 counties. Commissioners said the county has provided at least $180,000 each

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fiscal year, but will not be guaranteed a vote on the board. During a meeting in Asheville, Kennedy expressed, “Voting for this is basically voting yourself off this board and giving up board control.” Although he was alone in his vote, Kennedy said several board members approached him following the meeting conveying similar dissatisfaction. He said the board might hold a meeting for representatives from all affected counties to further discuss the matter.

(NCTA) to produce a first-of-its-kind tech expo and interactive job fair. This two-day event is designed to highlight North Carolina technology companies and promote economic development in the region. “NCTA is excited to partner with Moogfest to introduce a Tech Expo component to the festival,” said Brooks Raiford, president and CEO of NCTA.

Moogfest 2014 Expands to Five Days

Supporters of a Watauga County recreation center are no longer considering the YMCA as an option. Instead, they are shifting focus to a public recreation facility. An informal survey of nearly 80 people during the summer showed split support for pursuing the YMCA option, after two analyses indicating a YMCA would not be viable here. But 84 percent of those surveyed by nonprofit High Country Recreation said they would support a county recreation center if a YMCA is no longer an option. The YMCA initiative launched with an information meeting in October last year, and the Catawba Valley YMCA CEO visited with interested citizens last fall and in January. In February, a site analysis did not positively conclude the practicality of a “Y” membership model for Watauga County. In April, a second site analysis was performed, expanding the inclusion to communities not included in the initial analysis. This analysis also did not positively conclude the viability of a “Y” membership model for Watauga County. Scott St. Clair, a High Country Recreation board member, said High Country Recreation will work to organize supporters from various sectors, including business, medical, nonprofit and government, to jointly acknowledge the need for a recreation center and develop a plan to fund it. The hope and need for a new pool and recreation center has been outlined in the Watauga County Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Systemwide Plan 20102019, the 2006 Comprehensive Plan Update for the town of Boone and the Watauga County Recreation Plan from 1999.

Moogfest is a celebration that honors the creativity and inventiveness of Moog Music founder Dr. Robert Moog, and pays tribute to the legacy of the analog synthesizer. Moogfest, established in 2004 to celebrate Bob Moog’s legacy of innovation, creativity, technology and collaboration, is expanding in 2014 from a three-day, multi-stage music festival to a five-day event dedicated to the convergence of technology, art and music. The extended festival will not only include landmark musical performances, but also an innovation conference, an electronic instrument “pop-up shop,” and daytime conference programming with mind-expanding futurists, artists and innovators, extending far beyond the scope of a typical music festival. Moog Music, the company Bob Moog founded, has long been revered as a pioneer in technology with far-reaching effects into popular music and culture. Moogfest was created to reflect that heritage. Said Moog Music President, Mike Adams, “We have evolved our festival to truly celebrate the pioneering spirit of Bob Moog; uniting art, music and innovative technology to explore the dimensions of creative expression. This is the heart of Moog and our fans around the world.” Moogfest 2014 will have an expanded local focus, with much of the daytime programming, including new media art installations, outdoor music and educational exhibits, free to local residents. Also new in 2014 is a strategic partnership with the North Carolina Technology Association

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local industry

THE MARCH OF

H E S L ’ A P T E R N S A S written by jim murphy

’Twas the month before Christmas and all over town, Desperate shoppers were frantically running around. From the stroke of Black Friday to Christmas eve night, All the merchants were ringing up sales with delight. With the parking lots jammed and store windows aglow, All the signs of the season urge spending your dough With their credit cards flashing and flirting with debt, The shoppers demand every gift they can get. A gizmo for Freddy, a shawl for Pauline, DVDs for my friend who’s a video teen. “Is that credit or debit,” says the clerk in the store, “We’d be happy to wrap it for just a bit more.” On feet that are aching, she smiles through the pain, And stifles the thought that this must be insane. Oh, the hours are long, the pace is non-stopping, She can’t find enough time for her own Christmas shopping And the crowds keep on coming, right up to the end, Many last-minute shoppers still have money to spend. But finally it’s over, and she says with a sigh, Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good buy!

article continues on the next page

(with apologies to Clement Moore) November 2013 | capitalatplay.com

The economics are staggering. Nationwide holiday sales can reach beyond the $500 billion dollar mark, and for retailers the holiday season can provide anywhere from 20 to 40 percent of their annual sales. But—as big as those numbers are, as important as they can be to the national economy—our annual Christmas shopping ritual is much more than simply an economic event. It is an essential element in our social calendar, as much a part of our holiday season as mistletoe and Jingle Bells.

Even the scenes of the shopping season say “Christmas” as clearly as the wreath on the front door. Consider the iconic image of the exhausted shopper in a crowded mall carrying armloads of shopping bags brimming with gifts for family and friends—clothing and toys, games and gadgets—and, of course, several rolls of wrapping paper in all the brightest Christmas colors and designs. Consider the television news reports of midnight crowds surging into the stores on Black Friday announcing the start of a month-long consumer marathon that doesn’t end until the last store closes on Christmas Eve. And our ever-expanding technology has stretched the shopping phenomenon from the mall to the computer keyboard. Not to be outdone by the Black Friday hoopla, the online merchants have created Cyber Monday to launch their own holiday sales blitz. Online holiday sales now reach comfortably beyond the $30 billion mark, and the cyber choices are mind boggling. Google the term, “Christmas Shopping,” and you will get about 500 million hits. Yes, million. With that many options, searching for the 32 CA ITALat LAY | November 2013

best deal on an item could be daunting. But savvy consumers are checking sales, clipping or downloading coupons, comparison shopping and employing a dazzling variety of strategies to get the best bang for their buck. With gift lists that range from special items for loved ones to the perfunctory contribution to the “Secret Santa” office pool, the gift parade marches down Main Street, through the local shopping mall and takes a sharp turn into your computer. All the options might not make shopping easier, but they certainly have made it more complicated. The shopper is now confronted with the prospect of sore feet from a day of traipsing through malls or a large helping of computer “cookies” (not the kind you leave out for Santa Claus) promoting products the server flagged from a previous search. Either exercise—the mall or the keyboard—leaves the shopper with a new appreciation for the term, “Buyer Beware.” Cyber shopping is easier on the body, but it eliminates the human element from the equation. In a random survey, Asheville retailers recalled moments when that human element produced

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some interesting situations. At Malaprop’s bookstore, online shopping ran into the person-to-person version in a very direct and unusual way. Co-Manager Laura Donohoe related a story thats become a seasonal favorite among the Malaprop’s staff. “It was one of the last shopping days before Christmas, end of the day, we were about to close up. A man came in with a long list of books on his Christmas gift list. It’s fair to say there were more than a dozen books on a bunch of different subjects. Our staffer looked at his list and realized it was from a national online retailer. She asked him about it, and he said he went online to get his ideas, but he wanted to buy local, so he brought the list to us. We were so impressed that we stayed open late while we found every book on his list, gift-wrapped them all and sent him on his way. He left with a big smile and wished us all a Merry Christmas.” Another after-hours adventure took place at Featherheads, a specialty shop on Asheville’s Haywood Street. Austin Sherrill said the shop remains open well past midnight on the last few days before Christmas. “At one a.m. on Christmas Eve a woman walked in. Conventional woman, mid ‘50s. We had a six-foot Cherokee hunting spear hanging from the ceiling. She took one look at it and said, ‘That’s mine. I want it.’ It was a pretty expensive spear, but she said she had to have it for her nephew. I offered to wrap it—at least the long pointed end, but she wouldn’t let me. She paid for it, left the shop, and walked down OctoberAd.indd the street at one in the morning, carrying a spear that was taller than she was.” The woman with the spear is a far cry from Santa on a rooftop, but it is a genuine—if unusual—image of the holiday season. Several merchants noted that the holidays present Asheville with still another tourist season. “People have discovered that Asheville has a lot of unique shops, featuring pieces created by local artisans,” Terry Guthrie said as he sat in his shop, Vaquera. “And people who want something different, something you won’t find in the big department stores, come to Asheville for a couple of days just to do their shopping.” An example of that phenomenon came from Guthrie’s neighbor in the Grove Arcade. Melinda Knies of Mountain Made says a man called last year on December 22nd. “Three days before Christmas, and he wanted a framed print that stood four-anda-half feet tall. And he wanted it delivered to Hickory in time for Christmas. Well, there was no way we could get it to him by

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Christmas Eve, but as it happened, one of our friends was planning to drive down in that direction. We connected the customer with our friend and they met somewhere off the Interstate to deliver the print.” Giving new meaning to the term, “Special Delivery.” It stands to reason that retailers would have an abundance of quirky Christmas stories. With all those millions of people out shopping, the law of averages dictates that some transactions might take a surprising turn. At Jewels That Dance on Haywood Street, Marlene Clevenger laughs at the situation. “We call it the Sea of Men the last 24 hours before Christmas. They flood into the store, looking for that perfect piece of jewelry.” Marlene says they have gotten used to the influx. In fact, she says, they add extra stock “to be sure we’ll have a nice selection for the late-comers.” The shop also serves champagne to those last-minute Christmas customers. “We recognize that our customers are stressed and we try to make it as stress-free as possible.” But sometimes the purchase may become a bit too relaxed. “A few years ago a guy came in and had some champagne. He made his purchases, spent quite a bit of money and we were all drinking champagne. It was getting late in the day, and he was ready to leave. He wished us all a ‘Merry Christmas’ and walked out of the store. But his purchases were still here.” Oops! Sometimes, a retailer must struggle to smother a smirk. Enter the Earth in the Grove Arcade specializes in rocks and fossils. It is an esoteric product line, appealing to hobbyists who tend to be knowledgeable about the different specimens. But Erica, the salesperson, remembers a Christmas shopper who was looking for something to give as a gift. The woman was not a rock or fossil enthusiast. “She was looking at a basket of citrines, and she asked me if they were fossilized citrus fruit.” And there are those inevitable moments when the retailer must say just the right thing to sooth a frazzled shopper. Barbie Angel of True Blue Art Supplies recalls a year when she was working at a Fed Ex store. For The Love of Sewing: “We had a customer who didn’t understand that what he wanted done couldn’t be done at the time he needed it to be done. He was getting more and more agitated when my supervisor came over. ‘This is what I want done, and I needed it yesterday,’

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“ ‘This is what I want done, and I needed it yesterday,’ the customer said. My boss smiled at him and said, ‘Well, you’re in luck. I was here yesterday.’”

local industry 1013121_09080 5.168x4.81 4c

the customer said. My boss smiled at him and said, ‘Well, you’re in luck. I was here yesterday.’ The guy just stared at him and finally laughed. I mean what can you say to a statement like that?” Sales people encounter a variety of surprising situations, and then they deal with ones that are all too predictable. Kathryn Strohl, the manager of Ad-Lib women’s clothing shop on Haywood Street, says a regular Christmas situation is the man who comes in not knowing what his wife may want but is unwilling to give something as impersonal as a gift card. “We help them find something she might like, and we tell them, if she doesn’t like it she can bring it back. It’s a silk gift card.” The man leaves the store with a package he can gift wrap, hoping she likes it but knowing that if she doesn’t, then she can swap it for something more to her liking. The Christmas retail experience sometimes reaches beyond the usual buyer-and-seller moment. Beth Stickle, the proprietor of the Bloomin’ Art shop on Haywood Street, recalls the year that her window decoration caused quite a stir. “I used to display a lighted Christmas tree decoration that actually snowed. It showered little plastic pellets from the top of the tree to the base, and the effect was a really pretty snowfall. Finally one year, I decided I’d try something different, and I didn’t put up the tree. The people who live in the condos across the street got so upset that they actually wrote a petition. They would sit up there and have their glass of wine and look at the tree which was lit at night, and that was their Christmas thing. Everybody on the street signed the petition, and that really touched me. I put the tree back up.” Our shopping season ends abruptly with presents carefully wrapped, spread out under a tree and then torn open in a rush of Christmas morning anticipation. Appreciative “Ooh, thank you,” sounds come with smiles and, “Now you open one.” We wish each other a Merry Christmas—and then begin making plans to check out the post-Christmas sales.

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7/22/13 4:26 PM

November 2013 | capitalatplay.com

by CRAIG MADISON

It ainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; t Bragging iF itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so

craig is the former President and CEO of The Grove Park Inn. He now runs Craig Madison Associates.

Never say never! Over the years I have given this advice a thousand times. My career has been living proof that when one makes this type of bold proclamation the gods will be tempted to put you in your place. I made this error over 40 years ago. My life took a completely different path and what a place it put me in. I began working at my first hotel when I was 16 years old. It was a part time job while I was attending Erwin High School. I was hired as a bellman, and within 90 days I made my first major career mistake. As a bellman, I was making a $100 a day in cash tips. Remember this was 1974, and that was serious money for a 16-year-old kid from West Asheville. So I went 36 CA ITALat LAY | November 2013

from this wonderful job with no responsibility to accepting a so-called promotion to become the Front Desk Supervisor. The promotion came with a title printed on a brass name tag. Even then I was attracted to shiny things. I traded in my uniform for the privilege of wearing a necktie. The cash tips were traded in for the princely sum of $3.50 per hour, and I

began working 70 very stressful hours a week for the next three years at The Great Smokies Hilton. Today, that hotel bears the Crowne Plaza flag. Near the end of this tour of duty I was asked to meet with the General Manager and the owner of the hotel—Wayne Kinser. Mr. K was a true gentleman who always treated everyone with the greatest degree of kindness and respect. As I walked to the GM’s office, my mind was racing with what I had done wrong. Perhaps a more accurate statement would be that I was trying to figure what I had been caught doing wrong. To my surprise, they praised my work ethic and skill with the guests. They stated that I could have a great future in the hotel business and offered to help me with attending the nation’s premier hotel program at Cornell University. Considering my circumstances at that time, an intelligent response would be to humble and discuss the possibilities, but I was eighteen then, and I already knew everything there was to know. My reply was, “Thanks, but I have been accepted at UNC Chapel Hill and this is nothing more than a summer job.” With a combination of innocence and ignorance, I made my proclamation—challenging fate itself. “Once I leave here I will never work in a hotel again.” It turns out fate had another plan for me. I have spent the last 36 years of my career in the tourism industry, with the vast majority of those decades spent in the hotel business. I have little need for aids to remind me of my age because I have a mirror. However, when The Grove Park Inn (GPI) celebrated its 100th Anniversary on July 12, 2013, I realized that I had personally lived 35% of that grand dame’s history. During my last 12 years at GPI, I had the honor of being the Inn’s President and CEO holding that position until January 2012. I still resent the jokes that Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone, and I used to hang out together in front of the giant fireplaces in the lobby. Of course what I resented more was listening to Edison trying to tell a joke. He was deaf and always screwed up the punch line. Due to GPI’s constant growth most community leaders seem to understand the economic benefit of the resort. However, it seemed as if the tourism industry was always having to defend itself from comments like, “Asheville’s economy is too dependent on low paying tourism jobs. We need real businesses to come to the area.” The regional tourism industry has found itself needing to assume a defensive posture throughout the years. It has often been the Rodney Dangerfield of the business categories—never getting the respect it deserves. A recent study conducted by Tourism Economics on behalf of the Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau should put an end to these misconceptions and allow the tourism industry to claim its rightful place as one of the true economic engines of the regional economy.

The tourism industry in Asheville has often been the Rodney Dangerfield of the business categories—never getting the respect it deserves.

