images mooresville, nc: 2008

THE HIGHS OF LOWE’SWorld headquarters

continues to add employees

MUCH MORE IN STOREBig-name retailers set up shop

Hospitality HavenLangtree at the Lake promises an upscale leisure experience

TM

SPONSORED BY THE MOORESVILLE-SOUTH IREDELL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

OF MOORESVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA

2008 | IMAGESMOORESVILLE.COM | VIDEO TOUR ONLINE

625 C1.indd C1 11/20/07 8:29:28 AM

625 C2 C3 C4.indd C2 11/20/07 8:29:37 AM

625 TOC.indd 1 11/20/07 8:35:51 AM

625 TOC.indd 2 11/20/07 8:35:56 AM


2008 EDITION | VOLUME 6TM

14 HOSPITALITY HAVENLangtree at the Lake will be a premier “live, work, play village” featuring custom homes.

18 CURES FOR THE COMMUNITYHome to several quality health-care facilities, the area is a magnet for top-notch physicians and allied-health professionals.

22 SUNNY SKIES AHEADGreat weather, outdoor activities and a family atmosphere make Mooresville a top place to live.

26 MUCH MORE IN STOREWhen it comes to shopping, Mooresville offers something new almost every day.

50 ART IN THE LIMELIGHTIntrigued by art? If so, head to downtown Mooresville and visit the epicenter of the community’s arts scene.

53 GREEN LIGHT FOR FUNThe Mooresville Parks and Recreation Department is developing a greenway and laying plans for a new skate park.

26

CONTENTS

FEATURES

50

ON THE COVER Photo by Ian CurcioLowe’s corporate campus

MOORESVILLE IMAGESMOORESVILLE .COM 3

625 TOC.indd 3 11/20/07 8:35:58 AM

ACTION! ADVENTURE!

AT IMAGESMOORESVILLE.COM

THE MOVIETHE MOVIEImages of MooresvilleImages of Mooresville

STARTS TODAY!

WORLD WIDE WEBSHOWTIMES VALIDMONDAY-SUNDAY 24/7

SPECIAL ENGAGEMENT ANY RESEMBLANCE TO PLACES, EVENTS OR QUALITY OFLIFE IN MOORESVILLE IS PURELY INTENTIONAL!

““MOORESVILLE LIKE MOORESVILLE LIKE IT’S NEVER BEEN IT’S NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE!SEEN BEFORE!””

““IT KEPT ME ON THE EDGE OF MY LAPTOP!IT KEPT ME ON THE EDGE OF MY LAPTOP!””

625 TOC.indd 4 11/20/07 8:36:21 AM

TM

DEPARTMENTS

10 Almanac: a colorful sampling of Mooresville culture

28 Portfolio: people, places and events that defi ne Mooresville

48 Education

57 Health & Wellness

59 Community Profi le: facts, stats and important numbers to know


MOORESVILLE BUSINESS 36 The Highs of Lowe’s

When Lowe’s needed more breathing room, company offi cials found it in Mooresville.

38 Biz Briefs

40 Chamber Report

41 Economic Profi le

OF MOORESVILLE

SENIOR EDITOR RENEE ELDER

COPY EDITOR JOYCE CARUTHERS

ASSOCIATE EDITORS LISA BATTLES,

SUSAN CHAPPELL, KIM MADLOM, ANITA WADHWANI

ASSISTANT EDITOR REBECCA DENTON

STAFF WRITERS CAROL COWAN,

KEVIN LITWIN, JESSICA MOZO

DIRECTORIES EDITORS AMANDA MORGAN , KRISTY WISE

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS KAY BROOKSHIRE,

CRISTAL CODY, CATHERINE DARNELL,

WARREN DENNEY, SHARON H. FITZGERALD, PAM GEORGE, BRIDGET HUCKABEE, VALERIE PASCOE

ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER TODD POTTER

INTEGRATED MEDIA MANAGER CASEY PORTER

ONLINE SALES MANAGER MATT SLUTZ

SALES COORDINATOR SARA SARTIN

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS JEFF ADKINS,

WES ALDRIDGE, TODD BENNETT,

ANTONY BOSHIER, MICHAEL W. BUNCH,

IAN CURCIO, BRIAN MCCORD

PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT JESSY YANCEY

CREATIVE DIRECTOR KEITH HARRIS

WEB DESIGN DIRECTOR SHAWN DANIEL

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR NATASHA LORENS

ASST. PRODUCTION DIRECTOR CHRISTINA CARDEN

PRE-PRESS COORDINATOR HAZEL RISNER

SENIOR PRODUCTION PROJECT MGR. TADARA SMITH

PRODUCTION PROJECT MGRS.

MELISSA HOOVER, JILL WYATT

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS LAURA GALLAGHER,

KRIS SEXTON, VIKKI WILLIAMS

LEAD DESIGNER JANINE MARYLAND

GRAPHIC DESIGN JESSICA BRAGONIER,

CANDICE HULSEY, LINDA MOREIRAS,

AMY NELSON, CARL RATLIFF

WEB DESIGN RYAN DUNLAP, CARL SCHULZ

WEB PRODUCTION JILL TOWNSEND

DIGITAL ASSET MANAGER ALISON HUNTER

COLOR IMAGING TECHNICIAN CORY MITCHELL

AD TRAFFIC MEGHANN CAREY, SARAH MILLER,

PATRICIA MOISAN, RAVEN PETTY

CHAIRMAN GREG THURMAN

PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER BOB SCHWARTZMAN

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT RAY LANGEN

SR. V.P./CLIENT DEVELOPMENT JEFF HEEFNER

SR. V.P./SALES CARLA H. THURMAN

SR. V.P./PRODUCTION & OPERATIONS CASEY E. HESTER

V.P./SALES HERB HARPER

V.P./VISUAL CONTENT MARK FORESTER

V.P./TRAVEL PUBLISHING SYBIL STEWART

EXECUTIVE EDITOR TEREE CARUTHERS

MANAGING EDITOR/BUSINESS MAURICE FLIESS

PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR JEFFREY S. OTTO

CONTROLLER CHRIS DUDLEY

ACCOUNTING MORIAH DOMBY, DIANA GUZMAN, MARIA

McFARLAND, LISA OWENS, JACKIE YATES

RECRUITING/TRAINING DIRECTOR SUZY WALDRIP

COMMUNITY PROMOTION DIRECTOR CINDY COMPERRY

DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR GARY SMITH

MARKETING COORDINATOR AMY AKIN

IT SYSTEMS DIRECTOR MATT LOCKE

IT SERVICE TECHNICIAN RYAN SWEENEY

HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER PEGGY BLAKE

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR

NICOLE WILLIAMS

SALES SUPPORT MANAGER/

CUSTOM MAGAZINES PATTI CORNELIUS

OFFICE MANAGER SHELLY GRISSOM

Images of Mooresville is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through the

Mooresville-South Iredell Chamber ofCommerce and its member businesses.

