Restaurants getting high ranks, changing hands, or closing altogether, visits from a viral music sensation and stars from college basketball, disruption of the main link from the mid-Atlantic to the Greater Outer Banks, and the long history of these shores.
There will be many things 2023 will be remembered for on the Outer Banks and in northeastern North Carolina. Too many to give full justice in a single run-down.
Some of the big stories we covered this year include the long-awaited opening of Target in Kill Devil Hills, the opening of the first Royal Farms in North Carolina, groundbreaking for the state’s first WaWa and confirmation of the chain’s expansion plans in Elizabeth City, and tween/teen-focused retailer FiveBelow opened stores in Elizabeth City and Southern Shores.
We rolled out series that featuring how a variety of Greater Outer Banks Entrepreneurs have found success, and the many organizations that are building and shaping our community.
While stories on dining across the Greater Outer Banks had the most entries in our Top 10, there were a number of others that made news with new owners or new concepts or new locations.
Back in February, we gave you an exclusive first look into the transformation of the former Elizabeth City High School/Middle School into Betsy Town Flats that is nearly complete. In the fall, we were on the scene as the National Park Service tore down two of the nearly two dozen homes in Rodanthe that are threatened by erosion.
And it was a busy hurricane season that thankfully went relatively well for us. Although, as usual, we took our share of coastal storms throughout the year, including one that hit this just past week and isolated Hatteras Village and Ocracoke for a short time.
Thanks for making us your source for local news and information all year long. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
#10 – Wright Brothers Day Storm brings rain, wind, overwash to Greater Outer Banks
#9 – Historical spots along the Outer Banks you may not know about
#8 – Elizabeth City seafood restaurant announces closure, future steak house seeking managers
#7 – Thousands descend on Morris Farm in Currituck to hear viral sensation Oliver Anthony
#6 – Outer Banks rolls out Carolina blue carpet for UNC men’s basketball team
#5 – Four Outer Banks restaurants rank in Yelp’s first top 100 eateries in the Carolinas
#4 – McDonald’s in Kitty Hawk closed by owner/operator in “real estate decision”
#3 – Owens’, oldest same-family owned restaurant on the Outer Banks, sold to Corolla restaurateurs
#2 – VIDEO: Bridge along main route from Virginia to Outer Banks fully reopened after quick repairs