November 2013 | capitalatplay.com 37

Tourism Sales ,

OF ASHEVILLE NC (IN US MILLION DOLLARS)

Agriculture, Fishing, Mining Construction and Utilities Manufacturing Wholesale Trade Air Transport Other Transport Retail Trade Gasoline Stations Communications Finance, Insurance, Real Estate Business Services Education and Health Care Recreation and Entertainment Lodging Food and Beverage Personal Services Government TOTAL

direct

indirect

induced

total

0.7 70.7 370.8 133.1 74.5 180.8 268.5 394.3 34.2 -

0.2 34.9 12.6 7.8 2.0 19.2 3.7 0.2 28.8 102.9 105.7 1.4 8.2 0.7 17.5 13.5 14.7

0.1 11.3 5.4 13.2 3.1 6.5 34.3 2.9 12.6 109.8 28.0 78.5 5.7 0.3 27.7 17.7 5.9

0.3 46.2 18.0 21.0 5.7 96.3 408.9 136.3 41.4 287.3 133.7 79.9 194.7 269.4 439.5 65.4 20.6

$1,527.7

$373.8

$363.1

$2,264.6

The report entitled “The Economic Impact of Tourism in Asheville, North Carolina—2012 Analysis” proves that: TOURISM is an integral part of the Asheville regional economy, and the industry is making significant contributions to economic growth, generating business sales, employment, and tax revenues. VISITORS to Asheville spent $1.5 billion in 2012, which generated $2.3 billion in total business sales, including indirect and induced impacts. [The average visitor spent approximately $164.84] TOURISM in Asheville generated $250.1 million in tax revenues in 2012, including 126 million in state and local taxes. TOURISM employment growth in the Asheville region has outpaced that of the state and the nation.

Tourism has failed to get the respect it has deserved due to the failure in understanding the true impact and depth of tourism spending. The report from Tourism Economics, which is a subsidiary of Oxford Economics, proves that local tourism generated nearly $2.3 billion in revenue in 2012, including indirect and induced business sales. The local tourism industry has a right to crow about this study. Like that wonderful favorite southern expression, “It ain’t bragging if it’s so.” This report should be on the top of the reading list of every elected official in the region. It should be required reading for those who are currently running for office this year for the first time. After all, if tourism employees ever voted together as a block, they could have a major impact on the outcome of any election. Of course, that could never happen. Oops. I said it again.

The Economic Impact of Tourism in Asheville, North Carolina 2012 Analysis can be downloaded from ashevillecvb.com.

INCLUDING direct, indirect, and induced impacts, 22,924 jobs were sustained by visitors to Asheville in 2012 with total income of $614.5 million. APPROXIMATELY 14.2% (1 in 7) of all jobs in Buncombe County were sustained by tourism. AN ESTIMATED 25% of tourism supported jobs were in the food and beverage sector, 18% in lodging, 13% in retail, and 12% in recreation. 38 CA ITALat LAY | November 2013

Got an opinion? Share it on our website by scanning this QR code or visiting capitalatplay.com/tourism

November 2013 | capitalatplay.com 39

Choose-and-Cut

Conifers written by paul clark

40 CA ITAL ITALat LAY LA | November 2013

| photos by linda d. cluxton and harley o. morgan

Leisure&Libation

In search of the perfect tree...

n fall weekends in Boone, nearly every other car driving through town has a Christmas tree strapped to its roof. People come from as far away as Florida to choose and cut their own trees at the three dozen Christmas tree farms in Watauga County. “One day I sat at the corner of one of the busy intersections in town with a clicker and counted 190 trees on tops of cars in 30 minutes,” said Jim Hamilton, N.C. Cooperative Extension director for the county. “Lots of folks come up here for trees.” Picking your own Christmas tree is a delightful tradition for many families in the area. And it’s an easy one to establish if you haven’t already; all it takes is a spirit of fun and adventure. There’s certainly plenty of opportunity—there are more than 70 choose-and-cut tree farms in the mountains. Fraser firs, the

Cadillac of Christmas trees, grow so well at mountain elevations that North Carolina is the nation’s second-leading producer of Christmas trees. Growing trees for people to pick is the most popular segment of the industry right now. And nothing could be more fun. Time seems to slow down on a tree farm. The air is fresher. The family is happier. The world is far away. It seems as if every day is Christmas Day on a Christmas tree farm. Farmers invite you to spend as much time as you like. Many of the farms, scattered along the Blue Ridge Mountains from the Cashiers Valley on up to Sparta, offer a host of activities to keep your family entertained. Hayrides, petting zoos, farm animals, cider sipping and face painting are some of the things to do. Many farms sell wreaths and garlands, boughs and other

November 2013 | capitalatplay.com 41

L&L greenery to decorate your home, including mistletoe. Nearly all of the farms have the added bonus of being beautiful. Imagine row upon row of deep green Christmas trees undulating on hills rimmed with tractor trails. Then imagine the fun your family will have finding the perfect tree. The experience can be so joyful that many owners report that it’s not unusual for couples to announce their engagements. Most farms open Thanksgiving weekend or the weekend before. Expect to pay about $8 a foot for six- to seven-foot-tall trees, though some farms sell for less. Farmers and their crew will cut the tree for you, and some will let you do it if you like. They’ll bale it up and tie it to your vehicle. We’ve found a few choose-and-cut farms to highlight, but there are many others ( find more by visiting ncchristmastrees.com). To help you make a day of it, we’ve suggested some additional stops where you can pick up a picnic, sit down to a fine meal or stay the night. Before we get to the farms, here are a few tips that will make your trip even more enjoyable. Fraser Fir Friday: The day after Thanksgiving is the biggest day of the year on most choose-and-cut farms. Like Black Friday, the busiest shopping day of the year in retail stores, crowds can be formidable. Go another day or be patient. Farms hire extra help, so things go pretty quickly. And you’re there to have fun anyway. Making tracks: Keep in mind that these are working farms. Check a farm’s website to see if they recommend four-wheel-drive. “The perfect choose and cut weekend would be just enough snow to cover the ground but not enough so you can’t get around,” Hamilton said. Dressing up: Remember that most tree farms are at high elevations, so a day that’s nice at home could be bracing on the mountain. A bit of chill adds to the Christmas experience, so make sure everyone has a jacket and hat in the car. A thermos of hot cider will warm things up nicely.

BROWN’S CHOOSE AND CUT Boone, NC

Visitors drive into the fields at Brown’s Choose and Cut near Boone and see a jovial man in overalls. That’s Gary Brown, who has operated the business with his wife Lynda since the mid 1980s. A round-faced man who laughs a lot, Brown is the perfect host for an afternoon of tree hunting. He and his wife grow about 2,000 trees on six acres, all of them Fraser firs. When asked why people prefer that tree, Brown laughed as if it was silly to consider any other kind. “Why, they hold their needles the best. They’re the prettiest and they have a good smell,” he said. It is, he maintains, as simple as that. Families find his farm just north of Boone by following U.S. 441 out of town to N.C. 194 north. In about two miles, there’s a sign—Brown’s Choose and Cut—that directs them into the farm, a gorgeous piece of land that has been in Brown’s family since 1919. Waiting for the visitors in the field, he or any of the Browns’ four daughters and their husbands are ready to help. They don’t care how long it takes for someone to find their tree. It’s nice being outside, and they want to give people plenty of time to explore. “Some people pick the first tree they see, and some will spend an hour in the field looking,” Brown said. “When they’re ready to cut, we’re ready to cut it.” The children entertain themselves, petting the Browns’ horses, especially Buck, the big Belgian draft horse that hauls the trees the families pick. Sometimes Brown 42 CA ITALat LAY | November 2013

L&L “Some people pick the first tree they see, and some will spend an hour in the field looking... When they’re ready to cut, we’re ready to cut it.”

Tips to keep your Christmas tree in tip-top shape

Cut a half inch off the bottom before putting it in the stand. Use a Christmas tree stand that can hold a gallon of water. Keep the stand full of water—check daily. Don’t put the tree near fireplaces, heat sources or sunny windows. Check tree lights for frayed cords and broken bulbs. Don’t overload electrical circuits. Turn off tree lights before going to bed or leaving home.

Source: North Carolina Christmas Tree Association

November 2013 | capitalatplay.com 43

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will hook the gentle horse to a sled and let the children ride for a ways. They get a thrill out of it, especially those who haven’t spent much time around horses, he said. Other than that, there aren’t many frills at the Browns’ operation. Last year his grandchildren sold hot chocolate, and they’ll do it again this year, their grandfather said. For some people, meeting friends there to pick out trees together is a reunion of sorts. “I’ve got people coming since they were children, and now I’ve got their children and their grandchildren coming,” Brown said. Many stay in contact from year to year, sending him cards and notes, returning the love they got from a tree farm that reminds them once a year of the importance of having people to love. U.S. 441 connects Brown’s farm and the Dan’l Boone Inn in downtown Boone. Hamilton said nearly every other car at the famous family-style restaurant on fall weekends has a tree strapped on top of it. The inn, revered for its country ham biscuits, is the granddaddy of a growing food scene in Boone. Several of the restaurants working with local farmers would make a fine stop, including Vidalia, Proper, F.A.R.M. Café and Stick Boy Bread Co. An old standby in town that still delivers plenty of flavor is Pepper’s Restaurant (try the Jean Lawson sandwich —turkey, marinated mushrooms, onions, green peppers and pepper cheese on a Kaiser roll). On the high end, Gamekeeper Restaurant at the old Camp Yonahlossee pairs elegant Southern comfort food with an outstanding wine list.

FROSTY MOUNTAIN CHRISTMAS TREES Marshall, NC

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In a remote section of Madison County, just north of Asheville, is a high elevation farm that’s easy to find. Frosty Mountain Christmas Trees, on the North CarolinaTennessee line, is a short distance from Interstate 26 and about an hour’s drive from Asheville. Once you get close, you’ll recognize the small family farm by the large American flag painted on the barn (the tree farm is on the other side of the road). Cows, goats, geese and the occasional llama watch from the pastures as you pass. Wild turkeys will likely take flight as you make your way to the fields of trees. There to greet you with their family are Donna and Chipper Jones. The Joneses grow 80,000 Fraser firs on 55 acres on the side of Sugarloaf Mountain. And that’s about it. Though they do sell handmade wreaths and garlands, “We don’t have wagon rides or sell any ‘doo-dahs,’” Donna Jones said. “People enjoy coming out to our farm, because we’re not commercialized. We’re just a working farm.” The Joneses planted their first trees, about 500 of them, in 1979. They didn’t do any advertising, but people started showing up to buy them. Some folks found out about the farm by hiking the Appalachian Trail, which runs behind their house. Others heard about it while riding in the Hot Doggett 100 bicycle race that also passes by their house. There’s still no sign for the farm out front. But people find them via their website or through the N.C. Christmas Tree Association. Helping the Joneses bale and load trees are their children on break from work and college, as well as various in-laws

“Sometimes people ask me what my favorite thing about being a tree farmer is,” Donna Jones said. “Being up on that mountain would be it.”

L&L and neighbors. It’s a family affair, for everyone involved, Donna Jones said. “Sometimes people ask me what my favorite thing about being a tree farmer is,” she said. “Being up on that mountain would be it,” she added, describing some of the things visitors see when they come out to pick their tree. “You hear a screech and look up and there’s a hawk soaring overhead. When you walk between the rows of trees, sometimes you’ll see a turkey’s nest, praying mantises climbing on the tree, or lots of little field mice. It’s just beautiful.” She’s delighted by the wonder she sees in the eyes of children who haven’t spent much time outdoors, much less on a farm. Customers come from surrounding states, and even farther. “We’ve had a couple of people come up at Thanksgiving and take trees back to Florida,” she said. “They wrapped them up in a bedspread. That’s a long way to take a tree home on top of a car.” Cut trees seal themselves off pretty quickly, so if the ride back home takes longer than half an hour, it’s good to slice off the end of the trunk before putting it into the stand, Jones said. To prevent it from sealing again, keep the water level in the stand above the cut line. A tree kept like that should last a couple of months, she said. Jones had another piece of advice— wear the right shoes. “I don’t know what people are expecting, but they drive out here in their church shoes,” she said. “Patent leather doesn’t do well in the tree field. There are groundhog holes.” Frosty Mountain Christmas Trees isn’t so far away that you’re likely to want to spend the night anywhere except home. But it’s far enough that you’ll want to eat on the way (or the way back). An excellent place on the way to get a picnic is Well-Bred Bakery and Café in Weaverville. Their deli case is full of tasty entrées to go, like curried chicken salad and sesame noodles. Quiches, gourmet croissant sandwiches and hot paninis are some of the specialties, and it’s hard to pass up éclairs, macaroons, shortbread

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LITTLE SWITZERLAND CHRISTMAS TREE FARM Little Switzerland, NC

The tree field at Little Switzerland Christmas Tree Farm is a carpet of green. Perfectly shaped Fraser firs dot a hillside hemmed with tall hardwoods. A single-track path climbs the hillside to take visitors to less-visited portions of the field. Children love this place. Located off the Blue Ridge Parkway 50 miles northeast of Asheville, Little Switzerland Christmas Tree Farm has 30 acres planted in Fraser firs. Little Switzerland, whose very name conjures up images of chocolate and Christmas goodies, is ideal Christmas tree-growing country, owner Dan McKinney said. “The elevation is right; the soil is right. Little Switzerland is Christmas-y in general,” he said. Its altitude and cool weather give it a perpetual holiday feel. As does a shop in Spruce Pine nearby - Home of the Perfect Christmas Tree, a nonprofit organization open year-round that sells the work of more than 120 local craftspeople. When cars pull up to Little Switzerland Christmas Tree Farm, kids pile out. McKinney loves to see them run between the neat rows of trees, excitedly selecting, then changing their minds about the tree to take home. “They just love the adventure of coming out to a farm in the country,” he said. “They get to see where a Christmas tree comes from, rather than thinking you just get it from a store.” McKinney lights a fire in the fire pit for the kids to roast marshmallows. There’s hot cider and cookies for all. The experience is so pleasant that many people come back every year, some with $5 off coupons for repeat customers. Most people want trees that are six to eight feet tall. Many take home a wreath and some garland. “It’s just a fun time for the family to

46 CA ITALat LAY | November 2013

be together,” he said. “They really enjoy the experience.” There are many places to stay on the way to Little Switzerland. But since you’re going to a place named after a country in Europe, why not stay somewhere that’s Alpine as well? Switzerland Inn on the Blue Ridge Parkway has hosted guests since 1910. The windows of its rooms, suites and private cottages frame gorgeous vistas of Mount Mitchell, Table Rock and Hawksbill. The tiled fire pit at the end of the property is a wonderful place to take in the endless views. It’s a great place to gather at the end of the afternoon. Supper follows at the Chalet Restaurant on premise, where Jordan Vance’s creativity with local ingredients manifests itself in dishes that include salmon with a peach sweet tea glaze and Louisiana blackened prime rib. On Fridays, the Chalet Restaurant has a prime rib and seafood buffet. Wine, cocktails and local beers are on tap.