For advertising information or to direct questionsor comments about the magazine, contact

Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080or by e-mail at [email protected].

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:Mooresville-South Iredell Chamber of Commerce

149 E. Iredell Avenue • Mooresville, NC 28115Phone: (704) 664-3898 • Fax: (704) 664-2549

E-mail: [email protected], www.mooresvillenc.org

VISIT IMAGES OF MOORESVILLE ONLINE AT IMAGESMOORESVILLE.COM

©Copyright 2007 Journal Communications Inc.,725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067,

(615) 771-0080. All rights reserved.No portion of this magazine may be reproduced

in whole or in part without written consent.

Member Magazine Publishers of America

Member Custom Publishing CouncilMember Mooresville-South Iredell Chamber of Commerce

Please recycle this magazine

34


625 TOC.indd 5 11/20/07 8:36:28 AM

625 TOC.indd 6 11/20/07 8:36:34 AM

“Find the good – and praise it.”– Alex Haley (1921-1992), Journal Communications co-founder

jnlcom.com

What’s Online More lists, links and tips for newcomers

SEARCH OUR ARCHIVES Browse past issues of the magazine by year or search for specifi c articles by subject.

INSTANT LINKS Read the entire magazine online using our ActiveMagazine™ technology and link instantly to community businesses and services.

EVEN MORE Read full-length versions of the magazine’s articles; fi nd related stories; or read new content exclusive to the Web. Look for the See More Online reference in this issue.

IMAGESMOORESVILLE.COM

VIDEO TOUR INSIDE LOOK Join us on a virtual tour of Mooresville through the lenses of our award-winning photographers at imagesmooresvile.com

A GARDENER’S PARADISEWe live in a plant paradise here in North Carolina. From the Outer Banks to the Great Smokies, our diverse climate and topography afford us tremendous opportunities for growing plants that are indigenous to many continents.

BARBECUE: A SIMPLE SOUTHERN PLEASUREOne of the simple pleasures of Southern dining is the down-home barbecue experience. Pork is the meat of choice in eastern North Carolina, and it’s usually chopped or sliced and served with a vinegar-based sauce.

ABOUT THIS MAGAZINEImages of Mooresville is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is sponsored by the Mooresville-South Iredell Chamber of Commerce. In print and online, Images gives readers a taste of what makes Mooresville tick – from business and education to sports, health care and the arts.

WEB SITE EXTRA

MOVING PICTURES PLUS

“A Name Recognized”

631 Brawley School Rd.Ste. 201

Mooresville, NC 28117

Cathy LynchOwner/Broker

Offi ce: (704) 662-9698Cell: (704) 400-0521

[email protected]

When buying or selling real estate, you may fi nd it helpful to have a real estate agent assist you. Real estate agents can provide many useful services and work with you in different ways.

Cathy Lynch has many years of experience when it comes to helping you buy or sell a home. She is a highly motivated native of Atlanta, Georgia who has excelled tremendously in her real estate career here in Mooresville and is known for getting the sold sign up!

Whether you are buying or selling your home, give Cathy a call today for a free real estate consultation.

Mention this ad and receive a free Home Warranty with your listing.

Call Today!


625 TOC.indd 7 11/20/07 8:36:38 AM

8 IMAGESMOORESVILLE .COM MOORESVILLE

625 TOC.indd 8 11/20/07 8:36:58 AM

“We serve our citizens.”Town of Mooresville

North Carolina

Town of MooresvillePost Office Box 878

Mooresville, NC 28115(704) 663-3800

www.ci.mooresville.nc.us

Our mission is to enhance the quality of life of the citizens of Mooresville by providing valued governmental services and

directing well planned growth and development.

©Town of Mooresville/Kelly Culpepper

LIVE LINKSHot links allow users to quickly link to other sites

for additional information, and an ad index allows you to easily locate local advertisers in the magazine.

SEARCH AND YOU SHALL FINDAn easy-to-use search function allows you to fi nd specifi c articles or browse content by subject.

A VIRTUAL TOOLBELTTools allow you to customize the look and function of the magazine on your desktop as well as print individual pages or save the magazine for offl ine reading.

MORE OF THE SAMEAnd that’s a good thing. Inside, you’ll fi nd the same award-winning photography and compelling content as in the printed magazine.

SHARE WITH A FRIENDE-mail individual stories using the pop-up text window.

ii

Virtual Magazine

Turn the pages of our

imagesmooresville.com


625 TOC.indd 9 11/20/07 8:37:01 AM

I’ll Have a CrepeA popular Mooresville bakery has expanded to include

meals. La Patisserie now serves breakfast and lunch at

its bakery/café at 627 N. Main.

The breakfast and lunch specialties are crepes, including

Hawaiian, beef stroganoff, chicken and Cuban crepes.

Other menu items include a variety of soups

and sandwiches for lunch, along with

pastries and fruit dishes for breakfast.

La Patisserie means “bakery” in

French, and all of the baked goods at

the Mooresville location have a European/

Mediterranean flair.

Branching OutThe Mooresville Public Library is much

more than a place to check out a book.

