Carrboro has hot growth spot
CARRBORO -- With a new business open this week and several more on the way, the corner of South Greensboro and Main streets is rapidly becoming the town's hottest spot for economic growth.
The Trading Post and Open Eye Café long have been mainstays of the intersection, but now a garden store, a restaurant and a furniture designer are joining those businesses as anchors of the corner.
Richard Quinn, a part owner of Fifth Season Gardening, said he recently moved his garden shop from Durham because of Carrboro's rich sense of community.
But the reason he chose his exact spot, behind the Trading Post and across from Open Eye, was the unique character of the building and the proximity to other downtown amenities such as Weaver Street Market.
Walking through the 5,200-square-foot store, it's easy to see why Quinn thought his business could find a home in Carrboro.
Between bags of bat guano and organic fertilizer lie rows of cultivated orchids and handcrafted flowerpots. The atmosphere is mellow and sunlight filters through windows dotted from floor to ceiling. In the back is a mini-greenhouse with house plans lined up for purchase.
Half of the shop is dedicated to the practice of hydroponics -- growing plants in nutrient-rich solutions rather than soil -- and grow lights and thriving plans can be found at any turn.
Quinn, who teaches English part-time, said he offers his customers a holistic approach to gardening, and sells everything you need to create a successful garden in your back yard or back acre.
The store originally was the back rooms of The Trading Post and one of the features that drew Quinn to the space was a fur vault. When remodeling, he split the space into two stories and now uses the top for an office and the ground level for a warehouse.
Bags of peat and fertilizer are now stacked where pelts once could be found.
Quinn said he expects the Carrboro community to welcome him and his wares with open arms. "The people here are looking for quality, well-made products," he explained. "The community fosters attention to good choices."
Town Economic Development Director James Harris said he thinks the community will support almost any enterprise that understands local residents.
"All of Carrboro is hot for development right now," he said, and added he's been excited about the amount of growth near the Greensboro and Main Street intersection.
Harris said he thinks the Trading Post building is a particularly lucrative site for business owners because of the amount of parking outside. In a town where parking can be hard to find, 64 easily accessible parking spaces are nothing to sniff at.
While most of the space in the Trading Post building has been spoken for -- with the restaurant and furniture designer moving in -- other spots along this stretch are still available.
Harris said he recently saw an application for the old hardware store site, about a block down from Open Eye Café.
Quinn said he is excited to be part of Carrboro's growth and hopes he can watch as more businesses sprout up near him.
"I just love this area," he said.
BY JENNIFER FERRIS : The Herald-Sun