TOM SAWYER TREE FARM & ELF VILLAGE Lake Glenville, NC

Tom Sawyer has built an entire elf village at his choose-andcut farm in the Cashiers Valley. Tom Sawyer Tree Farm and Elf Village in Lake Glenville has a day’s worth of activities that include much more than selecting a tree. Visitors get in the Christmas mood immediately upon driving into the 80-acre farm overlooking the lake. The driveway passes a pond and a century-old house that stores farming equipment. Near the antique tractors and sleighs stands an old chimney, all that’s left of the original homestead. Sawyer builds a fire in it so visitors can roast marshmallows while they’re there. Usually, though, the kids are itching to get into Elf Village. Hand-painted signs in the shape of arrows help them get oriented. There’s the little house where a storyteller dressed as an elf tells Christmas stories. There’s the house for the Nice Elf and the comically not-so-nice one for the Naughty Elf. There’s an elf chapel, a house for Santa and one for crafts. They’re all

for a listing of local choose-and-cut Christmas tree farms in Western North Carolina, see page 48

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askew and painted in candy cane colors. “Because,” Sawyer said, “That’s how elves would build them.” Of course. “When Myra and I first came up with the idea of the elf village, I was thinking where am I going to find elves,” Sawyer said. “All of a sudden it dawned on me that all of the children that come to the village, they could be the elves. So my wife and her sister made 150 elf costumes. Now we have lots of elves. Some are dads that are 6-foot-4.” So, with everyone in elf wear, the village becomes a hive of activity. Children go on scavenger hunts and write wish lists that they mail at the elf post office. Visitors can climb aboard the tractor-pulled hayride and horse-drawn carriages ($5 per person). There’s a fire pit and hot chocolate, cider and cookies. Visitors are encouraged to pack a lunch and eat at the picnic tables. “It’s a photo op that goes on for hours,” Sawyer said. “Used to be, people would come for an hour or two, pick their tree and go home. Now with the elf village, they come and stay for five, six hours and don’t want to leave. It’s a happy time for the family. It’s what family is all about.” Not far away in Cashiers is Carolina Smokehouse, serving up pit-smoked barbecue for more than 25 years. Prices are insanely reasonable for meals that include plates of chopped pork and beef, sides like homemade onion rings and down-home cobbler for dessert. Café 107 in Cashiers is a bistro with soul-warming soups, fresh hummus, turkey ciabatta, and Havarti chicken sandwiches, as well as an authentic Caesar salad (and a kids menu). Laurelwood Mountain Inn in Cashiers is a comfortable place to bed down for the night.

RE A ST C O TU RA A TI L O N S

L&L

November 2013 | capitalatplay.com 47

L&L

Spend the day at a Christmas Tree Farm Here are some of the choose-and-cut farms in Western North Carolina.

A White Christmas Tree Farm, Newland Appalachian Evergreens, Inc., Blowing Rock Barefoot Mountain Farms, Laurel Springs Bickerstaff Trees, Inc., Sparta Big Ridge Tree Farm, Banner Elk Boyd Mountain Christmas Tree Farm, Waynesville Brown’s Choose and Cut, Boone Buck Knob Farm, Cullowhee Buffalo Fir Co., Warrensville Cartner Christmas Tree Farm, Newland Circle C Tree Farms, Boone Clawson’s Choose & Cut, Boone Cool Springs Nursery, Deep Gap Doug Clark Nursery, Newland Elk River Evergreens, Elk Park English Tree Farm, Spruce Pine Ewing’s Fraser Fir Farm, Vilas Fir Heavens Sake Christmas Tree Farm, Topton Frosty Mountain Christmas Trees, Marshall Good Shepherd Trees, Blowing Rock Greene Family Tree Farm, Boone Hutch’s Mountain Trees, Glenville J & D Tree Farms, Boone Jonas Ridge Tree Farm, Jonas Ridge Larriva Tree Farm, Laurel Springs Lee’s Trees, West Jefferson Lil’ Grandfather Choose & Cut, Laurel Springs Little Switzerland Christmas Tree Farm, Little Switzerland Little Switzerland Fraser Firs, Spruce Pine Long Ridge Farms, Sugar Grove McInnis Tree Farms, Sparta McKinney Evergreens, Bakersville Mehaffey Tree Farm, Waynesville Miller’s Camping Choose & Cut, Laurel Springs Mistletoe Meadows Christmas Trees, Laurel Springs 48 CA ITALat LAY | November 2013

Motsinger Trees at Pine Shadows Farm, Roaring Gap Panoramic View Christmas Tree Farm, Boone Papa Goats Tree Farm, Sparta Peak Farms, Jefferson Reeves Ridge Christmas Trees, Sparta Reeves Tree Farm, Leicester Reindeer Crossing Choose-and-Cut, Jefferson RRR Laurel Knob Tree Farm, Todd Sam & Edna Miller Christmas Trees, Laurel Springs Sandy Hollar Farms, Leicester Shady Rest Tree Farm, Glendale Springs Smoky Mountain Christmas Tree Farm, Waynesville Snow Creek Christmas Trees, Bakersville Snowy Mountain Christmas Tree Farm, Crossnore Stonewall Christmas Trees, Bakersville Sugar Plum Farm, Plumtree Tim Warden Tree Farm, Sparta Tom Sawyer Tree Farm, Glenville Top of the Mountain Christmas Trees, West Jefferson Two D’s Nursery, Crossnore Ty-Lyn Plantation, Cullowhee West End Wreaths, West Jefferson What Fir! Tree Farm, Boone Windy Ridge Tree Farm, Laurel Springs Source: N.C. Christmas Tree Association

For a full listing of businesses with links to their websites, scan this QR code or visit capitalatplay.com/christmas-tree-farms

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This monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s review had me driving an hour and fifteen minutes from downtown Asheville to the little village of Spruce Pine. I honestly was a little skeptical about whether a restaurant more or less in the middle of nowhere could be any good, however, I was pleasantly surprised. 50 CA ITALat LAY | November 2013

Celebrating 30 years in downtown Asheville

The presentation of the food...was a work of art. Enough so that I almost didn’t want to eat, it was all so pretty.

Gold leaves with diamonds by Simon G

ue to my busy schedule I booked to visit Knife and Fork at two o’clock on a Tuesday afternoon. Thinking there would be nobody in the restaurant, considering its remote location and my random timing, I was surprised to see that it was bustling with people still arriving to eat. Knife and Fork is owned and run by husband and wife duo, Nathan and Wendy Allen. They came back home to the mountains of North Carolina after spending a few years in California with a deep desire to be linked to the community, the seasons, and the rich agricultural tradition of this area. They opened the restaurant to bring these thoughts together for the public, to demonstrate food preparation that is relentlessly devoted to the purchase of local foods available in close proximity to the restaurant, therefore also attempting to waste as little product as possible. They have been open nearly five years. This summer brought the expansion of an outdoor patio to accomodate the constant flow of customers. Some guests come from as far as Atlanta to dine here. The food we were served can only be described as divine. Each dish was made up of simple, seasonal ingredients, but had twists that made you think you had been transported somehow to a very high end, big city restaurant. The presentation of the food, most of it served on unique, handmade plates and bowls made by local artisans, was a work of art. Enough so that I almost didn’t want to eat, it was all so pretty. Everything we ate was delicious, but the one dish that made me certain to drive back for more was the Fried Chicken Sandwich with Spicy Mayo and Crispy Potatoes. I’ve had my fair share of fried chicken over the years, it being one of my husband’s favorite meals, but the delicate breading, the juicy, succulent chicken, well, the memory is almost too much to handle as I write. I just might have to go back for dinner tonight. We were also served a Butternut Squash, Red Quinoa, Rosemary and Basil Pesto Salad that was not only bursting with freshness, but the colors of the dish were so beautifully intense it drew you right in. Another dish, that was incredibly unique, was a Pork Crackling, Cherry Tomato, Basil Salad served with a Chili Vinaigrette. Now, being from Wales, I’m not necessarily the biggest fan of pork crackling, yet after one bite, this dish had me wanting to sneak into the kitchen to see how Nathan creates these crunchy pockets of heaven. I was told by the manager that it is a slow and tedious process, but after sampling these, I would be willing to be very patient and learn. The atmosphere in the restaurant is relaxed and elegant. Nathan explained to me that

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their emphasis is on the food and good quality ingredients. They want the atmosphere of the restaurant to support rather than distract their customers with too many bells and whistles. The space itself plays to the feeling of comfort and relaxation. It is a very enjoyable setting for dinner. In January and February the restaurant normally closes due to limited availability of local produce; however, this year they have decided to try something new. Each weekend in January and February, Nathan and Wendy will present a series of ‘alter ego’ restaurants at their location in Spruce Pine. Meaning that they will focus their menu, ambiance, wine and beer list on a specific culinary style ranging from Mexican, to Indian, to Chinese, to Italian. Chef Nathan will continue to use Knife and Fork’s community of local farmers throughout the winter, sourcing as much local product as possible; however, they will cast their net wider to include the ingredients necessary to create their vision for a greater range of cuisine. They are open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights from 5pm-9pm. Reservations are recommended. Knife and Fork really is a collaboration of the local community. From the dishes the food is served on, to the salt bowls and vases, nearly every detail has the imprint of someone in the community. It is because of these relationships that a restaurant like this cannot only exist but clearly thrive, practically in the middle of nowhere. It is a cycle of mutual support, one that has created some of the most delicious, simple, unfussy, yet elegant food in Western North Carolina. Photographs in this article were taken by Carolyn Manney. The triangular white plates and bowls were crafted by ceramic artist, Elisa Di Feo (elisadifeo.com). The glass, trillium dishes were made by Polly Lórien and Miles Dreyer of The People’s Glass (thepeoplesglass.com).

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Peter Bloomfield has a lot on his plate written by paul cl ark

54 CA ITALat LAY | November 2013

photos by anthony harden

Peter Bloomfield climbed the pine staircase to his office with a halt in his step. He’s a big hiker and backpacker, and heading out into the woods with his sons is what he does to relax. And so the limp bothered him, in more ways than one. “It’s my knees,” Bloomfield said. Thirty-seven years of running around

the family store, Bloomfield’s of Flat Rock, has started to take its toll. Local residents and tourists coming off Interstate 26 might think running a small kitchen and home furnishings shop is easy. But Bloomfield’s knees tell a different story. Through the years, he has probably walked around the world in that shop.

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loomfield’s of Flat Rock has been a bright red beacon for all things “home” since Bloomfield’s father Max opened the store in 1976. The barn-shaped building and shedshaped garage have catered to changing tastes and local preferences for so long that the front desk clerk and long-time employee Brooke Wolfe knows many of the regular visitors by name.

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The day’s task for Peter Bloomfield, he said as he climbed toward his office, involved changing out the display in the center of the store. All things grill-related were coming out and all things Christmas were going in. Moving merchandise through narrow aisles between shelves of dishes, soaps and knives seemed daunting. But Bloomfield and his son do it every year in just one night, though it’s a night that quickly turns into early morning. “Once you get going on it, it’s not bad,” he said, sipping from his ever-present coffee cup as he settled into a chair in his office. “We go big for Christmas.” So big, in fact, that it takes two levels of scaffolding to decorate the tree, which he does himself. The work is harder than when he was younger, but he takes it in stride—or he would if his knees weren’t bothering him. At the top of the stairs he paused and opened the door to operation central, which is essentially his desk, a hutch with a computer and a long leather couch where he crashes for the night when he’s working late. A blanket and pillow were stacked neatly on one end. On top of the blanket was a photo album marking key events in the business’ history. Bloomfield pulled out a newspaper clipping written the Wednesday before his parents opened the store in May 1976. The Bloomfields, the article noted, lived in Grimesdale, a little north of Hendersonville. Max Bloomfield knew retail well, having owned the Stuckey’s store in Fletcher in the 1960s. Peter Bloomfield grew up in an apartment behind the store. He was stocking shelves when he was 16. Then, in 1966, I-26 opened outside of Fletcher, and traffic died in town. His father anticipated the change and had already purchased property beside the interstate.

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56 CA ITALat LAY | November 2013

the billboard

towers above the building, welcoming visitors from near and far

He built Bloomfield’s—coincidentally, his son was working for the construction company that put up the building—and stocked it with good quality dishes. Peter Bloomfield moved from construction to retail, helping his father in the store. “It settled me down,” Bloomfield said of his years working in and running the family business. He met his wife, Carol, there. Her parents lived in Columbus, having moved from New Jersey when they retired. They started shopping in the store, and lo and behold, one day Carol called him up to ask him out. “A beautiful young lady,” Bloomfield said, recalling their first date at the old McGuffey’s restaurant at Blue Ridge Mall. She works at Bloomfield’s too and would have been in the office with him that day except it was Wednesday, the day off for everyone in the family except him. Bloomfield hasn’t played golf since he and Carol got married. Instead, he works. Or hikes. Bloomfield smiled as he reminisced. Dressed casually in a blue and white striped Polo shirt, he cradled his coffee cup on rugged blue cargo pants, a sensible choice for someone who spends hours in the warehouse moving cartons around. Despite his silvering hair, Bloomfield looks far younger than his 58 years. His voice is relaxed and his eyes are soft, traits that are no doubt reflections of his being in charge of a business that grew 15 to 20 percent a year until the recession. A downward decline has lately reversed itself, and Bloomfield is much happier than he was a year ago. Bloomfield is not a man that enjoys being the center of attention, but he holds a visitor’s gaze steadily and answers all questions completely, if not entirely enthusiastically. “I’m not used to the limelight,” he said softly. He deflected the attention to the Italian coffee machine on the table behind his desk. It makes a killer cup in just a minute. Which is good, because Bloomfield drinks a lot of coffee. His mug, embossed with James Dean’s likeness, goes where he goes. And it’s always full of strong coffee. Like Wolfe, many of his employees have

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been with Bloomfield a long time, and he thinks he knows why. They see him out on the floor, putting out merchandise, ringing up sales. They see him in the warehouse unloading product, putting it on racks and trucking it into the store. They’re comfortable in their jobs, he believes, not just because of the checks they take home but because he is willing to do the work himself. “If they need something heavy lifted, the boss is going to lift it,” he said. He’s not out to win any boss-of-the-year awards. He just wants the work to get done. In a family business—a family that has come to include his employees—everyone pitches in. And then, when everybody else goes home, he goes to his office—those stairs!—to check on orders and catch up on paperwork. Or he goes back to the warehouse to get inventory ready to move into the shop. He works six days and a couple of nights each week. “We’re buried with pallets of merchandise right now. Shrink-wrapped cartons of stuff,” he said, thinking of the work ahead of him. Cartons need to be unpacked. Items need to be sorted. Glazed planters had to be moved. It can take three months to unpack two shipping containers. And a lot of midnight oil. “I work until I’m finished, or I give out,” he said. When he does, he unfolds the blanket on the couch in the office and goes to sleep. He’s not sure how he manages working so much. He should be exhausted. But home isn’t far, just six minutes down the road in Flat Rock. And he camps. Bloomfield loves getting in the woods with his boys, aged 12, 17 and 24. They backpack in, but not so far that their dad can’t bring in a few hefty steaks and (for him) a couple of beers. They’ll make a base camp and hike from there into the woods, coming back to good, simple meals. The boys love mussels for supper and eggs, bacon and pancakes for breakfast. They eat progressively leaner as the trip grows long. The last meal out is usually oatmeal. “But the fog is below us, the moon is above us,” Bloomfield said, describing a recent outing at 5,800 feet. The night had dipped down to 39 degrees. “The treetops, mountaintops—gorgeous,” he said. “But, it’s rough on my knees.” Camping and hiking keep him going. And, so does that coffee machine. “This baby is like a Cadillac,” he said, getting up to make himself another cup. At the touch of a button, it can make an Americano or an espresso or a stout cup of joe, he said, clearly in awe. It has a place of importance on the table behind his desk, beneath the awards Bloomfield’s has won in the

“I work until I’m finished, or I give out,” Bloomfield said. He’s not sure how he manages working so much.