The variety of programs includes reading

mornings for toddlers, an organized Summer

Reading session, special youth programs and

several book clubs for adults and younger

readers. There is also an online feature

called “Ask a Librarian,” with staff members

answering your research requests in a

timely fashion.

The library has more than 100,000 volumes

of books on site and circulates a total of

350,000 items per year – that’s seven for

each of the 50,000 residents living in

Mooresville and Iredell County. The library

also offers wireless access to the Internet.

Plenty of PreservesHomes in and around downtown

Mooresville are spiffing up, as interest

grows in the area’s historic architecture.

To help showcase this effort, the

Historic Mooresville Tour of Homes

took place in October 2007, with 12

properties open to the viewing public.

Tour stops included homes originating

from the 1800s, such as Bull House,

Turlington House and the Isaac Harris

House. Early-1900s structures on display

included the Templeton, Harrill and

Baker houses.

Also on exhibit for the tour-goers was

the Zande House, constructed in 2004.

The Zande House was showcased as a

new house that demonstrates

appropriate architecture for a historic

neighborhood.


Almanac

625 Almanac.indd 10 11/20/07 8:25:04 AM

Gentlemen, Start Your Tours

The largest private collection

of retired NASCAR racecars – on

the entire planet – is at Memory

Lane Museum.

Cars on exhibit were once driven

by stock car superstars such as

Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt,

A.J. Foyt, Junior Johnson, Alan

Kulwicki, Richard Petty, Rusty

Wallace and Darrell Waltrip. The

museum that opened in 2001 also

has a large collection of Soap Box

Derby cars and go-karts.

There is also a collection of auto

props that the museum has lent to

Hollywood production companies

for use in movies such as Driving Miss Daisy, Days of Thunder, Shake Rattle & Roll and Steel Chariots.

Need for SpeedMooresville is not your average slow,

Southern town.

Its official nickname is Race

City USA, with more than 500,000

stock car fans rumbling into

town each year. Many of

the dozens of NASCAR

motorsports-related

shops in Mooresville

offer tours, and

more than

200,000 people

a year visit the

North Carolina

Auto Racing Hall

of Fame just off

Interstate 77.

Race City USA

became the city’s

moniker in 1993,

and city officials

estimate that

one-fourth of

Mooresville’s

employment is

tied to motorsports.

Celebrate MooresvilleGrab some friends and head downtown to join the fun at

the annual festival of arts and culture.The date for the 2008 celebration is May 17, with the event

always taking place during NASCAR Race Week in downtown Mooresville. The outdoor street fair celebrates and

showcases the various cultures, arts and people of the community, and is held rain or shine.

The event includes entertainment, children’s games, food and fun

lasting from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Mooresville-South Iredell

Chamber of Commerce sponsors the festival, and the 2008 celebration will be the 26th annual.


625 Almanac.indd 11 11/20/07 8:25:26 AM

625 Almanac.indd 12 11/20/07 8:25:43 AM

Fast Facts Mooresville is home to more

than 60 NASCAR racing teams.

Mooresville is a top spot for business relocations, according to Site Selection magazine.

With 520 miles of shoreline, Lake Norman is the largest body of fresh water in the state.

The NASCAR Technical Institute is located in Mooresville.

Mooresville is the world headquarters for Lowe’s Co., the nation’s second-largest home improvement retailer.

SEE MORE ONLINE | For more Fast Facts about Mooresville, visit imagesmooresville.com.

777

8585

Harmony

Troutman

Mooresville

Statesville

IREDELL

4040

77

64 70

20

Love Valley

Winston-Salem

Lake Norman

Mooresville | At A GlancePOPULATION (2006 ESTIMATE)Mooresville: 20,944

Iredell County: 146,206

LOCATIONMooresville is in the Piedmont

section of North Carolina,

30 miles north of Charlotte.

BEGINNINGSMooresville was named for John Franklin

Moore, who arrived on the scene in

1855 and persuaded the Atlantic,

Tennessee and Ohio railroad to run

tracks through the center of town.

FOR MORE INFORMATIONMooresville-South Iredell

Chamber of Commerce

149 E. Iredell Avenue, P.O. Box 628


Phone: (704) 664-3898

Fax: (704) 664-2549

www.mooresvillenc.org

Mooresville Street …in Germany?

People of Mooresville, welcome to Hockenheim.

That was the message in June 2007 when

a delegation of Mooresville leaders visited

the German town. Mooresville and

Hockenheim have been sister cities

for the past 10 years, and the

June 2007 meeting resulted in

the German city naming a park

and street after Mooresville.

Meanwhile, Mooresville recognizes

its sister-city ties to Hockenheim on

the main sign leading into town, at

the intersection of Wilson Avenue

and Highway 21. There is also a

student exchange program in

place between Mooresville

High School and academies

in Hockenheim.

To date, Hockenheim

leaders have been in

Mooresville twice to form

cultural and business bonds,

while Mooresville officials

have returned the favor by

traveling to Germany twice.

Mooresville

SEE VIDEO ONLINE | Take a virtual tour of Mooresville at imagesmooresville.com, courtesy of our award-winning photographers.


Almanac

625 Almanac.indd 13 11/20/07 11:31:52 AM

Hospitality Haven

LANGTREE AT THE LAKE PROMISES AN UPSCALE EXPERIENCE ATLAKE NORMAN


625 F1 Hospitality.indd 14 11/20/07 8:30:52 AM

W hen Mooresville’s Langtree at the Lake development broke ground on Aug. 9,

2007, there was no doubt that the future commercial and residential community on the shores of Lake Norman would be hot, hot, hot. The temperature was 104 degrees, the hottest day in the region in more than a century.

“You know, more than 250 people showed up,” marvels Mount Mourne native Rick Howard, CEO of Langtree Group and one of the developers of the project. The turnout, he believes, is a testament to the community’s enthusiasm for the project, expected to cost more than $800 million.

Langtree at the Lake will be a com-bination of luxurious, custom-built homes, upscale retail and Class-A office spaces, a hotel and conference center, a marina and yacht club, walking trails and pools, health clubs and additional amenities that will make Langtree at the Lake a premier “live, work, play village,” Howard explains. “The whole complex is about 128 acres and growing.”

