Western North Carolina was built by small farmers and small business owners with big skills and big dreams. Today, the region’s small business community is stronger than ever, and many startup companies are making big names for themselves locally, regionally, and across the country. Ahead of National Small Business Week (April 29–May 5, 2018), we… Read more »

Tucked away in the vast aisles and shelves of Malaprop’s Bookstore & Café in downtown Asheville is the 35-year history of a business that remains a vital economic and social beacon for a city that’s evolved exponentially over the last few decades. “We do feel like we’re an important part of the community. And we’re… Read more »

Photo Pillsbury.com   Though there are a number of math and science-related holidays in the calendar each year, Pi Day is objectively the best because you can celebrate with pie. The mathematical constant pi (π) represents the relationship between a circle’s diameter and its circumference, a ratio of 22 to 7. Since pi is generally… Read more »

In the 1980s, drivable suburban development saw great gains in market share as people scrambled to escape decaying urban cores and the crime and congestion that went with them. They escaped from concrete jungles to concrete savannas—vast sprawling communities of strip malls and never-full parking lots, or planned neighborhoods miles away from the nearest bus… Read more »

Driving around downtown Canton on a recent weekend, it was weird to have a hard time finding a parking space. In most Western North Carolina communities during the busy summer tourist season, this is the norm. But, for the blue-collar paper mill town of Canton, finding a parking spot has never been an issue. That… Read more »

“In jewelry, customers want someone they can trust, someone that’s fair and provides a good product.” —Tonya Marthaler   Entering its eighth year of operation, Marthaler Jewelers is looking to switch it up a bit. “We’ve experienced growth every year we’ve been open. And we started changing a lot of the things typical jewelry stores… Read more »

Beverly-Hanks President Neal Hanks, Jr. has delivered the 2017 End-of-Year Market Report. Watch the video below for his short report, or continue reading for a summation. 2017 End-of-Year Commercial Activity: 2017 was an incredible year for NAI Beverly-Hanks! The division sold and leased transactions totaling more than $100 million dollars—an all-time high! The WNC market was… Read more »

Zuma Coffee is more than Marshall, North Carolina’s unofficial meeting place and one of the most charming and delicious small businesses in the area. Zuma Coffee draws people from all over Western North Carolina in search of gold—Zuma Gold. “When we opened, we had our Zuma Gold cookie, we had chocolate chip, oatmeal raisins. Well,… Read more »

When you live in Asheville, NC, there’s rarely a reason to leave. After all, we have everything you could possibly want right here! From local produce and world-class cuisine to luxury shopping and amenities, the perfect holiday gift is literally right around the corner. But how can you possibly choose just one thing to purchase… Read more »

In work, in socialization, and in their living preferences, millennials are moving into urban spaces. But as we’ve mentioned before, this generation isn’t interested in a lifestyle built from cold steel and concrete. Instead, this largest share of the American workforce is focused on green living and mixed-use spaces, experiential environments designed to enhance the… Read more »