58 CA ITALat LAY | November 2013

peter bloomfield , owner

of Bloomfieldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s of Flat Rock

November 2013 | capitalatplay.com 59

estate Bill Fishburne is all about real

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60 CA ITALat LAY | November 2013

business decor competition of the N.C. Apple Festival in Hendersonville. He loves the machine so much he has one at home as well. Three cups get him going every morning. “I like quality things,” he said. Bloomfield goes to home and houseware markets in Atlanta and Chicago twice a year, buying goods alongside buyers working for huge chains like Kohl’s. The quality of American-made goods he has bought has improved noticeably in the last few years, he said. He’s proud that much of the dinnerware he sells is made in the United States. Fiestaware, dinnerware made in West Virginia, sells well not only because of the bright colors it comes in, but also because it’s durable. The same goes for the patio furniture—American-made and well put together. It’s pricey, but it’s good. “It’s a select group that buys it,” Bloomfield said. Quality costs, but it lasts. And it helps make a reputation—as does lesser-quality merchandise. There’s a market for that, but it’s not Bloomfield’s market. He’s happy selling the good stuff. And it’s done well by him. “I made it through ’08,” he said of the first big year of the recession. During that time he added a website that allows people to order online. It’s kind of a headache—he got more orders for the popular Fiestaware than the manufacturer was able to produce—but it’s another facet to a business model that changes with the times. Bloomfield would prefer to have a bricks-andmortar store only, in the same way he prefers newsprint to online news and telephone calls to email. But because of the Internet, Americans have a lot more choices than they did when his father opened the store in the year of the country’s bicentennial. That means Bloomfield’s of Flat Rock has had to adapt. And it may have to adapt some more. “My twelve year old, he knows the computer better than me. He and his friends, they’re all on iPads, and they’re not going to be shopping in stores,” he said. “When they get to be 30, that’s going to be a different world for shopping.” But maybe not. The online experience is less than perfect. Bloomfield bought some hiking boots and a watch there that he hates. “Where, if I’d gone to Diamond Brand or REI, I’d have ended up with something I like,” he said. People shop online for price, but when it comes to seeing the merchandise, they drive to his big red barn by the interstate. One day, the 5.7 acres he owns by the highway, the property his father had the foresight to buy, will likely be worth more than the business brings in. That day may be here already. But Bloomfield doesn’t want to sell. He doesn’t believe the brick-andmortar model is dead. People still want to look at the goods and hold them in their hands. The concept of going to the store, isn’t going away. “I think everyone wants to shop,” he said. Well, maybe not everyone. “Some people, like our parents and grandparents,” he said, “they live out in the country and that house is paid for. They don’t have a lot of stuff. They don’t want anymore. But the younger people, they want stuff. There’s always going to be some shoppers.”

The online experience is less than perfect. People shop online for price, but when it comes to seeing the merchandise, they drive to Bloomfield’s big red barn by the interstate.

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by MIKE SUMMEY

Having Personal Integrity is the

Surest Way to Get Rich

mike is an

entrepreneur, author of several books on real estate, and is also an avid pilot and philanthropist.

illustr ation by sandr a bottinelli

Earl Nightingale once wrote, “If honesty did not exist, it would have to be invented, as it is the surest way of getting rich.” I agree with this because every truly successful person I’ve ever met had a very high level of personal integrity. Sure, I’ve met people who have made a lot of money using standards that were less than perfect, some even unethical, but ultimately those individuals always fell from grace. 62 CA ITALat LAY | November 2013

n example of what I’m talking about occurred while I was still in the outdoor advertising business. I had a young man working for me as an account executive who was a real go-getter and a top producer, but an incident occurred that caused me to question his integrity and keep a close watch on his activities. After several months of very high expense reports, I decided to verify the mileage being turned in by the young man. I went out to the parking lot and checked the odometer reading on his car against the reading he had turned in on his latest expense report. There was a wide discrepancy between the two. When I confronted this young man with what I had found, he told me his car was leased and since he was going to have to turn it in soon, he had gotten a friend who worked in a speedometer shop to roll the miles back so he wouldn’t have to pay for going over his allotted miles. I rejected this young man’s expense report and had a lengthy discussion with him about honesty and integrity. I explained that rolling back the miles on the odometer was no different than stealing from the leasing company. He acted very remorseful and vowed never to do anything like that again, but it left a lingering doubt in my mind. A few weeks later my friend Zig Ziglar stopped by my office while he was in Asheville conducting a large public seminar. Knowing what a highly principled man Zig is, I thought he could have a positive influence on my young account executive, so I invited him to join us in my office. The young man was tremendously excited to have the opportunity to talk with Zig, who is well known in the area of motivation, personal growth and development. I recall my young executive asking, “Mr. Ziglar, if you could give me one bit of advice, knowing that I’m just getting started in the business world, what would it be?” Zig leaned forward, placed a hand on his shoulder and said, “Young man, always, always, maintain a high degree of personal integrity, and you will do just fine.”

I explained that rolling back the miles on the odometer was no different than stealing from the leasing company.

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Learn more at firstcitizens.com/privatewealth Learn more at firstcitizens.com/privatewealth Learn more at firstcitizens.com/privatewealth A century of strength, stability and solid advice. A century of strength, stability and solid advice. November 2013 | capitalatplay.com 63

A century of strength, stability and solid advice.

A Capital Investment W

hen partners invest in Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity, they help acquire land, pay for infrastructure, and fund the construction of Green Built NC houses. They also invest in local families. Habitat homeowner families are partners in that investment too. They contribute at least 200 hours of sweat equity and help build their home. They take homeowner education courses like Manage Your Money and Basic Home Maintenance. More importantly, Habitat homeowners pay back a 30-year, 0% interest mortgage and those payments are recycled back into Habitat’s building program. When you partner with Habitat, you provide a hand up to local families investing in themselves and in our community. To learn more about making an investment that will keep growing and giving, please contact Kit Rains at 828.210.9365.

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Sadly, within a month, I discovered the young account executive had signed a client’s One- to Full-Color Printing name to an advertising contract in an attempt to win a sales contest. Needless to say, Promotional & Gift Items he did not remain with my company, nor did he fare any better during the following Graphic Design Free Delivery years in his next endeavor. & Pick-up Maintaining integrity is not easy at times. Temptations can arise that make sacrificing integrity financially attractive. I had such a temptation several years ago when I sold an airplane that had been damaged in a hail storm. A prospective buyer who wanted the plane made me an offer and after several back and forth negotiations, we agreed upon a price and shook hands to cement the deal. The buyer said he would need a few days to get his financing in order, and I agreed to give him the time. As often happens, my integrity was tested the very next day. I received a call from Family owned & opera ted another prospective buyer who had just learned that I might be selling the plane. for over 27 years! This buyer was familiar with the aircraft and offered me $100,000 more than what I had just agreed to sell it for the previous day. No Print • Signs • Mail contracts had been signed, so it would have been easy for me to back out of the first deal 253-6886 v 191 Charlotte Street and pocket the extra $100,000, except for one AllegraAsheville.com thing: I had integrity. In my mind, the handshake was just as valid as a written contract; therefore, I completed the transaction with 64037 Allegra ad3.indd 1 7/31/13 10:26 AM the original buyer. Was it painful? Of course it was! Was it worth it? Without question it was! Sure I could have viewed it as losing $100,000, but I maintained my integrity and I didn’t lose my self-respect. Here’s a tip! You must develop your own high standards of integrity if you expect to be successful over the long term. Study the lives of people you admire, and you will learn that their most endearing characteristic is their integrity and reliability. They are people who could be counted on to do the right things in difficult times. If you study the lives of people like George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, Susan B. Anthony, Martin Luther King, Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher, you will learn that it was their strength of character that helped them change the world. Ask yourself, how you would have behaved if you were facing the difficulties that they faced? Today when I think back about that $100,000 I lost on the sale of an airplane, it seems insignificant when compared with the value of maintaining my integrity and good name. I can honestly say that I’ve never regretted the decision and would do it again if the same situation were to arise. It has reinforced my belief that having personal integrity is the surest way to get rich.

Study the lives of people you admire and you will learn that their most endearing characteristic is their integrity and reliability.

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Charlotte green professionals lead in 6th Sustainable Business Awards Crescent Communities’ Jenny Vallimont received the Fearless Leader award at the sixth annual Sustainable Business Awards presented by the U.S. Green Building Council North Carolina chapter. Vallimont, the Charlotte development company’s director of innovation and sustainability, gathered top honors at the USGBC’s sold-out Green Gala event, held at The Ritz-Carlton, which was Charlotte’s first green hotel. Fearless Leader finalists were Nancy Olah, a LEED Accredited Professional and counsel with Parker Poe in Charlotte, and Pittsboro architect Alicia Ravetto. Everblue, which opened a training facility in Charlotte in January, was acknowledged as the Fearless Leader organization. Finalists in the category were all Charlotte companies: Optima Engineering PA, Turner Construction Co. and UNC Charlotte’s Sustainably Integrated Buildings and Sites. The nonprofit winner in the Fearless Leader category was N.C. Sustainable Energy Association. The runner up was ACE Mentor program of Charlotte. Balfour Beatty Construction Sustainability Specialist Susie Westrup was recognized as the winner of Fearless Leader among young professionals. Finalists were Ben Miller and Kelley Hyland, both of Charlotte. In the awards category Talking Walls, the Charlotte expansion of Wells Fargo Securities won as best large commercial project. Finalists were EMC Center of Excellence data center in Durham, the Durham County Courthouse and Wake Forest Biotech Place. The Durham County South Regional Library was chosen for best small commercial project. Runners-up were Charlotte Mecklenburg Police’s Steele Creek Division and Turner Construction Co.’s Charlotte offices. The award for best residential project was given to Greenbridge Condominiums in Chapel Hill. The Vireo Condos project in Third Ward and UNC HunterBanks_CapitalPlay ad.pdf

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Asheville’s Overlook Hall were finalists. In the field of education, the organization gave its A Green Apple A Day honor to the UNC Coastal Studies Institute. Finalists were Isaac Dickson Elementary School in Asheville and Sandy Grove Middle School in Lumber Bridge. The Green Gala was one of many events participating in “Environmental Sustainability Week” as declared by Charlotte Mayor Patsy Kinsey.

Tupelo Honey preps for December opening in Charlotte Tupelo Honey Cafe has been progressing in its preparation to open in the former Pewter Rose space in Charlotte’s South End, with its opening scheduled for early December. The 7,100 square foot space will be able to seat up to 260 people. Charlotte-based Doerre Construction is the contractor. According to owner and operator Stephen Frabitore, the cafe will bring about 150 jobs. Frabitore bought Asheville’s Tupelo Honey Cafe in 2008. That location, opened in 2000, seats 62 and generates $4.4 million in annual sales. In Frabitore’s five years as owner, he has opened four more locations, which are in South Asheville; Knoxville, Tennessee; Greenville, South Carolina; and, more recently, Chattanooga, Tennessee. The Charlotte location will be the sixth for Tupelo Honey, and a seventh location in Johnson City, Tennessee is supposed to open in March. Work on the South Boulevard space includes establishing an open-prep kitchen and a 31-foot line, part of Tupelo Honey’s featured style that allows customers to watch fresh food being prepared, as well as the installation of a bar and a 13-passenger elevator. Tupelo Honey has already teamed with five schools in the Charlotte area and will launch a program that encourages children to eat better and to take an interest in nutrition. The program will begin in the spring. The restaurant has also formed partnerships with

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Duke Energy picks three SC sites for industrial development program Duke Energy has selected three sites in South Carolina, including a 162-acre area in York County, for its 2013 Site Readiness Program to help communities prepare tracts for industrial development. The York site is Lakemont Business Park, off Interstate 77 just south of Carowinds theme park. “This program is a progressive effort toward making this site more competitive and attractive for new industry and jobs…It works in sync with our strategy to diversify York County’s economy,” explained Mark Farris, director of York County economic development. Consulting firm McCallum Sweeny assessed the business park for Duke. Duke, McCallum Sweeney and local planners will present proposals to York County officials for making the site more attractive for development. Then, Duke’s business development team will market the site nationwide. During the last several years, Duke has developed its industrial recruitment program in North Carolina. Since the company’s 2012 merger with Progress Energy, Duke has been assertively expanding the program to regions across its six-state footprint. The largest site among the three recently announced is 500 acres nearly five miles off Interstate 20 in Lugoff, S.C., well southeast of the York site. The smallest site is 48 acres off Interstate 85 near Anderson, S.C., in the northwestern part of South Carolina. More than 35 counties submitted applications for Duke Energy’s Site Readiness Program in the Carolinas.

Exclusive: Gildan considering Mocksville for $112M plant, 290 jobs Gildan Activewear Inc., based in Montreal, is considering Davie County for a $112 million yarn-spinning plant that would create 290 new jobs. The Canadian sportswear company is considering opening the plant as part of recently announced plans to spend $200 million to open two more yarn-spinning plants in the South by the end of 2015, adding a total of 700 jobs. Terry Bralley, president of the Davie County Economic Development Commission, would not give details about the size of the building and which specific sites are being considered in the county. He did say he has been working on “Project East” since the spring and multiple locations are being eyed for the project across the Carolinas. Davie County can provide various advantages to Gildan from an operations standpoint, he said. He also noted, “We are centrally located…We are on a major interstate highway. We have a great workforce that has a lot of mobility being right here on I-40.” The town of Mocksville and Davie County are also considering incentives for the project. According to a public notice, Mocksville is considering providing more than $1 million toward the project, while Davie is considering $2.4 million to support the company. Bralley added that some state grants are also under consideration for the project. Gildan is also considering building a $127 million plant in Rowan County that would establish 184 jobs. That plant would be located behind a 400,000-square-foot former PGT Industries Inc. plant in Salisbury where Gildan is in the midst of adding 200 jobs to begin production early next year. Gildan currently has existing operations in the Triad, including nearly one million square feet of distribution space in Eden.

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November 2013 | capitalatplay.com 67

Big win for Wake Forest on military contract Following a long wait for Dr. Anthony Atala and his colleagues at the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, confi rmation for their big win has finally arrived. They have been given the wheel for the next phase of the big Armed Forces Institute of Regenerative Medicine. That project will spend $75 million over the next five years on projects targeted toward using regenerative medicine technologies to aid recovery from various battlefield injuries. Atala and WFIRM will coordinate the work of more than 30 academic and industry partners on AFIRM II. The project means another big infusion of federal research dollars to Wake Forest University following the tens of millions the initial AFIRM grant provided. In addition, it means Winston-Salem will continue to build on its status as a center for regenerative medicine research, creating local jobs. We don’t know how intense the competition to lead AFIRM II was, though we do know that it took well over a year to be decided.

Harris Teeter shareholders approve sale to Kroger Harris Teeter shareholders approved the $2.5 billion sale of the grocery chain, based in Matthews, to The Kroger Co., with 83 percent voting in favor of the deal. In July, Cincinnati-based Kroger revealed its plan to buy Harris Teeter Supermarkets Inc. for roughly $2.5 billion, including the assumption of $100 million in debt. The all-cash transaction is valued at $49.38 per share. In a letter to shareholders, Harris Teeter CEO Thomas Dickson asked shareholders to vote in favor of the proposal. The letter also asked shareholders to vote in favor of merger-related compensation for named executive officers, including Dickson. It noted Harris Teeter’s board of directors has unanimously approved the merger agreement and related actions. Harris Teeter has 35 stores in the Triangle and Kroger has 14. However, only a couple of those locations have stores that are close enough geographically to compete with each other. There are still two pending lawsuits that could affect the sale.