Ruth’s Chris Steak House has signed on to open a restaurant at the devel-opment, situated just off Interstate 77 at the new Exit 32. That new interchange is expected to be complete by the summer of 2009.

A 12-story Embassy Suites hotel with about 250 rooms and 35,000 square feet of meeting space in an adjoining con-ference center will be developed by John Q. Hammons Hotels and Resorts, which operates about 70 properties in 24 states.

“After I visited three or four of his properties, I decided he was the right guy, so I recruited him to come to our community. We have one opportunity to

STORY BY SHARON H. FITZGERALDPHOTOGRAPHY BY IAN CURCIO

Crews put finishing touches on Langtree at the Lake, an $800 million luxury hotel and conference center on Lake Norman.



Hiking trails around Lake Norman are part of the location’s appeal.

do something right on Lake Norman,” Howard says.

Ron Johnson, chairman of the board of the Mooresville Convention & Visitors Bureau, predicts the hotel and conference center will significantly boost the area’s economy. “We have had a lot of requests over the years for meeting space,” he says. “And, of course, to have meetings, you have to have restaurants and lodging and the meeting space all at one place. We have never had that here. For the last 15 years, one thing I have heard is, ‘Where can I stay on Lake Norman?’ We just have not had that, either, and that’s going to be a unique experience in itself.”

Johnson says the bureau already is promoting the prospective venue, since conventions and business conferences plan years in advance. The Hammons project is expected to open between the fall of 2009 and spring of 2010.

“Mooresville is emerging as one of the largest employment centers in the state,” Howard adds. “We need this type of amenity to help the new industries that are coming to our community, to help them expand their businesses. Most of the industries currently have to go to Charlotte for a full-service hotel.”

Howard foresees Langtree at the Lake as a “destination location,” taking advantage of Mooresville’s easy acces-sibility via interstate and air, its proximity to Charlotte and its location on scenic Lake Norman.

“The views are going to be spec-tacular. Some people offer a view at the lake. We’re going to offer a view of the lake,” he says.

At the same time, Howard empha-sizes that the developers have carefully plotted the project’s footprint to protect natural attributes as well as to safeguard the area’s heritage. “It’s really not about office buildings and condominiums and steel and concrete. This whole thing is about quality of life,” he says.

Just three weeks after the ground-breaking, future Langtree at the Lake residents and proprietors had already reserved more than 150 condominiums and 50 percent of the retail and office space. In fact, Howard is sold, too. “I intend to live at Langtree at the Lake,” he says.

Left: Langtree properties will offer gorgeous views of the lake.

130 Norman Station Blvd.Mooresville, NC 28117(704) 662-6900fax: (704) 662-6914

www.hiexpress.com/mooresville



W hen Mooresville-area residents need health care, the impressive array of options

proves the adage that quality breeds more of the same.

Boasting several quality health-care facilities, the area is a magnet for top-notch physicians and allied-health professionals attracted by modern hospital facilities and the region’s natural beauty and charm.

“We’ve worked hard over the last 10 to 15 years in recruiting primary-care [providers] and specialists and sub-specialists to Mooresville. There’s really not a service that you can’t get done here,” says Paul Smith Jr., Lake Norman Regional Medical Center’s chief exec-utive officer. “We’re very fortunate that

MOORESVILLE AREA HOSPITALSAND THEIR EMPLOYEES GIVE BACK

Curesfor theCommunity

STORY BY SHARON H. FITZGERALDPHOTOGRAPHY BY IAN CURCIO

Dr. James W. McNabb at his office at Piedmont Health Care Right: Lake Norman Regional Medical Center


625 F2 Cures.indd 18 11/20/07 8:31:32 AM


625 F2 Cures.indd 19 11/20/07 8:31:49 AM


625 F2 Cures.indd 20 11/20/07 8:31:58 AM

Nurses Pam Rudisill (left) and Pamela Latlamme talk about SafeScan.

SafeScan at Lake Norman Regional Medical Center aids communication between nurses and doctors.

we live in a great area, and we’re able to attract high-quality physicians.”

In 1999, the medical center moved into a new facility on Fairview Road near Interstate 77, thus situating the hospital closer to the county’s swelling population center. Adjacent to the hospital is Medical Pavilion at Lake Norman, which is nearly leased out by health-care professionals. Physicians and outpatient services are also filling up several sizeable professional office buildings that are complete or near completion in the hospital’s vicinity.

The Lake Norman Regional medical staff numbers about 130 physicians, and in February 2007, the hospital received national recognition for nursing excellence. One of only 238 hospitals in the country to garner the honor, the medical center achieved Magnet® designation by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. The nurses are among the first in the nation to master the SafeScan System – handheld, interactive devices designed to ensure medication accuracy.

The talented medical professionals in the region make it a point to give back to the community. Outreach is “a major focus for us and has been for years,” Smith explains. “We’ve made it company policy here.”

A full-time community outreach director coordinates health fairs and free screenings, and physicians and other medical personnel volunteer at the HealthReach Community Clinic in Mooresville and other free clinics inthe area.

“Our doctors have really made this community their home, and I think that’s what separates us a little bit from the bigger places. There is a real sense of community,” he adds.

At Iredell Memorial Hospital in Statesville, which nabbed two national awards for customer service in July 2007, physicians donate their time to the Open Door Clinic.

“This medical community is very giving of their own time, seeing a good number of patients who have no means of paying for their care,” says Ed Rush, Iredell president and CEO. “They do it willingly, openly, and that’s a tough balance nowadays.”

Rush notes that the nonprofit hos-pital’s bylaws, written when the facility

opened in 1954, endorse disease pre-vention, wellness and health education.

“The individuals who established this hospital had great foresight,” he says. “That is something I take to heart.”

With the hearts of its patients in mind, Iredell was the first hospital in the county to offer noninvasive heart scans beginning in July 2007. The sophisticated CT scanner is able to take 192 images of the heart per second.

“We operate at a very modest mar-gin, and that allows us to take and reinvest in technology upgrades to the hospital, maintaining the best of care,” Rush says.

