Fall business comings and goings across the Greater Outer Banks

Food truck commissary coming to Camden; new plant store opens in downtown Elizabeth City

The operator of a popular food truck is opening a commissary in the former Track One Restaurant in Camden.

Mr. Joe’s Fun Food has a permanent location at Morris Farm in Barco, is a regular at Seven Sounds Brewing in Downtown Elizabeth City, and makes the rounds to many events in the region.

They feature Philly cheesesteaks, soft grilled pretzels, fresh squeezed lemonade and other fare, and will offer space at the commissary to other food trucks and catering companies in search of a base kitchen.

For more information, drop them an email at mrjoesfunfood@gmail.com.

Now open at 114 North McMorrine Street in Elizabeth City, Roots Plant Company came from owner and Navy veteran Molly Hoffman finding a new hobby during the pandemic “not knowing it would bloom into an all-out passion that continues to grow.”

“The name “Roots” for our plant shop is a tribute to the foundational concept of our business. It symbolizes the deep connection between plants and the Earth through their roots, which are the anchor and life source of every plant. Just like how a strong root system provides stability and nourishment to a plant, our shop aims to be the stable foundation for plant enthusiasts, beginner plant parents, and everyone in between; providing them with not only an amazing selection of beautiful plants, pots, and accessories, but also the knowledge and support they need to nurture their new green family members.”

Not only does Roots offer a wide variety of flora and all the supplies to care for them, they are also featuring pottery from local artists that are perfect to display in your home or office.

For more info, check them out at https://www.rootsplantco.com/, on Facebook and Instagram.

Oct. 31, 2023
Fork’et Me Not voted fav new food at N.C. State Fair; Old Colony Smokehouse heading to former Chicken Kitchen

The North Carolina State Fair seems to always find new ways to delight the wide variety of taste buds of around one million people each year.

And this year, it’s Outer Banks family-owned and operated food truck Fork’et Me Not that came home with the People’s Choice Award Winner for their steak bombz.

Think of it as a Philly cheese steak stuffed in a puff pastry, then loaded into a palm-sized container that’s perfect for walking around the fairgrounds in Raleigh.

That’s three years in a row Fork’et Me Not has taken home top honors at a state fair, after winning at the 2022 West Virginia State Fair, and being named the best commercial vendor at the 2021 N.C. Mountain State Fair.

Fork’et Me Not works out of South Beach Takeout, Catering, & Delivery in Nags Head, which serves as their commissary and takeout restaurant.

Recently named by The News and Observer as the only Greater Outer Banks barbecue restaurant that is “defining North Carolina barbecue”, Old Colony Smokehouse in Edenton recently announced they will be heading to a vacant space that once turned out one-of-a-kind fried chicken.

Bertie County-native Adam Hughes, the winner of a special North Carolina barbecue edition of Food Network’s “Chopped,” offers a new school barbecue destination that does everything the hard way.

Served market-style Thursday, Friday and Saturday starting at 11 a.m. until everything is gone, it’s all made in-house, right down to the pickles and array of sausages at their current location on West Queen Street along Pembroke Creek.

But it’s their Texas-style brisket that’s a must have, which they plea with customers not to drown in sauce. Because it doesn’t need it!

Now they will soon be heading up U.S. 17 Business to the former home of The Chicken Kitchen, which closed last year after 50 years in business.

Oct. 9, 2023
Elizabeth City Downtown moves to Flora Robinson Home; Newly-expanded Kellogg Design Center holds grand re-opening

During the October FirstFriday Art Walk, Elizabeth City Downtown Inc. celebrated their move earlier this fall to the Flora Robinson Home at 201 East Main Street.

The Robinson House, built in 1914 as a wedding gift from Benjamin Blades to his daughter Ivy Blades Robinson and her husband Charles Oakley Robinson, holds significant historical importance in Elizabeth City.

With its prime location across from the Pasquotank County Courthouse, the house stands as a symbol of the city’s rich historic heritage.

As a downtown revitalization program with 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, ECDI is an accredited Main Street program through the N.C. Main Street & Rural Planning Center, as well as Main Street America. ECDI’s mission is to be a catalyst for the revitalization of Downtown Elizabeth City, promoting economic growth while maintaining the area’s historical integrity.

Kellogg Design Center in Kitty Hawk celebrated the grand re-opening of their newly expanded showroom last week.

Serving the community for over 20 years, Kellogg Design Center has provided an extensive range of services for both renovation and new construction projects. They are part of the Kellogg Supply family, the last remaining locally-owned home improvement and building supply firm on the Outer Banks.

“Our design team is waiting to assist you and provide the best customer service you’ll find anywhere,” said manager Sean McReynolds “We offer cabinets, countertops, flooring, lighting, plumbing fixtures, and the expertise to design and install it all.”

Sept. 26, 2023
The Cottage Shop celebrates re-grand opening at Outer Banks Mall; new sign for The Saltbox Cafe; Royal Farms makes donation to Corolla Wild Horse Fund

The wind and rain from Tropical Storm Ophelia didn’t stop the Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce from helping The Cottage Shop celebrate with a ribbon cutting for their re-grand opening at the Outer Banks Mall.

Jim Gilreath, chairman of the Chamber Board and Attorney at Rose, Harrison, Gilreath & Powers, P.C. congratulated Joe Gaca and Chris O’Neill on their location in Nags Head that has grown to be the home of Outer Banks style for full-time and seasonal residents and visitors, featuring home accents, unique coastal gifts, beach fashion, holiday décor and outdoor furniture.

The Cottage Shop is part of the Kellogg Supply family, the last locally-owned and operated building materials and home centers on the Outer Banks.

After celebrating their 10th season tucked away in Colington and ranking 21st on Yelp’s first ever Top 100 list of restaurants in North Carolina, The Saltbox Cafe is getting ready to roll out a new addition along the still-being-renovated Colington Road just in time for fall.

Royal Farms, which opened its first North Carolina location in Grandy back in April, presented a big check to the Corolla Wild Horse Fund on Tuesday.

During the convenience store chain’s Chickenpalooza promotion in July and August, a charity located in each of the seven states across the mid-Atlantic where Royal Farms are located was designated to get 10-cents from every two piece meal sold during the two month period.

Customers then went online to vote for one of the nonprofits to receive the largest portion of the donation, and after all was said and done, a total of $7,275.80 was raised for the Corolla Wild Horse Fund.

Sept. 20, 2023
Child-focused dentistry now available in Elizabeth City, Edenton preps to roll out social district

Dental Transformations, which offers services to all ages at a pair of practices in Elizabeth City, one in Moyock and one in Coinjock, opened Kids Dental Transformations at The Shoppes at Tanglewood off Halstead Boulevard Extended on Monday.

For more information, visit DentalTransformations.com. To make an appointment, call 252.335.4341

The Town of Edenton is getting closer to rolling out its downtown social district, and took to Facebook on Wednesday to answer a few questions and pass along reminders about some of the rules.

Following more than two months of deliberations, the Edenton Town Council in August approved a specific area where alcoholic drinks can be carried by restaurant patrons while browsing shops and other establishments nearby.

The social district will cover a portion of the historic downtown along the South Broad Street commercial corridor, between Queen Street and the Edenton Bay waterfront.

But it will limited to just certain hours on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and town leaders have left open the option to shut down the social district if problems develop.

Edenton became the fifth northeastern North Carolina town or county, and one of the smallest municipalities in the entire state, to create a social district.

The other districts are located in Manteo, Corolla, Washington and Tarboro. Elizabeth City leaders are reportedly still working on a proposal.