Xerox to eliminate 508 jobs at Cary call center An affi liate of Xerox Corp. is laying off 508 employees at its Cary call center. The job cuts go into effect November 14. Spokesperson Bill McKee, who said Xerox Commercial Solutions notified its employees on September 9, explained, “These reductions, while very difficult decisions, reflect the changing business requirements of our clients.” He added that Xerox expects to place more than half of those employees in other positions within “other lines of business in Cary.” According to a notice the company filed with the Employment Security Commission, the terminations are “due to a change in business conditions” and primarily impact customer care assistant positions. According to McKee, separation packages are being provided to qualifying employees. Xerox has nearly 4,400 employees in North Carolina, including 1,500 in Cary and 3,200 in the Triangle.

68 CA ITAL ITALat LAY LA | November 2013

$1.3M donation to step up timeline for simulated hospital at RCC A $1.27 million gift from the Reidsville Area Foundation has more than doubled the fundraising efforts for a simulated hospital at Rockingham Community College, permitting the school to have a closer scheduled project completion date. The gift from the foundation, which was created by the merger of Reidsville’s Annie Penn Hospital with Cone Health, implies that the project will be completed in two phases rather than three. According to Jacob Balsley III, vice chairman of the foundation, given the origin of the foundation, supporting the training of students for careers in health care made sense. This summer, NewBridge Bank made a donation of an undisclosed amount to the project, which had secured a total of $1.16 million in donations before the commitment from the Reidsville Area Foundation. The emergency care area of the new facility will be named after the bank. The first phase of the $4.8 million project is scheduled for bid this fall, with the new facility to open in January 2015. Plans call for the renovation of the 35,600-square-foot Owens Human Services Building to establish a consolidated home for the school’s health sciences program. The facility, being designed by architecture firm Clark Patterson Lee of Charlotte, will be a simulated hospital that will offer an interdisciplinary learning experience for students. Traditionally, students in phlebotomy, respiration therapy, nursing or emergency medicine have learned their clinical skills separately, while the simulated hospital environment will bring them together. The first phase will include renovating the first floor of the building to feature a health care simulation area, classrooms and labs, with a courtyard being converted to an atrium. The area will include nine individual patient care units and an isolation room. As part of the second phase of the project, the upper level of the Owens building will incorporate a conference room, a faculty lounge and classroom space. The second phase also includes purchasing equipment, renovating the lower level lobby and building a covered ambulance bay. With the foundation gift and other anticipated contributions, Helmick said he expects the complete $3 million construction budget will be covered by private support by the end of the year.

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Raleigh, Durham among top cities for entrepreneurs According to Forbes, the Raleigh-Durham area ranks as one of the best areas for entrepreneurs. The business magazine labels Research Triangle Park one of the “biggest success stories for public-private partnerships,” with more than 170 global companies that benefit from the universities both in the immediate area and around the state. The Research Triangle Foundation often touts the entrepreneurial spirit in the area, so the ranking does not come as a complete surprise. Indeed, some 79% of establishments in RTP have fewer than 100 employees; only 5% employ more than 1,000, according to the 2012 RTP Company Survey. Austin, Texas and Richmond, Virginia were the only two other cities in the United States ranked by Forbes.

www.starksfinancial.com Dawn G. Starks, CFP ® Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. 56 Clayton Street * Asheville, NC | 828-285-8777

November 2013 | capitalatplay.com 69

THE WEDGE

bigger than a building written by arthur treff

| photos by linda d. cluxton

Have you ever noticed, when friends are gathering at your home, that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not until dinner is devoured, candles are snuffed and only crumbs remain at the table, that genuine conversation begins? Does it take place in the dining room, or the strategically arranged seating of the living room? Usually not, because the good stuff happens in the unadorned spaces: by the weedy compost pile, in the driveway, over by the recycling bin, or in the mudroom leaning against the washing machine. 70 CA ITALat LAY | November 2013

tim schaller ,

owner of the Wedge Brewery November 2013 | capitalatplay.com

he magic of human interaction materializes where we least expect it—unless you’re at The Wedge Brewery. The décor isn’t upscale, most of the seating is rough and tumble, but the atmosphere is as welcoming as your best friend’s kitchen door. More than a microbrewery, the Wedge is the carefree vortex that all manner of local Ashevillians enter after a hard day’s work. You’ll see a roofing crew, fresh off the ladder sitting across the table from hipsters in goofy polyester shirts. A dreadlocked and darkly tattooed girl in a sundress gathers up the spent glasses from two men in ties who are engrossed in a business meeting. Dust clouds follow arriving cars and paint the sparse grasstufts brown. Dogs wait reverently by the food truck’s back door while a young couple challenges an aging duo in a game of corn toss. The festival atmosphere is punctuated by horn blasts from arriving freight trains 50 feet away. How did the Wedge become a free-thinking, congenial local gathering place against a backdrop of industrial detritus? Did some social scientist savant create this place? In business, the path from A to B is never a straight line. Ownership is all about paying attention and remaining flexible. The events that drive the detours are as numerous and varied as bubbles in a beer glass. “This,” says Tim Schaller, pointing to the gritty parking lot beside the tracks, “was not in my original plan. If I had wanted to open a bar, I would have located it downtown. I thought we’d just be brewing beer back here. I had the vision of a brewery, 72 CA ITALat LAY | November 2013

a small tasting room—for my friends and me to drink in—and a lot of delivery trucks coming and going. I had no idea that people would want to sit in the dirt to drink our beer.”

The Backdrop Back in 2002, an artist named John Payne converted a dilapidated triangular three story building into a studio/living space for himself and leased the remaining studio spaces to fellow artists. He named it The Wedge Studios, which sits in the (now) trendy River Arts District (RAD). John worked to create a cohesive collaborative environment for his tenants by being selective when approving studio leases. Artists who secured space in the Wedge felt as if they had been admitted to display at a juried show. Across town, Tim Schaller, a New York transplant since 1998, was making a living building and renovating throughout the area. He was captivated by the craft brewing industry, and Tim dreamed of trying his hand someday at making beer. He was a regular at Greenman’s tasting room and Clingman Café in the RAD, which is where he met John Payne. John’s avocation was building anatomically correct robotic dinosaur skeletons that hung from cables—“kinetosaurs”— white his vocation was selectively renting studio space in his building. Heather Malloy, who was shopping for rehearsal space for the dance troupe, Terpsicorps, approached John. Heather couldn’t afford the space she needed, but John believed in her vision and wanted to help. He reasoned that

e ating in the dirt

was not part of the original plan but somehow fuels the Wedge aesthetic

if a commercial venture could be enticed to operate out of his building, the generated income would offset donating a large space to Terpsicorps…he just needed to find a good fit. Meanwhile, Tim’s brewery business plan was taking shape at Mountain BizWorks, and when he shared it with his friend, John thought that Tim’s brewery could be the perfect commercial tenant for the Wedge building.

Brewing a Business “I boiled the brewery plan down to three large categories,” says Tim. The business would fail unless all were optimized:

{

The Brewmaster The Space The Brewing equipment

}

The first item fell into Tim’s lap. He and John had enjoyed beers at Dirty Jacks, Greenman Brewing’s tasting room, and Tim knew that their brewmaster, Carl Melissas, might be looking to make a move in the future. “Days after Carl and I talked about my brewery plan, he called me in a panic. He had found the exact brewing equipment we needed down in Jacksonville, Florida, but I had to buy it immediately.” This was 2007, and the craft brewed beer craze was not yet foaming over, so used equipment occasionally came up for sale. A day later, Tim and Carl were driving south to dismantle and

load all the equipment on trucks for transport to Asheville. The gear was bought below value, so Tim reasoned that if the new venture didn’t pan out, he could probably recoup his purchase by reselling it. As it turned out, he ended up storing the used equipment for eight months. Space was the last crucial item, and John Payne’s Wedge building still looked promising, if not challenging. Initially, one of the upper floors was considered, which included the addition of a large capacity deck to one side of the structure. Eventually, the bottom floor, adjacent to the existing loading dock, became the brewery. There was room enough for brewing and a small tasting room. Beyond the dock, was an unpaved parking lot, which backed up to the Norfolk Southern rails. Not exactly the Ritz, but perfect for a beer factory. John’s plan worked: a commercial lease between Tim and the Wedge Studios was signed, allowing Tim to start his brewery and Terpsicorps to move into their newly affordable rehearsal space.

Getting Busy A licensed contractor by trade, Tim was more than comfortable renovating his part of the building. Help with some of the architectural details appeared unexpectedly from a neighbor. John was living and working in his studio space located at the other end of the loading dock, so in a way, Tim was reworking John’s backyard. “One day, I was drawing a table design for outdoor seating, and John was looking over my shoulder,” says Tim. “I was feeling November 2013 | capitalatplay.com 73

74 CA ITALat LAY | November 2013

pressured by schedule constraints, so I was thinking simple, just four legs and a top. John, always a creative thinker, inspired me when he said: ‘Slow down… everything is an opportunity.’ That was years ago, and I still try to live by it.” The result? Seating in the brewery yard is far from typical. It’s part seating, part Dr. Seuss installation art. Giant stacks of gears, turning bearings and large coiled springs support the metal stools. Privacy screens are decorated with crazy rusted metal sculptures. Nothing is standardized.

Conversation about Conversation Tim and John debated about the tasting room décor and atmosphere. At first, Tim lobbied for a television screen for sporting events, but John disagreed, saying that TV and entertainment were distractions, detriments to conversation. Tim resisted initially, but eventually, John’s premise hit home. “Beer is working class,” says Tim Schaller. “I grew up in the Northeast, so I’m familiar with the democratic tavern, the corner bar; well-lit places where people gather after work to unwind and connect with neighbors.” Talking to Mr. Schaller you sense that he’s someone who gets involved in his community and reveres history.

Smart Phones not Required

“John, always a creative thinker, inspired me when he said: ‘Slow down…everything is an opportunity.’ That was years ago, and I still try to live by it.”

The concept of the democratic tavern is not new; it predates radio, the telephone, even our democracy. In her book, “America Walks into a Bar”, author Christine Sismondo, says the first thing colonists built in American towns was the tavern. It was the place for colonists to relax and communicate while the infrastructure was being built. If the Sons of Liberty had used Twitter, they wouldn’t have needed to meet at the Green Dragon Tavern, in Boston’s North End. It was here that the Boston Tea Party was conceived, and Paul Revere left November 2013 | capitalatplay.com 75

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GA_Capital_Nov13_GA 10/4/13 1:20 PM Page 1

‘The Dragon’ in haste on his famous midnight ride to Lexington. Gathering to express ideas over a beer has proven its historic worth, it’s an institution…as American as the Corner Bar.

Devilish Details Brewing, says Carl Melissas brewmaster, is akin to cooking. Delivering high quality goods requires three disciplines: quality ingredients, cleanliness, and attention to detail. Spend an hour with him and you’ll quickly realize that Carl is a man driven by detail. Carl knows the exact moment that brewing poured into his veins. It was long ago, in Santa Barbara, California, where he was a chef/caterer/sommelier, that Carl sampled a Belgian beer. “This is what did it!” quips Melissas holding up an amber bottle. The label reads: ‘Piraat’, a beer from Belgium. “I had no idea that beer could taste so good. This Belgian beer had complexity unmatched by the finest French wines. I couldn’t understand it, I needed to know more.” For most, changes in life are subtle. Not so for Carl. From the moment ‘Piraat’ piqued his palate, he was a man possessed. All he wanted to read or talk about was beer… but not just any beer, Belgian beer. Family and friends listened politely to his lengthy dissertations about how beer is made, along with anecdotal tales of regional differences and historical inf luences. They decided to shut him up one Christmas by giving him a beer brewing kit. Carl had what he needed: a way to try his hand at recreating the taste of his mythical beer experience. Amazing. Why hadn’t he thought of this before? By then, he was living in Atlanta, and remodeling houses. All of Carl’s spare time and energy was poured into home brewing. Such single-minded focus can draw attention, and his public image could have jumped from “Mastermind Melissas” to “Melissas the Maniac,” as fast as you can say hops. Not surprisingly, Carl began to win home brewing awards. His thirst for potation edification secured an apprenticeship at Dogwood Brewery in Atlanta, Georgia. Two years later, he was hired as brewmaster for Bullfrog Brewery in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

“I didn’t want to be talking to friends, and hear one of them say, ‘Hey, remember the old days, you know, when The Wedge— was still cool?’” says Tim.

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78 CA ITALat LAY | November 2013

During his second year at the Bullfrog, Carl was awarded a Gold and a Silver medal for two Belgian style beers in the World Beer Cup. What began as a quest to understand Belgian beer making had foamed over to international acclaim. Beer critics now marveled at the complexity of Carl’s creations. “A cook or a brewmaster plays a role,” says Carl. “When I’m brewing a Belgian beer, I think about monk’s attitudes, the equipment they had, the ingredients at their disposal. When I’m brewing a pilsner, I think of Czechoslovakia, the people, the terrain, and the weather. It’s a performance no one sees. Beer is a silent gift from the brewer to the customer.” In 2005, he relocated his family to Asheville, NC to oversee the alchemy goings-on at Greenman Brewing, where his work attracted Tim Schaller’s attention. Three years later, his libations were center stage at another Asheville alehouse.

Magic Afoot The Wedge brewery poured their first beer in May of 2008. Two months later, in mid July was their first ‘full tap’ night: all eight taps were flowing, the cult classic bootleg movie, Thunder Road, was projected onto the side of an abandoned delivery truck and the place was jammed. After the grand opening, Tim expected life at the new brewery to fall in line with his plan: brew a bunch of beer, then distribute it to local bars and restaurants. Asheville magic intervened: the grand opening atmosphere in the brewery yard never stopped. People came back to drink the great beer flowing from the tasting room taps beside the railroad tracks. Like all fledgling businesses, Tim and his wife, Trish, ran the opetion on a shoestring with one or two helpers, leaving Carl to oversee the brewing. They were instantly overwhelmed. The few artistic metal stools were always filled. Trish ran out and bought a few dozen stackable plastic chairs, but they too went quickly. Battered old outdoor furniture suites were placed in the yard, and they too were filled. There were never enough tables or chairs, but who really needs ‘em when you’re talking to friends with a frosty glass in your hand? Night after night, regular customers paid for their beers, then walked outside to talk with friends, and sat

There were never enough tables or chairs, but who really needs ‘em when you’re talking to friends with a frosty glass in your hand?

the fence , designed by John Payne, is part of what makes the Wedge unique November 2013 | capitalatplay.com 79

carl melissas ,

brewmaster of the Wedge Brewery 80 CA ITALat LAY | November 2013

on whatever they could find: steps, cars, rocks, and yes, some sat on the ground…in the dirt. Beer was selling fast from the tasting room, so in reaction, the Wedge crew had to rethink their distribution plan. Capacity of their equipment was 1,300 barrels per year, very small when compared to Highland Brewing. Tim and Carl feared that upping their capacity could lower quality, so they began the painful process of pulling product back from their downtown customers. As of printing, Wedge beer is only available in two local restaurants.