Other hospitals and medical groups in the area – and their productive staffs – also contribute to wellness and com-munity education. Piedmont Health Care offers a number of outpatient services, plus urgent care in both Mooresville and Statesville. Carolinas Medical Center–NorthEast, in Concord, features six Centers of Excellence, including the Batte Cancer Center and the Cannon Heart Center. At Presbyterian Hospital Huntersville, The Solomon House offers advocacy, information and referrals to community health resources for the area’s underserved population.


625 F2 Cures.indd 21 11/20/07 8:32:03 AM


625 F3 Sunny Skies.indd 22 11/20/07 8:32:31 AM

M ooresville residents know a good thing when they see it.

Economic growth, great schools and easy access to out-door activities are just a few reasons why the community is getting so much favorable attention these days.

“It’s just a feel-good place,” says Mooresville Mayor Bill Thunberg. “It’s a great place to live with good people and good weather. We’ve got great recreational opportunities in the area for folks.”

The city was nationally recognized in 2007 by Money magazine as one of the country’s best 100 towns to call home.

Chris Montgomery, general manager of the Lake Norman Times, notes that strong family ties are often found throughout the community. For exam-ple, his grandparents operated Mabry’s

GREAT WEATHER, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES & FAMILY ATMOSPHERE MAKE MOORESVILLE A TOP PICK

Sunny

STORY BY CRISTAL CODYPHOTOGRAPHY BY IAN CURCIO

Kids have fun on the playground at the new Lowe’s YMCA in Mooresville. Right: Stumpy Creek Park

AheadSkies



Stumpy Creek Park in Mooresville

Washerette in downtown Mooresville for more than 45 years.

“I like the idea of working where I live and where my kids go to school and where we go to church,” Montgomery says. “We’re fortunate that so much growth has come here, bringing busi-ness and opportunity.”

Donna Corriher, development direc-tor of the Lowe’s YMCA in Mooresville, says the community offers “a little bit of everything.”

“We’re two hours from the moun-tains; about four hours from the beach.”

Lovers of outdoor activities will appreciate the Mooresville weather: Average high temperatures are just 77 degrees in the summer, and annual snowfall registers a mere 3 inches.

Festivals and special events fill the local calendar. The YMCA sponsors a major fireworks show in July and Healthy Kids Day in April.

“We love that we have all this space where the Mooresville community can come together,” Corriher says of the new Y on Joe V. Knox Avenue.

The Y’s staff works with area schools to offer educational and fun oppor-tunities for students. The 57,000-square-foot Lowe’s YMCA, part of the YMCA of Greater Charlotte system, features an indoor water park. Activities for adults, include fitness facilities, sports programs and clubs.

“We have wonderful programs, and they’re growing,” she says.

Mayor Thunberg says the town also has started investing creatively in recreation.



Help Is a Mouse Click AwayPARENTS GET TIPS

Got a child care question?

The Iredell County

Partnership for Young Children

helps families find the answers

to child care and other

parenting issues.

“We have a complete

database of licensed child care

operators in homes and centers

in Iredell County,” says Karen

Campbell, regional school-age

specialist and program

evaluator for the Iredell County

Partnership for Young Children,

headquartered in Statesville.

The partnership operates

Child Care Solutions, a

comprehensive child care

resource and referral

organization for parents.

“We have preschools listed in

there as well, so we’re able to

help parents discover what’s in

the area,” Campbell says. “We

also help link parents with other

services in the community.”

The Iredell County

Partnership for Young Children

offers assistance to first-time

moms, a positive-parenting

training program that addresses

child-behavior issues, and other

programs such as More at Four,

North Carolina’s state-funded

pre-kindergarten program that

prepares 4-year-olds for school.

The Partnership for Young

Children, a nonprofit

organization led by local

volunteers, also helps parents

find health-care services for

children.

“In addition to child care

solutions, we do a variety of

things to prepare children to be

ready for success in school,”

Campbell says.

– Cristal Cody

The gym at the new Y is a big hit with the preschool crowd.

“We’ve got a new park and a new skateboard park being designed,” Thunberg says.

Finding a spot to enjoy outdoor family activities isn’t a problem. The Mooresville Recreation Department has nine parks on its roster. Amenities include seven tennis courts, eight out-door basketball courts and six ball fields.

The Iredell County Parks and Recreation Department operates the 83-acre Stumpy Creek Park adjacent to Lake Norman. It has a playground, boat launch, walking track, three soccer fields, three baseball/softball fields and a disc golf course.

The county’s Outdoor Education Center near Mooresville features a ropes

course, a 50-foot rappelling/climbing tower and primitive camping sites.

A wide variety of age and interest groups enjoy the ropes course, says Michelle Hepler, recreation programs administrator for Iredell County.

“It ranges anywhere from birth day parties to sports teams to town man-agers,” she says.

Seniors have their own special interests, such as woodcarving and line dancing, offered every week at the South Iredell Senior Center. The center is located in downtown Mooresville on the first f loor of the Charles Mack Citizen’s Center.

With spacious meeting rooms and outdoor courtyards, the citizen center also welcomes large groups.



T here was a time when national retail chains such as Target, Bed Bath & Beyond or Wal-Mart might bypass

Mooresville. No longer, says Darrell Palasciano, a commercial broker with Pinnacle Properties, which is devel-oping Mooresville Town Square, a retail center, and Legacy Village, a mixed-used development with retail, residences and offices.

“In the past five years, a lot of your national retailers have taken Mooresville a lot more seriously,” he says.

Take Staples, for instance. The office superstore opened a second Mooresville location last summer to better meet the demand, says Peter Dorninger, general manager of the new store, which is on River Highway across from Target.

What’s fueling the retail boom? In part, it’s the influx of new residents with the types of demographic profiles that appeal to retailers, Dorninger says. Newcomers are a mix of retirees, workers related to the NASCAR industry and employees who’ve relocated to the Lowe’s headquarters here. Lowe’s vendors have also sparked the population growth.

