The Biz

A green opportunity Brandon Meyer is a lucky man. At just 21, he's part of the Asheville Green Opportunities Training Team, a paid job training and placement program designed to give disconnected youth in the Asheville community a living-wage job in the fast growing green economy. A new lease: Brandon Meyer, apprentice with the Cox-Schepp […]

Taylor, McCurry recognized for excellence and innovation


As part of its entrepreneurial development program, AdvantageWest has presented two of the region’s most successful entrepreneurs with awards honoring excellence and innovation, including John Taylor, owner of Taylor’s toy stores in Biltmore Park, and Chris McCurry, co-founder of Highland Craftsmen Inc., in Spruce Pine. Taylor is shown in the funny propeller cap with his wife, Susie Taylor, and Mark Burrows, director of the Transylvania County Planning & Economic Development and a member of the AdvantageWest Board of Directors. (Photo by Kathi Petersen for AdvantageWest)

Moog moves digs

Moog Music is moving its retail operation, museum and famous factory from 2004 Riverside Drive to 160-170 Broadway the brick buildings just north of the Interstate 240 overpass and across the street from the ABC store. Musical and physical synthesis: A rendering of Moog Music's future headquarters at 160-170 Broadway in downtown Asheville. Image Courtesy […]

The Asheville miracle: A startling look at downtown 20 years ago and the folks who transforme­d it

The Grove Arcade, boarded up and abandoned, before it was renovated in the 1990s. About 200 people attended “The Asheville Miracle: The Revitalization of Downtown,” a presentation sponsored by the Downtown Asheville Residential Neighbors (DARN) on May 25 at Diana Wortham Theatre. Xpress reporter Michael Muller covered the meeting as it took place via Twitter, […]

Local pub to mark “Beer City USA” win

Reagan Kornegay, bartender at Barley’s Taproom, hoists a frosty pint of French Broad Rye Hopper. Barley’s will hold a special 5:30 pm toast tonight marking Asheville’s win of the highly-coveted “Beer City USA” crown for the second year in a row and they’ll offer $3 pints of all its local brews in celebration of the win. Photo taken and beer consumed by Michael Muller

The Biz: Running, spelling and Twittering

Chamber Challenge 5k on June 4 The Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce's "Chamber Challenge 5k" is coming up on Friday, June 4. It's designed to promote community wellness through friendly competition between businesses. It's Asheville's only team-based corporate race. The certified course begins and ends at the Asheville Chamber building and winds through the historic […]

Fanaticon 2010

Thousands of people turned out for Fanaticon, Asheville’s first-ever official comic book convention at the Asheville Art Museum on Pack Square. It ran from 10am to 5pm today.
Pictured above is Brandon Vinez of Asheville. For all you non-geeks, he’s dressed as The Flash. Be sure to also check out Halima Flynt’s great photos here.

Analysis: Low turnout impacts primary

With the electoral dust finally settling over the 11th Congressional District's Republican primary, the picture is becoming clearer as to just how voter turnout — and the lack of it — affected the race. The overall numbers were down from 2008, when 40,855 Republicans voted in a three-way primary featuring Carl Mumpower, Spence Campbell and […]

The Biz

Amy Gillespie and partner Jon Curtis opened Good Stuff in the sleepy town of Marshall with a simple idea: They'd stock their shelves with things they and their customers would need if the economy tanked. With less than $5,000 in startup capital and a tiny space (less than 300 square feet), their marketing strategy for […]

NRA, in response to candidate mailer, denies giving Eichenbaum an “A” rating

In response to a claim made by Dr. Dan Eichenbaum‘s campaign of an “A” rating given by the National Rifle Association, the nation’s largest gun lobby released a statement today denying that it had ever given out such out a rating to Eichenbaum or any candidate in the Republican primary race in North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District.