Loss in the Midst of Magic Unfortunately, John Payne, social catalyst and owner of the Wedge building, died a few days before the brewery’s grand opening. He was a gentle man who loved life and all manner of human expression. His photograph can be seen in prominent places in the brewery’s tasting room. John’s spirit imbues the building; perhaps that’s why locals pack this place where the only entertainment is great beer and human interaction. “History can be rapidly forgotten,” says Tim. “We keep John’s memory alive by naming a beer after him, Payne’s Pale Ale. We also brew Julian Price Pilsner, our tribute to another of downtown Asheville’s largest benefactors.” Recently, the access road to the Wedge building has been named Paynes Way, and one of the surviving examples of John’s dinosaur art has been installed on the side of the building.

Insuring the Future The Payne family retained ownership of the Wedge building after John’s passing, but Tim could foresee a time when they would tire of running such a large building and want to sell. He believes in the low rents and bohemian scene that the Wedge provides its tenants, and feared that everything could change if an unscrupulous developer acquired the Wedge property. “At some future point, I didn’t want to be talking to friends, and hear one of them say, ‘Hey, remember the old days, you know, when the Wedge—was still cool?’” says Tim. “So, I got a group of local friends together to buy the building from John’s family.” Value of the building had jumped considerably since John’s 2002 purchase. In much the same way as John signed a commercial lease to the brewery as a way to allow Terpsicorps a low rent space, the Wedge building partners needed more rent

income to cover their financial commitment to the building. Tim had already thought of that. Three successful entrepreneurs opened satellite businesses just down the Wedge loading dock from the brewery. These additional commercial businesses on the lower level would be low impact to the artists working above. Larry Hopkins, who introduced Tim to his future bride, and has cut Tim’s hair since 1998, opened another eclectic hair salon, Ananda West. Drew Wallace (of the Admiral) and Matt Dawes, opened a new restaurant called the Bull & Beggar. Splurge, a shop showcasing rare vintage furnishings operated by Robert and Rebecca Nicholas, was the third. “Larry and I have fantasized about a satellite Ananda in the RAD for years, and if any restaurateur can attract customers to a dirt parking lot next to the railroad tracks, it’s Drew,” says Tim. “If you’ve been to the Admiral, you know what I’m talking about.” With the brewery and the three new commercial ventures paying rent, the Wedge partners can continue to offer their artist/tenants reasonable rates and three year leases, both of which are harder to find as the RAD becomes more gentrified.

Low Capacity High Quality Wedge brewery capacity is still around 1,300 barrels per year, and there are no plans to raise it. Tim and Carl aren’t compelled to expand and compete with their larger brethren. Making beer is art they say, and the friendly competition between breweries drives them to continually improve the beer, not sales numbers. Tim admits that most of the business decisions he has made have been motivated by his own tastes. He missed the democratic taverns of his native Long Island, so he molded the Wedge Brewery tasting room in their image. He likes beer, so that’s what he serves, and he likes spending his days amongst the artists who are the RAD. “One of my mentors taught me that if you want a business to be successful, create something that you like, because chances are, other people will like it too.” If John Payne were to stroll into the Wedge parking lot, he too would like it: people of all ages and walks of life, laughing, exchanging ideas and drinking beer. The industrial backdrop of his building is still beautiful in its decay, and his vision of community is intact…it’s magic. Perhaps John never really left the building after all.

November 2013 | capitalatplay.com

world

news

Ocean Spray advances its Latin American expansion

RBS Citizens commits $1B to affordable housing

Ocean Spray’s efforts to expand into Latin America are fi nally beginning to show some fruit. Although well within the cranberry harvest season, many reasons for excitement are in the air at Ocean Spray’s Lakeville headquarters these days. The growers cooperative has progressed with two major developments in the past year to leverage its selling efforts in Central America and South America. Ken Romanzi, Ocean Spray’s chief operating officer, is pleased with the success he has witnessed so far in Latin America. In June, the company restructured its leadership with the intention of enhancing its overseas sales. He noted that the Latin American market is an important part of that equation. Nearly 20% of Ocean Spray’s $2.2 billion in revenue last year could be connected to sales outside of North America. Romanzi hopes to see that grow to one-third during the next decade. Ocean Spray signed an agreement in early 2012 with PepsiCo, a major distribution partner of Ocean Spray’s in the United States, to assist with manufacturing and distributing in beverages in Latin America. According to an Ocean Spray spokeswoman, the company launched sales in Chile, Colombia and Peru earlier this year, mainly for products exported from the United States. A Pepsi bottling plant in El Salvador recently started making Ocean Spray drinks, and another plant in Peru will be ready soon. In addition, Ocean Spray bought a plant that produces sweetened dried cranberries (Craisins are Ocean Spray’s branded product) in Chile for $28.5 million. Romanzi claims part of the incentive to purchase the plant was Chile’s favorable tariff structure, making it more affordable to ship sweetened dried cranberry products to other countries.

RBS Citizens plans to put $1 billion into affordable housing and community investment projects over the next five years, including $36 million in investments and fi nancing it has already made in Massachusetts. The bank, based in Providence, Rhode Island, practices business in 12 states, and claims projects in each of those will benefit from financing arrangements or investments made as part of the $1 billion pledge. In Massachusetts, Citizens made a $13 million low income housing tax credit equity investment in the Cornerstone/ National Affordable Housing Trust Enhanced Preservation Fund for the rehabilitation of 146 units of low income housing in the South End. It has additionally given $13 million in low-income housing tax credit construction financing, and a $10 million low-income housing equity investment to finance the construction of 60 affordable housing units in Marion. Citizens is the second-largest bank in Massachusetts by deposits.

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Campbell to sell European business for $541 million Campbell Soup Co. agreed to sell its European simple meals business to private equity firm CVC Capital Partners for 400 million euros, or nearly $541 million. Campbell, based in Camden, New Jersey, said in August it was in final and exclusive negotiations with CVC for the sale of the business. The company has now entered into a binding share purchase agreement with CVC following the completion of information and consultation procedures according to European laws. Under the terms of the agreement, CVC will acquire Campbell’s national brands of soups, sauces and simple meals, including Liebig and Royco in

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France, Erasco in Germany, Blå Band in Sweden and Devos Lemmens and Royco in Belgium, for the purchase price of 400 million euros. The contract also includes four plants in Puurs, Belgium; Le Pontet, France; Lubeck, Germany; and Karpalund, Sweden. Campbell expects to use the proceeds of the sale to pay down debt and for other general corporate purposes. The agreement does not, however, include Campbell’s recently acquired Kelsen Group, which will continue its operations in Denmark and the export of its products to countries in Europe and the rest of the world. Campbell will continue to export Pepperidge Farm products in Europe and Campbell’s products in the United Kingdom, the Middle East, and Africa. In fiscal 2013, the Campbell businesses included in the proposed sale, generated annual net sales of nearly $530 million. Campbell said it expects the transaction to be completed in the fourth quarter this year, and that it still needs to be approved by European regulators.

Cuba accepts more private businesses Cuban authorities have announced 18 new categories of independent employment that will be acceptable under President Raul Castro’s economic reforms. They are additionally introducing restrictions intended to regulate private entrepreneurs already in business. Real estate agents, who have long operated in the shadows, are among the most notable of the newly allowed private professions. Even following the legalization of buying and selling homes in 2011 for the first time in decades, it was still technically illegal to obtain money by connecting buyers with sellers. The new rules also block the resale of imported goods such as clothing and products purchased in state-run stores.

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Finalists are chosen for National Toy Hall of Fame Twelve finalists have been identified for potential initiation in Rochester’s National Toy Hall of Fame. According to the Rochester Business Journal, two of the finalists will be chosen for the hall. They will join 51 toys that have already been inducted, a group that varies from the jump rope and the stick to G.I. Joe and Hot Wheels cars. Here are the games and objects that are this year’s finalists: Bubbles, Chess, Clue, Fisher-Price Little People, little green army men, Magic 8 Ball, My Little Pony, Nerf toys, Pac-Man, Rubber Duck, Scooter, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. This year’s honorees will be revealed on November 7.

Defense firm wins Special Forces contract for high-tech hand grenades The Arizona arm of a Norwegian weapons and ammunition maker has been awarded a $40 million contract to supply high-tech hand grenades to U.S. Special Forces. The specialized grenades permit users to choose blast levels based on various situations. Nammo Talley won over two other bidders for the U.S. Special Operations Command contract. The Arizona company is an arm of Nammo AS. The Scandinavian company manufacturers rocket launchers, ammunition, flares and other weapons. Work on the grenades will be done in Vihtavuori, Finland, where Nammo acquired a 100-year old ammunition factory in September. Nammo Talley already owns a 550-acre manufacturing site and test facility in Mesa, Arizona. The contract runs through 2018. Nammo acquired Talley Defense Systems in 2008. The Arizona company specialized in rocket launchers and bazookas for the United States Marine Corps and is now seeking more Special Forces contracts.

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Replica plans revealed for Crystal Palace Britain’s Crystal Palace, the Victorian exhibition center that was previously the largest glass structure in the world, will be re-created with investment from Chinese developers. Shanghai-based ZhongRong Group intends to invest $811 million to build a replica of the iron and glass building as a cultural attraction in south London. The Crystal Palace was designed and constructed for the 1851 Great Exhibition, when thousands of exhibitors around the world gathered to display the latest technology. Initially built in Hyde Park, the glass structure was moved three years later to South London. In 1936, a fire destroyed it. According to the plans, the building’s Victorian design would be replicated in the South London location in its original size and scale, including exhibition space and public parks.

World’s most valuable brands Apple Inc. has surpassed The Coca-Cola Co. and Google Inc. on an annual list of the most valuable brands in the world, with an estimated worth of $98.3 billion. The list is compiled by Interbrand, a brand consulting company that is part of Omnicom Group. Interbrand has compiled what it labels the Best Global Brands report since 2000. Coca-Cola dropped to third from first in the report, marking the first time the soft-drink giant has fallen from the top of the list. Google

ranks second. Apple was second last year, climbing from eighth in the 2011 report, so perhaps its jump to fi rst was just a matter of time. Budweiser ranked as the world’s 31st most valuable brand, with an estimated worth of $12.6 billion, up 6% from 2012. Progressively slower United States sales are forcing Budweiser to seek growth internationally, with Anheuser-Busch InBev seeking to “turn Budweiser into the first truly global large-scale beer,” the report states. Nestle also made the list, coming in at number 56 with an estimated brand value of $7.5 billion.

$26 billion Catholic Healthcare investment fund gets new name Catholic Healthcare Investment Management Co. has changed its name to Ascension Investment Management. Ascension Investment Management is a unit of St. Louis-based Ascension (previously Ascension Health Alliance), a Catholic health care organization whose other unit, Ascension Health, is the largest Catholic and nonprofit health system in the United States. Ascension Investment Management has nearly $26 billion in assets under management for Ascension and non-Ascension clients, both Catholic and non-Catholic institutional investors. The decision comes amid efforts by the investment unit to expand its reach beyond Ascension to manage assets for outside clients.

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Tony Tersigni is president and CEO of Ascension. David Erickson is the investment unit’s chief investment officer. Tersigni explained, “We are renaming our investment company and our commitment to St. Louis remains unchanged…When we first formed the company in 2011, the vibrant local business climate and environment strongly influenced our decision to headquarter here. The city has become a recognized financial center and Ascension Investment Management will continue to operate from St. Louis.”

Owner of Silver Dollar City buys Harlem Globetrotters Herschend Family Entertainment Corp. has purchased Harlem Globetrotters International Inc. from Shamrock Capital Advisors. Although terms of the deal were not disclosed, the asking price for the team was reportedly between $50 million and $100 million. The Harlem Globetrotters were established in 1926. Roy Disney founded Shamrock Capital and it is the investment vehicle for several Disney family members. Herschend Family Entertainment owns and operates 26 theme parks, aquariums and other attractions around the country. In addition to Silver Dollar City, its properties include a partnership that owns Dollywood and Dollywood’s Splash Country in Tennessee, Stone Mountain Park in Atlanta, Newport Aquariums in New Jersey and Kentucky, and Wild Adventures Theme Park in Valdosta, Georgia.

Staples to improve its e-commerce Staples has acquired Runa, a San Mateo, California startup, making software designed to provoke online browsers to buy more. This is the latest step the company has taken toward improving online sales as its performance has dropped while demand for office supplies weakens. In September, Staples announced the opening of an R&D center in e-commerce giant Amazon’s Seattle backyard. In June, the company announced a new store format, designed to integrate its Staples.com online sales platform. Terms of the deal were not disclosed when the acquisition was announced. Founded in 2009, Runa raised $9.2 million in 2010, but did not mention much about who was involved in the funding. Runa added another $1 million in funding last November. Its co-founder and CEO, Ashok Narasimhan, is a limited partner and advisor at e4e, Mobius and Waltham, Massachussetts-based Battery Ventures. Ronald Sargent, chief executive officer and chairman of Staples, explained, “Runa has a unique platform and outstanding talent with experience in e-commerce and online marketplaces… With Runa, we’re adding technology to better serve our customers with personalized items, offers, and delivery estimates, all in realtime. Runa will allow us to tap into the wealth of engineering and e-commerce expertise in the Silicon Valley area.”

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HOW doTHEY doIT?

Do you pursue further education, and why? Ruth Summers

The Grove Arcade “At the time I was considering further education, there was nothing available in an advanced degree for an arts administrator. The admissions officer whom I met advised me at the time, my nine years of work experience were more valuable than an advanced degree in a non-related field, so I never got an advanced degree.”

Peter Bloomfield

Bloomﬁ eld’s of Flat Rock “I probably wouldn’t, unless it would be some kind of hobby,” he said. He said he did not graduate from college; instead, he went right to work. He has taken pottery classes at Blue Ridge Community College and might take more classes “if I weren’t so busy, but I have no spare time,” he said. “Things are really clicking at work.”

Tim Schaller

The Wedge “Every thing I’ve needed to know about business and life I’ve learned from talking to some old guy in a bar. Now, I’m that guy, so my education now comes from younger guys…or some other old guy.”

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Would you like sighs with that?