Recent accolades and awards have also caught large retailers’ attention. In 2002, for instance, Site Selection

magazine named the Mooresville area a “Top 10 Economic Development Group for 2001.” Mooresville was selected as a “Champion of Industry” award winner for 2003 by Pat Summerall Productions.

“Mooresville has such high income, such growth and so much employment,” Palasciano says. “It’s become its own self-sufficient town. With the addition of Lowe’s and other large companies, it’s created its own identity, and with that has come a lot of retail.”

Morrison Plantation was among the first developments to spot the trend, says Billy Cooper, a commercial real estate broker with Southern Real Estate, which has been handling the leasing for the Shops at Morrison Plantation for the last five years. “We’ve got two spaces left, and we are nearly full,” Cooper says.

Harris Teeter anchors the retail segment of the development, which also includes Georgetown-inspired townhomes and live-work townhomes located above retail shops. Although Harris Teeter is a chain, the store bills itself as a “neighborhood food market.”

SaladWorks, a national food chain, is also popular here.

Morrison Plantation has been joined by Winslow Bay Shopping Center, home

to such well-known stores as Super Target, Dick’s Sporting Goods, T.J. Maxx, PetSmart and Pier 1 Imports. Mooresville Crossing, meanwhile, features Bed Bath & Beyond, Best Buy and Old Navy.

The latest addition, Mooresville Town Square, is a planned 400,000-square-foot retail village with gardens and walking paths. Legacy Village will feature 450,000 square feet of retail, office and residential space.

While giant retailers have clearly taken notice of Mooresville, there is still room for small businesses and entrepreneurial opportunities.

“There’s a wonderful phenomenon in Mooresville – maybe more so than in a lot of your boomtowns – and that is that there are as many if not more mom-and-pops continuing to f lourish,” Palasciano says. “There’s a very nice balance.”

Indeed, the Shops at Morrison Plantation is composed mostly of mom-and-pop operations, Cooper says.

Expect more retail options – both large and small – in the future. Mooresville, it seems, is on the map of site selection committees nationwide.

“The word has gotten out now,” Cooper says.

WHEN IT COMES TO SHOPPING, MOORESVILLE OFFERS SOMETHING NEW ALMOST EVERY DAY

RetailRampage

STORY BY PAM GEORGE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY IAN CURCIO

Mooresville Town Square shopping center is billed as a “retail village.”


625 F4 Retail.indd 26 11/20/07 8:33:32 AM


625 F4 Retail.indd 27 11/20/07 8:33:35 AM

Teens Rock at ClubFXFUN IS TEMPERED WITH SAFETY AT POPULAR MOORESVILLE NIGHTSPOT

Teens in Mooresville can no longer lament that there’s nothing to do.

ClubFX opened in June 2007, providing a dance floor with DJs and a 12,000-watt sound system just for teens. A snack bar, video game arcade, and a rock-climbing wall add to the club’s attraction.

Teen dances are held on weekends, with middle-school nights on Fridays and high-school nights on Saturdays, bringing in 200 to 350 teens at each event.

“There’s clearly a void in this city and most other cities of places for teenagers to go,” says Ken Connor, owner of ClubFX.

The father of three teenagers, Connor combined his interest in providing a needed amenity for the community with his desire to start a business by opening ClubFX.

The club is open to teens 13 to 18, and admission on dance nights is $10. Security is a priority for Connor, and the club’s rules are strictly enforced. Alcohol and tobacco products are banned, and teens have a dress code.

“As important as it is for parents, it is equally important for kids to feel like they are secure, as well,” Connor says.

At ClubFX, a private VIP room handles teen birthday parties and other smaller

gatherings, Connor said. Children’s birthday parties, with inflatable bounce houses, are another option. Located in the Talbert Point Business Park, the facility also is home to the Backstretch Grill, which serves lunch during the week, and a catering business, A Tasteful Solution.

Connor offers nonprofit groups the opportunity to use the facility pro bono and has welcomed groups from Special Olympics and inner city youth for special events.

“If we can help them out, we love to do it,” he says. “My own kids work those events. It gives them a better appreciation for life.”

ClubFX owner Ken Connor started the teen club to fill a community need.


Portfolio

625 Portfolio.indd 28 11/20/07 8:34:55 AM

One-Stop Shopat Dale Jr.’s

Fans of Dale Earnhardt Jr. now have a one-stop shop in Mooresville

for checking out retail merchandise, viewing exhibits and touring the NASCAR driver’s race shop.

“To get the room that we need and to have really a first-class facility that we are proud of is just very exciting,” says Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, JR Motor-sports vice president and general manager and sister to Dale Jr.

Growing from six employees in 2001 to 100 employees in 2007, JR Motorsports moved out of two facilities with 14,000 square feet into a 65,000-square-foot building at Talbert Point Business Park in January 2007.

Fans can shop at JR Nation, the first retail store that exclusively carries the Dale Jr. and JR Motorsports brand, and they can visit the Dale Jr. Fan Experience, a permanent display fea-turing the driver’s life and racing career with exhibits that rotate quarterly. Past exhibits have included a salute to the fans and Earnhardt Jr.’s Elvis memo-rabilia. Exhibits in 2008 will chronicle Earnhardt Jr.’s association with the music industry, including his appear-ances in music videos, as well as his sports collectibles.

“He’s a huge Redskins fan,” Elledge says of Earnhardt Jr.

The Fan Experience includes a 15-foot window into the race shop, where fans can watch the two Busch teams work on JR Motorsports’ No. 5 and No. 88 cars. Nearby is a life-sized wax figure of Earnhardt Jr. commissioned by Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum.

JR Nation attracted about 4,000 fans during the May 2007 race week and averages about 100 fans a day, according to Elledge. The retail store carries more than 500 items, including hats, shirts and collectibles, many with the JRM orange flame logo.

“Dale Jr. was very instrumental in helping with the design of the product,” Elledge says “It definitely speaks Dale Jr. It’s got the cool factor. It’s interesting from the design stand-point, not your typical race gear. It’s more trendy and fashionable.”

Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s new shop is at Talbert Point.