LEG ISL AT ION

Fast food franchises aren’t for the faint-hearted. (Say that three times, fast.) When I was growing up in Spartanburg, South Carolina, there was no such thing as “fast food.” There were plenty of drive-in restaurants, where you could eat burgers and such in the car or get grease-to-go (though drive-in food didn’t travel well; in a short time it absorbed the taste of the cardboard box it traveled in) but among teens they mainly served a social function: you could cruise the parking lot of Wade’s, The Steeple, The Topper, or the holy of holies, The Beacon, and look for girls; or, if you already had one you could park in the very back row and make out.

think I was a junior, in the early ‘60’s, when an unprepossessing-looking place called Hardee’s opened on Kennedy Street. It billed itself as “home of the fi fteen-cent hamburger.” It was short on amenities—there were no curb hops and at first there was no place to eat inside; you went up to a window, placed your order and left with it in a paper sack. The menu was limited and the burgers weren’t the juicy masterpieces of the drive-ins, but the place caught on at once

88 CA ITALat LAY | November 2013

because the food was fast and cheap. Parking was limited—no place to cruise—because customer turnover was rapid. And that concept was tailor-made for a world that was already beginning to speed up. Two more Hardees outlets were added within the year, all run by former Wofford College quarterback Charlie Bradshaw and his partner, former end Jerry Richardson, under the banner of their new corporation, Spartan Foods. Meanwhile, another

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Find more articles like this at capitalatplay.com/redtape

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Chapter 6

Practical solUtions

instant-burger place with garish lighted yellow arches sprang up opposite the Wofford College campus. Within months a third, called Burger King, materialized in another part of town. These were not locally-grown businesses. They were franchises, meaning that their trademarks, recipes, operating procedures, salary and benefit structures, advertising campaigns and components, employee uniforms and even napkins, were packaged and sold from a corporate headquarters Somewhere Else. Franchisees—the local people on the ground—bought or leased the package (which usually included an ongoing profit sharing arrangement with the parent company) and hired the burger-flippers. Entrepreneurs looked upon the franchise arrangement and saw that it was good. Initial profits could be plowed back into expansion and being part of a large, centrally-operated brand offered direction and support. Talk about “working capital”: depending on a franchisee company’s liquidity or credit availability, a single operation could be parlayed into exponential growth. Spartan Foods diversified, acquiring steakhouse franchises (Quincy’s) a nd 24 -hou r re st au ra nt s (Denny’s) before being bought out by Transworld Corporation in 1979 for $80 million, more than a quarter of a billion 2013 dollars. Bradshaw became a vice president of Transworld and later formed his own capital corporation; Richardson bought a Rolls-Royce and founded the Carolina Panthers. That’s the sort of mouth-watering success story that lures many entrepreneurs and wannabes. But before you get to the pot of gold, you have to ride the rainbow. In the past fifty years, since the frugal and the curious first started flocking to the instant burger joints, franchising has become a complicated undertaking. (Burger King’s Full Disclosure Document runs to more than a thousand pages.) Above all, franchising is not a venture for those who are low on liquidity. You could qualify for a single Subway franchise with a personal net worth of as little as $80,000 and at least $30,000 in the bank, but McDonald’s requires a minimum reserve of

But before you get to the pot of gold, you have to ride the rainbow.

Practical solUtions For YoUr BUsiness

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November 2013 | capitalatplay.com 89

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$750,000 in personal funds—and it has to be your own money, not a credit line or proceeds from a loan. Obviously, if you’re looking to establish multiple franchises, those numbers get multiplied by however many stores are involved. Some chains, such as Wendy’s, are presently only accepting applications from

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get a franchise award can be steep indeed. Financial analyst Chris Nichols says that in many cases it’s a case of what the parent company thinks the traffic will bear. “The corporate office can charge whatever they feel like,” he says, “and it can be a lot.” This is partly because the parent company is looking for a cushion in order to keep up appearances for a time in case a store under-performs. For obvious reasons, fast food corporations don’t like to see empty spaces in franchise parking lots. “Protecting the brand and seeing it succeed are crucial to parent companies,” Nichols says, and it’s up to the troops on the ground—the individual franchisee and his employees—to maintain the “brand promise,” which means “being able to fund the buying of equipment and intangible things like going the extra mile to pick up smashed cups in the parking lot.” Bottom line: your startup costs for a single fast-food franchise, no matter what you’re selling, can easily range from a quarter to a couple of million dollars.

“Protecting the brand and seeing it succeed are crucial to parent companies,” Nichols says, and it’s up to the troops on the ground—the individual franchisee and his employees—to maintain the “brand promise.” entrepreneurs who intend to open multiple stores; Pizza Hut currently requires a commitment to open at least two outlets. Furthermore, an impeccable financial profile only gets your foot in the door. The amount you actually have to pay to

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And what kind of return can you expect for all this capital outlay? In 2010, according to the National Restaurant Association, across-the-board fast food sales per store averaged $753,000. The top earner that year was Chick-fil-A with an average per location of $2.7 million; just behind was McDonald’s, at $2.5 million. But a very large percentage of that incoming money goes right back out again, in the form of wages, taxes, rent, company royalties and co-op advertising, maintenance … you get the idea. The cold fact is that the profit margin for a single fast-food franchise is pretty slim. Not everybody gets that, least of all the labor unions, who during the past year have sponsored a series of one-day work stoppages around the country. Their efforts culminated in a day-long strike at fast food outlets in some 60 cities on August 29, organized by a public relations agency whose clients include the Service Employees International Union and the United Food & Commercial Workers. Some members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus also threw their weight behind the walkouts. Demonstrators called for a minimum wage of $15 per hour (the national average is $9.03) and accused franchisers in general of grossly underpaying their workers while rewarding their CEO’s

with bazillion-dollar compensation packages. In reply, the Employment Policies Institute pointed out that many fast-food operations are in fact operated by single-unit proprietors who may be just squeaking by. So getting involved in the fast-food franchise business is not only a takes-money-to-make-money proposition, it also involves potentially entering a sociopolitical minefield. Ironically, since there’s safety in numbers, the best insurance against both pitfalls is to get in with as much capital as possible and put as many franchise chips on the table as your money will buy. Or, as the saying goes, supersize.

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November 2013 | capitalatplay.com 91

CapitalAdventurist

Rock Climbing above your neck of the woods

by eric crews

For local rock climber Ron Funderburke, who works full time with Fox Mountain Guides, there is a fine line between work and play. As a climber, he loves to spend his time exploring the many towering rock faces in Western North Carolina. As a guide, he enjoys taking his clients up many of those same faces and watching as they enjoy the experiences he has come to cherish. W hen asked when he first began working as a rock-climbing guide for a living, Funderburke, who works as the senior guide at Fox Mountain Guides in Brevard, provided a cryptic answer. “Well, I think if you had asked me when I was 22 what I was doing, when I was working in the climbing gym teaching the belay class and once in a while I’d meet a climber in the gym who’d say, ‘Can you take Jon climbing this weekend?’ I’d take him out and we’d go sport climbing. If you’d have asked me then I would have told you I was a guide, but the truth is that I was not. I was just a guy working at a gym who got a free lunch now and then to take kids climbing.” 92 CA ITALat LAY | November 2013

Instead, Funderburke believes he first became a real rock-climbing guide in 2004 when the American Mountain Guides Association certified him as a top rope site manager. “From that time on I think I was working more legitimately as a professional,” he said. “From that point forward I placed a real premium on training certification and I did some kind of programming every year after that, which I continue to this day.” Funderburke, an athletic young man in his early 30’s who now frequently guides his clients on rock climbing excursions up Looking Glass and other large rock faces in the area, said

the process of becoming a guide for him was “gradual, but serendipitous.” “I wanted to be outside teaching climbing and I had to pay rent, so what was I going to do?” he asked. He did the only thing he knew to do that could satiate his monetary needs while allowing him the freedom to pursue his love of climbing: he became a guide. The process of becoming a guide took him from employment at a climbing gym to summer camps to a boarding school, where he taught kids rock climbing for three years. After that he began working for Fox Mountain Guides and other outdoor recreation institutions in the state such as Outward Bound. Since then he has led hundreds of trips up Looking Glass Rock, day-long climbs up Whiteside Mountain, established first ascents at nearby climbing destinations Laurel Knob and Rumbling Bald, and enjoyed nearly every minute of every day he has been doing it. Funderburke, who received his undergraduate degree from UNC Chapel Hill and has a Master’s Degree in English from Appalachian State University, initially got his start rock climbing during his undergraduate studies, one year of which took him to France where he first tried climbing. “My roommates there were rock climbers,” he recalled. “I was not a rock climber. I enjoyed trekking and I enjoyed the mountains, but I thought rock climbing was kind of silly.” “They invited me to try rock climbing and I fell in love,” he recalled. “I’ve been rock climbing ever since.” In rock climbing, Funderburke said he found an “immediate and inescapable passion.” When he returned to North Carolina he began exploring the many possibilities of climbing across the mountains of North Carolina before beginning ice climbing and mountain climbing. “Now I just love climbing all of it: mountains and snow and ice and rock,” he said. Funderburke said he loves being a rock-climbing guide because he gets to share what he loves about the mountains and rock faces in this area with his clients. “When I go do these climbs now, when I climb The Nose

“They invited me to try rock climbing and I fell in love,” he recalled. “I’ve been rock climbing ever since.”

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ron funderburke decides his

next move as he scales the moutainside (a route of Looking Glass Rock), it is so pedestrian for me,” he said. “That’s kind of tragic. I miss the excitement of doing it for the first time. So for me, taking people climbing is a way to sort of vicariously re-experience those climbs and to feel that excitement again.” “I love to watch them experience that,” he said. Funderburke said his early years as a young rock climber were formative, but also dangerous because he learned on his own many of the important lessons and safety techniques he now teaches others. “I was in more danger than I ever needed to be,” he said. “It’s just not necessary to have such a rocky learning curve. If I had sought the services of a professional, I could have moved quicker and more safely to the skillset that I needed.” Funderburke said knowing the danger he was in makes him appreciate how lucky he was to “get through that process unscathed.” Now, Funderburke said he wants to provide an alternative to others. “There’s a good way,” he said. “Take a skills course and work with an instructor, and you’ll get to where you want to be faster and more safely.” Funderburke said some of his previous clients have now gone on to be experienced rock climbers and even guides who frequently take on big challenges and succeed. “It’s satisfying,” he said. “Our mission here at Fox Mountain Guides is to bring people into our climbing community, and we succeed at that on a regular basis.” While Funderburke has had plenty of memorable experiences as a rock guide, he said it is hard to pinpoint one in particular. He does recall, however, a young man who began climbing with him years ago. Funderburke took the young man climbing for four days, which culminated with an ascent of the Original Route on Whitesides—a 1,000-foot rock face renowned as being one of the most challenging in the area. Funderburke said

94 CA ITALat LAY | November 2013

seeing his client progress from someone who didn’t know how to climb very well to someone who could tackle a difficult rock climb with such towering exposure and challenging terrain was an experience as a guide he’ll never forget. “He absolutely loved it,” he recalled. But becoming a guide wasn’t easy. In order to become certified, Funderburke has taken countless hours of instructional courses, honed his skills as a climber and learned from some of the most knowledgeable guides around, which include his instructor and employer Adam Fox, who owns Fox Mountain Guides. The first step is to love rock climbing, Funderburke said. “The foundation of what we do is to have a great rock climbing skillset,” he said. “But that’s just the beginning.” The next step is to seek “the training and certification” necessary to get a job. Funderburke said learning the fundamentals of rock climbing can provide a basis for guiding trips on outdoor rock climbs, but the process can be long, difficult and costly. “A lot of climbers complain, ‘That learning just takes forever and it’s so expensive,’” he said. “But it doesn’t take as long and it’s not as expensive as an undergraduate degree.” Funderburke said while people receive higher education to become accountants or lab technicians, the same should be true for mountain guides. “We’re professionals in this industry, too, so it requires a similar commitment of time and money,” he said. In order to stay on “top of his game,” Funderburke takes classes yearly to hone his skills and further his knowledge base. He then takes what he knows and what he learns each year and passes it on to his clients who come from all over the country to take courses at Fox Mountain Guides. While bigger mountains and harder climbs loom beyond the mountains of North Carolina and beckon Funderburke to explore, for now, he is content to continue being a rock-climbing guide in Brevard. “I’m happy,” he said. “I really enjoy the work that I do. I make enough money to be comfortable in our house and to provide everything we need in our family. So I’m not really in a hurry to do something else right now.” But, eventually, Funderburke said he believes he’ll pursue some of the bigger mountains found outside of North Carolina.

“So for me, taking people climbing is a way to sort of vicariously re-experience those climbs and to feel that excitement again.”

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“I’m going to want to seek training, work and certification in alpine terrain,” he said. “But just not right now. Right now I’m a certified rock guide in North Carolina, and I’m feeling like I’m kind of at the top of my game. And that’s a good place to be.”

Climbing Destinations in Western North Carolina looking gl ass rock , breVard , nc : Nestled in the heart of the vast Pisgah

National Forest in the southern Appalachian mountains, Looking Glass Rock is among the best North Carolina rock climbing areas. The 500-foot-tall granite dome has been drawing North Carolina rock climbers for nearly a half-century, thanks to the diversity of climbing styles found at the ﬁve different rock climbing areas. When it comes to traditional climbing, North Carolina is renowned for its bold, ground up climbs that oftentimes tread a thin line between frightening and fun. While Looking Glass is certainly no exception to the standard, the variety of climbing found at the four different areas provide a wide-range of classic climbs of all grades, from 5.5 slabs to 5.13+ testpieces.

ship rock , gr andfather mountain , nc : With stellar rock, excellent gear, and incredible views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, it’s easy to see why most climbers in the North Carolina High Country consider Ship Rock one of the best options for climbing. The 150-foot-tall quartzite wall offers climbers the chance to air it out on classics such as Boardwalk (5.7), Linn Cove Lullaby (5.10) and B.O.G. Man (5.10b). Be sure to venture uphill to check out Harpoon (5.10) before heading to the upper tier for a lap on the short, but classic, Edge of a Dream (5.7). rumbling bald , hickory nut gorge , nc : With over 1,000 boulder

D O N AT E T O D AY Help us guarantee a safe place for thousands of homeless pets. Donations are used to provide medical care, food, and shelter for hundreds of animals in our fosters homes and Adoption Center. Donations are tax-deductible.

828-505-3440 | www.bwar.org 31 Glendale Ave, Asheville NC 96 CA ITALat LAY | November 2013

problems and hundreds of routes, there are few places in the southeast that can match the number of climbs and boulder problems at Rumbling Bald. The history of climbing here is a little hazy, but the ﬁrst ascents were apparently done in the early 1970s in what’s now known as the Flakeview Area. In the mid-70s, route development began at the Cereal Buttress, with ﬁrst ascents like Shredded Wheat being made by Jeep Gaskin. Other Rumbling Bald pioneers include Grover Cable, Don Hunley, and Sean and Shane Cobourn. The ‘80s were a time of big growth at areas like Hanging Chain Wall; the 5.12b route of the same name was at one time the hardest line in North Carolina. In the ‘90s, Rumbling Bald was closed for several years due to access issues with neighboring landowners. In the late ‘90s, however, the crag was reopened, with bouldering gaining a predominant popularity among climbers. Most recently, Sean Cobourn and partners have been busy exploring and establishing new routes on Rumbling Bald’s north face. At present, land purchases by the Carolina Climbers Coalition, combined with state plans for a Hickory Nut Gorge State Park, make the outlook excellent for continued access.