PH

OT

OS

BY

IA

N C

UR

CIO



Big Appetites at Little Kitchen

The Little Kitchen keeps families coming back, generation after

generation, for its slow-cooked prime rib, its homemade salad dressings and special desserts.

The 38-year-old restaurant has had only three owners, and each has followed the traditions and menu established by the family of Claude Little, the original owner.

“Besides giving the place a face lift, nothing has literally changed since I bought the restaurant,” says owner Joyce Smith, whose customers know her as Joy. After working in Charlotte area restaurants, Smith returned home to Mooresville in 1998 and worked as a waitress at The Little Kitchen until 2005, when she purchased the restaurant.

Smith continues to serve the com-plimentary cheese-spread appetizer to customers as they relax on classic red leather button-tuck chairs at black tables and booths. The late NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt used to slip into a back booth frequently for prime rib, and Dale Jr. included the restaurant in a documentary, Smith says.

Smith’s daughter, Tiffany Tadlock, manages the 200-seat restaurant with her mother, continuing the family-restaurant tradition. Organist Jerry Shiver has provided live music Friday and Saturday nights at The Little Kitchen for 22 years.

Tucked into the Port City Shopping Center at 631 N. Main St. in Mooresville, The Little Kitchen serves breakfast to customers every Tuesday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and dinner from 5 to 9 p.m. each Tuesday through Thursday. The restaurant stays open until 10 p.m. on weekends.

The salad bar is fresh daily at The Little Kitchen on North Main Street.

IAN

CU

RC

IO


Portfolio


Classic Cars Head for Race City

Mooresville steps back in time the first Saturday of each month, when

the Cruise-In Classic Car Show attracts hundreds of classic automobiles down-town for an evening of family fun.

Spectators, sometimes as many as 3,000, might see a rare 1933 Buick sedan along with the restored Cadillacs, Chevrolets and other well-kept classics from the last century. Also on display are well-maintained street rods and sporty muscle cars. The show is open to cars 30 years old and older.

The Cruise-In features a disc jockey spinning golden oldies, food vendors, karaoke and games for children. Many of the downtown merchants remain open during the 4 to 8 p.m. Cruise-In to serve the crowds.

“Folks love to bring their cars out. It’s a big family affair,” says Allen Warlick, a member of the Good Ole Boys Street Rodders. “It certainly is good for business.”

The small street-rod club co-sponsors the monthly Cruise-In with the Mooresville-South Iredell Chamber of Commerce and the Town of Mooresville. After hosting an annual show for 14 years, the street rodders made it a monthly event in 2006 with help from the town and chamber.

A recent Cruise-In brought about 500 cars to Mooresville from South Carolina, Virginia and throughout North Carolina. Visitors to Mooresville often take in the classic car show, along with nearby racing attractions, Warlick says.

Warlick is at work restoring a 1934 Buick and owns several street rods. His family is one of eight families involved in the Street Rodders club, a small group tackling a large monthly task.

“It involves a lot of work for our club to organize every month. But we enjoy the folks and we just have a very good time,” he says.

RAYMER OIL COMPANY

• 24-hour fueling

• Tractor-trailer access

• Member of CFN fueling network

• 17 convenient locations in and around Iredell County

Statesville, North Carolina(704) 873-7285



Store Fills Community Coffers

Mooresville’s newest state-of-the-art package store offers an impressive

selection of items and gives a boost to the town and school system budgets.

In the 2007 fiscal year, the area’s three package stores and numerous liquor-by-the-drink establishments generated $500,000 for the Town of Mooresville and its public parks, the Iredell-Statesville Schools and Mooresville Graded School District, says Mike Deaton, general manager of the Mooresville Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.

The third and newest Mooresville ABC Store opened in mid-2006 at 117 Bridgewater Lane in a 7,200-square-foot building. The store stocks some 1,200 items, Deaton says.

Annual sales of spirits in Mooresville, including those at the package stores and in restaurants, total about $7 million, Deaton explains. Once excise and sales taxes are delivered to the state and expenses are covered, the remaining profits are available to the town and the school systems.

North Carolina is one of 19 “control” states, in which a state control board regulates the sale of liquor.

“But we’re unique in that we are the only state that keeps all the profits locally,” Deaton says. “All of ours stay in the local school systems and the town of Mooresville.”

Since the first package stores opened in Mooresville in 1965, the Mooresville ABC Board has turned over nearly $6.3 million in profits to the town and schools, Deaton says.

– Stories by Kay Brookshire

The community will benefit from sales at the new ABC store off Interstate 77 at Exit 33.

IAN

CU

RC

IO


Portfolio


Main Street mural


Image Gallery | PHOTO BY IAN CURCIO

625 Gallery.indd 33 11/20/07 8:33:47 AM


Image Gallery

625 Gallery.indd 34 11/20/07 8:33:56 AM

Lake Norman sunrise


PHOTOGRAPHY BY IAN CURCIO

625 Gallery.indd 35 11/20/07 8:34:03 AM


Business

625 Business.indd 36 11/20/07 8:29:04 AM

W hen the nation’s second-largest home improvement retailer – and one of the

nation’s fastest-growing chains – needed more breathing room, they found it in Mooresville.

“We needed access to a talented workforce that would be able to support the company as we grow well into the future,” says Chris Ahearn, vice presi-dent of public relations for Lowe’s Cos., which relocated its corporate offices to Mooresville from Wilkes County.

With its close proximity to Charlotte and a growing population of 67,000, Lowe’s officials saw Mooresville as a big-ger pond in which to fish for workers.

Lowe’s purchased land in Iredell County in 2001 after an exhaustive search that included such major cities as Dallas, Chicago, Raleigh, Atlanta and Columbus, Ohio. Factors they considered included workforce demographics, education, housing, quality of life and transportation.

The company is now in the midst of the third phase of its expansion plan, which will bring more employees to the area. When the master plan is fully complete, the campus will accommodate

up to 12,000 people, Ahearn says.Lowe’s Mooresville customer support

center opened in 2003, and the next year the company announced plans for its second phase, a 136,000-square-foot addition to house 600 employees.