To find other outdoor activities in Western North Carolina, visit capitalatplay.com Eric Crews is a writer and photographer who writes about outdoor adventure sports in the mountains of North Carolina. Follow his adventures online at: www.landofskyadventures.com

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ASHEVILLE ASHEVILLE

Historic Historic Biltmore Biltmore Village Village 99 Kitchin Kitchin Place Place 828-274-2630 828-274-2630

STORE STORE HOURS HOURS

Mon.-Fri. Mon.-Fri. 9:30am-7pm 9:30am-7pm Sat. 9:30am-6pm Sat. 9:30am-6pm Sun. Sun. 12pm-5pm 12pm-5pm

T T H H E E

E E X X P P E E R R T T

II N N

M M E E N N ’’ S S

A A P P P P A A R R E E L L November 2013 | capitalatplay.com 97

Events

Nov november 1 & 2

NC Haunted Farm 624 townsend rd., hendersonville, nc This Haunted Farm sits on a mysterious, blood-soaked stretch of land where the deranged Missy Mae Lively eternally pines for her lost groom. The 50 minutes of frightful fun include three main parts to the Farm: The Woods, The Farm, and The Haunted Hayride

$16 (cash only ) 828 -702-7911 | www. nchauntedfarm .com november 1-december 31

Golden Age: “Coming of the Railroad” Exhibit wed -sat 10 am - 5pm | sun 1pm - 5pm henderson county heritage museum , hendersonville, nc Apple Valley Model Railroad Club’s replica of the Saluda

Mountain Grade, the steepest main-line standard gauge railroad in the United States, will be on display, along with other artifacts, as well as the Civil War Exhibit, artifacts of military weaponry, and uniforms dating back to the war.

free | 828 - 694 -1619 www. hendersoncountymuseum .com november 2 & 3

Weaverville Art Safari: Studio Tour 10 am - 6 pm weaverville, nc Twice a year, more than 40 artists of the Weaverville Art Safari invite you to visit studios and galleries in the town of Weaverville and the surrounding rural areas. This exclusive weekend event is an opportunity to interact with many artists who call WNC home and see the process behind the development of their critically acclaimed works of art. The Art Safari provides a chance to wind through the backroads and main streets of Weaverville, Alexander and Barnardsville on a self-guided driving tour. Artists are on hand to discuss their creative processes

Town & Country Furniture 106 Sutton Avenue • Black Mountain

98 CA ITALat LAY | November 2013

828-669-0075 www.towncountryfurniture.net

So you know when and where

and exhibit their latest creations. Works of art showcased during the event include pottery, handmade glass, sculpture, jewelry, furniture, paintings, drawings and fiber art. Select studios offer public demonstrations and door prizes.

www.weaverwilleartsafari .com november 9

2nd Annual Tryon Beer Fest noon - 8 pm

tryon depot plaza in downtown tryon , nc More than thirty local/regional craft beers will be on tap, chilled and ready for sampling. For those who prefer wine, German wines will also be featured for sampling. Juicy brats, potato salad and sauerkraut along with numerous German desserts will also be available while listening to live German-style music. There will also be an all-you-can eat oyster roast (4-7 pm), delicious Brezels from the Underground Baking Co. in Hendersonville and pizza by the slice from Bucks Pizza of Tryon. The event will occur rain or shine under a tent. This is a 21+ over event, and ID is required at the gate for entrance. All

Events

proceeds from this event will go to “Main Streetscape” projects to improve and beautify downtown Tryon. Event ticket includes unlimited beer and/or wine samplings, a commemorative cup and all day entertainment. Be sure to note that limited tickets are available for the oyster roast.

tickets: $30 advance, $40 at the gate designated drivers $10 pre-sale premium package $50 www.tryonbeerfest.com november 7

A Renaissance Masked Ball for All 7pm - 9pm the venue, 21 north market st, asheville, nc The Masked Ball will feature music by Hank West and the Smoking Hots, dancing, and skits by the Montford Park Players. The ticket price includes wine by Skyland Distributing and beer provided by Catawba Brewing, plus tasty food donated by local Asheville restaurants. Raffle tickets can be purchased for $5 each or five for $20. There will also be a silent auction.

One All Souls Crescent • Historic Biltmore Village (Directly across from J. Crew) • Asheville, NC • 828.505.8140 www.palmvillageasheville.com www.facebook.com/Palm.Village.Asheville

November 2013 | capitalatplay.com 99

Items to win include four day passes to Disney World Orlando, a meal and wine at Biltmore, two full-length mink coats, and tickets to Asheville area attractions. Attendees for the event are encouraged to bring a mask. However, for those who do not have one, masks will be provided.

$20 in advance; $25 at the door | 828 -245 - 5146 november 9

“Measured in Blood” historic courthouse, main st., hendersonville, nc 2pm

Henderson County Heritage Museum hosts “Measured in Blood,” Henderson County’s role in the American Civil War, illustrated presentation and book signing by author and Civil War historian Terrell Garren.

828 - 694 -1619 www. hendersoncountymuseum .com

november 9

Van Wingerden International Open House 10 am -3 pm highway 191 (haywood rd & jeffress rd) , mills river , nc Here, with acres of poinsettias in full bloom, employees will be on hand to share how the plants are grown using environmental friendly technology and answer questions about greenhouses.

828 - 891- 4116

november 9 -janurary 4

30th Annual Candlelight Evenings at Biltmore 5pm - 9pm one lodge street, asheville, nc As daylight fades into dusk, candlelight and firelight accent Biltmore House’s extravagant holiday décor, accented by live

WNC Veterinary Hospital

Beretta Shotguns:

A name you trust on the range or in the field. Your Beretta dealer in Asheville:

Guns ‘n Gear 828-633-1806 www.gunsngearwnc.com

100 CA ITALat LAY | November 2013

Drake

Your other family doctor. 2 Pond Street, Arden, NC

(Located near intersec

28704 • 828-684-3531

tion of Long Shoals and

www.wncveterinaryhosp

Hendersonville Road)

ital.com

Events entertainment and outside illuminations. Biltmore House glows with holiday spirit, appearing much as it would have at the turn of the 19th century. Carols from choirs and ensembles fill the halls with festive sounds. Candlelight Christmas Evenings tickets are available by reservation only, and include a selfguided candlelight tour of Biltmore House, next-day visit to the gardens, Antler Hill Village and Biltmore Winery. Advance reservations are required.

www. biltmore.com november 9

Yamato: The Drummers of Japan 4 pm - 8 pm diana wortham theatre at pack place

The highly skilled men and women of Yamato: The Drummers of Japan put their souls into performing on a mind-altering array of traditional percussion instruments in their 20th Anniversary Tour performance Rojyoh – The Beat on the Road.

tickets: regular $30 , children $15 student $25 828 -257- 4530 | www. dwtheatre.com

W A T E R

M A R K D O R S E Y D E S I G N S

november 10

Brevard Philharmonic: Chinese Tchaikovsky 3 pm - 5 pm

porter center for performing arts at brevard college brevard, nc

From distant China, Brevard Philharmonic brings cellist, Jiapeng Nie, and guest conductor, Zhonghui Dai, to the Porter Center stage. Rising young cellist Jiapeng Nie began cello lessons at the age of nine, and has since studied in Canada, Singapore, and Germany while performing as soloist throughout China. Mr. Nie will perform Variations on a Rococo Theme by Peter Illich Tchaikovsky. Guest Conductor Zhonghui Dai is Chief Conductor of the Shenzhen Symphony and Guest Conductor of the Tianjin Symphony. Mr. Dai will lead the orchestra in Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4. Maestro, Donald Portnoy, is Artistic Director and Conductor of Brevard Philharmonic.

$30 - $35 for adults $5 for students 18 & under , or with a valid student id card www. brevardphilharmonic .org

C O L O R S

M O U N TA I N E S C A P E P O O L Tu r k e y C r e e k • L e i c e s t e r, N o r t h C a r o l i n a

November 2013 | capitalatplay.com 101 Mark Dorsey Designs and Medallion Pool Company • Asheville, North Carolina • MedallionPool.com • 828-684-5381

november 16 & 17

Blue to Black Studio Tour 10 am - 6 pm east asheville, black mountain , swannanoa , fairview, ridgecrest, and old fort More than 40 artists, studios and art venues will be open to the public for the weekend stroll and studio tour. The two-day event is a chance to visit working artist studios and downtown Black Mountain art venues, and to participate in demonstrations, workshops, studio tours, children’s crafts and live entertainment. Activities include an antique spinning wheel in Black Mountain, a glass blowing studio in Fairview, a 3D found-object art sculptor’s studio in East Asheville, a photographer’s studio with demonstrations in Old Fort, and tours of acrylic and pastel painters’ studios in Black Mountain as well as a Blacksmith’s workshop. Spinning wheel demonstrations, handspun yarns, art quilts, earthy ceramics and Arts and Crafts handmade chairs can also be discovered.

free | www. bluetoblackweekend.com

november 20 -january 2

National Gingerbread House Competition & Display sun -thurs , eXcept holidays , from 10 am -10 pm the grove park inn , asheville, nc Competitors from around the country travel with their edible creations to be a part of the Annual National Gingerbread House Competition.

828 -252-2711 eXt 8045 free (parking charges where applicable ) november 22

Brevard’s 4th Friday Gallery Walk 5pm - 9pm 349 s . caldwell street brevard, nc Enjoy an evening stroll in downtown Brevard, North Carolina as you explore the art galleries, art stores, retail stores and restaurants that are staying open late on the 4th Friday from April - November. (December will be held on the 3rd Friday) Experience art, music and wine. A brochure for the gallery walks can be found at any of the participating galleries or at the Chamber of Commerce.

828 - 884 -2787 www. artsofbrevard.org (art tours)

102 CA ITALat LAY | November 2013

Events november 23

Shakespeare on Trial 8 pm diana wortham theatre at pack place This is your chance to see the performance that brought down the house on its last visit to Diana Wortham Theatre. Writer Bill Shakespeare encounters four of his own most famous characters (Macbeth, Iago, Hamlet, and Juliet) up-close, personal, and ticked-off. In this highly energetic and funny play featuring some of the Bard’s best quotes and speeches, Shakespeare must defend his own writing as the four characters challenge him to write in a modern way, arguing that no one really understands his plays anymore. You’ll help make the case for his lasting significance as you laugh so hard you bring Shakespeare back from the dead...Brilliantly entertaining!

tickets: regular $30 , student $25 , child $15 828 -257- 4530 | www. dwtheatre.com . november 29 & 30

Hard Candy Christmas Arts & Crafts Show 10 am - 5pm ramsey center at western carolina university, cullowhee, nc As a perennial favorite for unique regional arts and crafts at great prices, you will find over 100 potters, glass artists, wood craft, folk dolls, and hard to find Old World Santa’s and ornaments at this event.

$4 adult weekend pass , children under 12 free mountainartisans . net

november 29

Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony 5pm - 8 pm historic courthouse sQuare on main st, hendersonville, nc You can continue to get in the holiday spirit by drinking hot cocoa and listening to carolers during this festive annual tree lighting.

828 -233 -3216 www. downtownhendersonville.org

Dec december 7 & 14

French Broad River Garden Club Foundation Greens Market 9am -2pm french broad river garden club , 1000 hendersonville road, asheville, nc For many people this Greens Market both defines and inspires the spirit of Christmas. With its fresh-cut trees, handmade wreaths, and homemade baked goods, it has the unmistakable sights and scents of this joyous holiday season. Decorative garlands and greenery laced with red ribbon, individually designed nutcrackers, hand-turned wood bowls, local pottery and ironwork will be available. For 86 years this event has provided area shoppers with unique offerings created by local craftsmen and women. Well known as “Clem’s Cabin,” the property is located across the Hendersonville road from Browntown Road in Biltmore Forest. This event is sponsored by the French Broad River Garden Club Foundation.

www. fbrgcf.org

O we N s Or C H iDs

Try our exchange program:

Bring any of our orchids back and receive 50% credit on a new blooming orchid. (certain restrictions apply)

for more information call Sales Manager Shelia Nicholson at 828-242-6732

115 Orchid Heights Drive • Pisgah Forest, NC 828-877-3313 • owensorchids.com • owensorchids@citcom.net

at the Weinhaus Artisan cheese, meat and gourmet products with a local ﬂair Sandwiches • Cheese Plates • Wine • Beer Gift Baskets • Picnics • Party Platters • Private Parties Located in Downtown Asheville, near Pritchard Park 86 Patton Avenue, Asheville • 828.484.1586 • csasheville.com November 2013 | capitalatplay.com 103

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m new to the neighborhood. Stop by my new office for a free insurance quote and to find out how Allstate can help protect you. Bill Shytle (828) 684-8582 2170 Hendersonville Road Arden billshytle@allstate.com

Subject to terms, conditions and availability. ÂŠ 2011 Allstate Insurance Company. 104 CA ITALat LAY | November 2013

peopleATPLAY 1

2. 3. 4.

The 2013 Root Cause Award winners celebrate at the ceremony held on October 3. Left-to-right: Hans Doellgast with his daughter Oriah Sparrow, Bob Gale, Stanley Briggs, & Lang Hornthal, Root Cause founder & owner of Appalachian Designs. Joseph Lalley, former headmaster of St. Genevieve-of-thePines/Gibbons Hall at ribbon cutting ceremony. Mariano deGuzman of Appalatch & Kurt Mann of Climate Alive. Sadie Adams wedding to Adam Walters (Photo by Shaina DeCiryan Photography.)

Laralyn RiverWind of Native Touch & Sara Day Evans of Accelerating Appalachia. 6. Ingrid (Allstaedt) Kirtley wedding to John Kirtley at Homewood (Photo by Mozingo Photography) 7-8. Asheville painter, Colleen Webster (#7), painting one of her “Slice of Life” collection at the James Beard re-creation dinner (#8) at the Red Stag restaurant, located in the Grand Bohemian Hotel located in the historic Biltmore Village.

November 2013 | capitalatplay.com 105

spark creations 4.92ct Cabochon Moonstone topped with a 0.48ct Cabochon Pear Sapphire surrounded by 0.83tw of Round Diamonds.

$6395.00

S U I T E 130, 43 TOW N S Q UA R E B LV D, A S H E V I L L E , N C 28803 â&#x20AC;˘ 828 - 676 -162 5 106 CA ITALat LAY | November 2013

Business Banks On Experience.

Charles Shepherd

John York

Ragan Ward

Kelly Leonard

Leasing Executive

Vice President and Commercial Banking Manager

Vice President and Commercial Banker

Meet the commercial banking team at Forest Commercial. Each of these professionals combines extensive market knowledge with comprehensive banking experience to give you the advice and guidance you need. They’re backed by local management that offers the advantages of prompt responses and practical solutions. For a reliable source of capital – and a closer banking relationship – talk to Forest Commercial.

ForestCommercialBank.com Asheville: 1127 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, NC 28803 • 828-255-5711 Hendersonville: 218 North Main Street, Hendersonville, NC 28792 • 828-233-0900 Charlotte: Loan Production Office, 122 Cherokee Road, Charlotte, NC 28207 • 980-321-5946 Member FDIC

An Asheville-Based Bank Serving Commercial, Professional And Personal Clients.

BauerFinancial Five-Star Rating

November 2013 | capitalatplay.com 107

FEEDING THE COMMUNITY FEEDING THE COMMUNITY Ingles has made a commitment to support organizations that help our community get the food and resources they need Ingles has mademembers a commitment to support organizations that help our community members get the food and resources they need

HUNGER HAS HAS A CURE HUNGER A CURE Through the assistance of local agencies, providing fresh, nutritious food to

Through the assistance of local agencies, providing fresh, nutritious food to people struggling with hunger people struggling with hunger

FORYOUR YOUR HEALTH HEALTH FOR Ingles supports organizations that provide ďŹ nancial and emotional support for

Ingles supports organizations that provide ďŹ nancial and emotional support for community members living with serious illness. community members living with serious illness.

TOOL S FOR TOOL S SCHOOLS FOR

SCHOOLS

VALUABLE LEARNING TOOLS

Ingles Markets has contributed over 10 million dollars to schools to purchase VALUABLE LEARNING TOOLS valuable learning tools and equipment.

Ingles Markets has contributed over 10 million dollars to schools to purchase valuable learning tools and equipment.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

The BackPack Bunch provides food for students to take home on weekends FOOD FOR THOUGHT when they otherwise would not eat.

The BackPack Bunch provides food for students to take home on weekends when they otherwise would not eat.

108 CA ITALat LAY | November 2013