Phases I and II total 537,000 square feet and house about 2,100 employees. When complete in fall 2008, phase III will house about 2,400 people and total 735,000 square feet.

“We will do a phased move over a four- to six-month period,” Ahearn says.

The newest facilities were designed to accommodate Lowe’s anticipated growth over the next few years.

Phase III expands the site’s con-ference center facilities. It also provides Lowe’s with an auditorium. “It will be convenient for large presentations,” Ahearn says.

The campus buildings, which are con nected by enclosed walkways, surround a spring-fed lake. A terrace, suitable for lunch, invites employees to take a break and get a breath of fresh air, she says. Lowe’s has been investigating the installation of wetlands to serve as a filtration system for the lake. “We’re trying to be environmentally friendly, as well,” Ahearn says.

The campus also includes a “plan-ogram” facility in a 94,000-square-foot building that is home to the company’s quality assurance and business television departments. The laboratory-like plan-ogram helps with design and inventory. For instance, light bulb merchants might set up products exactly as they would in a store. Once installed, decision-makers can determine if there is enough or too much of any one type of product.

“They evaluate the products the way they would look in a store,” Ahearn explains. “Once they make their decision, then it goes out the stores. The light bulbs would come down and another product would go up – maybe garden hoses and sprinklers. (The Mooresville Lowe’s retail store often serves as a testing ground for new products.)

It is easy to see why Lowe’s continues to ramp up operations. With fiscal year 2006 sales of $46.9 billion, the Fortune 50 company serves about 13 million customers a week at more than 1,425 home improvement stores in 49 states.

There are currently no plans on the horizon for phase IV, Ahearn says. “We do have a master plan that will include additional buildings as the need arises. But we have no timeline for that.”

LOWE’SMOORESVILLE PROVIDES THE RIGHT

ENVIRONMENT FOR THE COMPANY’S GROWTH

STORY BY PAM GEORGE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY IAN CURCIO

Lowe’s environmentally sensitive campus could house up to 12,000 workers.

Knows


625 Business.indd 37 11/20/07 8:29:15 AM

Soiree Restaurant on Main Street serves spiced rare tuna.

IAN

CU

RC

IO

UPSCALE DINING DOWNTOWN

From the moment they first laid eyes on the historic two-story building at the corner of Center and Main streets, Maria and Jon Spencer knew it would be perfect for a restaurant full of character and charm.

Two years later, in 2006, the Spencers and their partners, chefs Alan Jackson and Michael Spencer, opened Soirée, a restaurant known for its upscale atmosphere, extensive wine list and gourmet dishes such as grilled North Carolina trout and rack of lamb.

“The combination of exquisite food, along with the ambiance and history of the surroundings, makes Soirée a truly

unique dining experience for our customers,” says Maria Spencer. “Everything is made in-house, even down to our ketchup and salad dress-ings. Our chefs are dedicated to using only the freshest ingredients.”

In addition to serving lunch and dinner Tuesday through Friday and dinner on Saturday nights, Soirée is a popular destination for Sunday brunch. Spencer says the response has been so tremendous that the restaurant regu-larly attracts some of the top names in NASCAR and prominent visitors to the area.

“This side of downtown was really missing a restaurant like this, and the terrific response has helped us continue

to grow the business,” Spencer says. “At the same time, we have remained true to our goal of keeping prices very reasonable for our customers.”

With two dining rooms and more than 16,000 square feet of space, Soiree offers banquet facilities for weddings and other events as well as on-site resources for corporate meetings. Spencer says the restaurant is also expanding its off-site catering business.

THE REAL (ESTATE) DEALWhen James Jennings founded Lake

Norman Realty in 1978, the region was primarily known as a retreat with summer cottages and vacation homes. The visionary entrepreneur predicted a boom in the local real estate market early on and, as a result, built one of the largest real estate firms in the Charlotte region.

“He had a vision for what this area would become, and he was right. He was always a little ahead of his time,” says Abigail Jennings, who became president of the family business a year before her father passed away in 1999.

Today, Lake Norman Realty has four locations across the area and is known for its residential and commercial services, as well as in-house products such as homeowner’s insurance, title insurance and mortgage services.

“The local real estate market has remained strong and active,” Jennings says. “We have not seen depreciation in the Lake Norman region. In fact, we see plenty of people still moving into the area. We’re very fortunate to live in such a strong market.”

FAMILY JEWELFor more than 90 years the Markarian

family has been a source for comfort and beauty underfoot. In 2000, Steve Markarian opened the Mooresville location of Markarians Fine Rugs & Carpets, a company originally founded in upstate New York by his grandfather. Today, Markarian is grooming a fourth generation to continue expanding the family business in North Carolina.

“One thing that hasn’t changed since my grandpa’s era is respect for our customers and dedication to service,” Markarian says. “We recognize that you can buy carpet and flooring anywhere, but what you can’t buy is customer service and the values of honesty we


Business | Biz Briefs

625 Business.indd 38 11/20/07 8:29:17 AM

hold as a family business.” Located on Charlotte Highway, near

Interstate 77 at Exit 33, Markarians Fine Rugs & Carpets is hard to miss. The 18,000-square-foot facility has under gone a series of major expansions to house several new departments, including a rug loft and a home interiors division.

“We saw that f looring companies were catering to new home construction, but we also wanted to focus on indi-viduals remodeling their homes,” Markarian says. “Our success is a testament to our clients and the support of the local community.”

MAKING WAVESMooresville business leader Bob

Wilson received an honor when he was tapped by North Carolina’s governor to serve as a state commissioner-at-large as part of the Coastal Area Management Act.

The appointment came as somewhat of a surprise, since Wilson’s hometown of Mooresville is more than 200 miles from the beach.

However, his company, Row Boat Dock & Dredge, has had positive impact on the state’s effort to balance envi-ronmental protection with economic

development along the coast – and so Wilson was, in fact, a natural choice for the position.

“The strength of our company is the quality of our people and the expe-rience they bring to the business,” Wilson says. “We have built an enviable reputation in the industry, thanks to our talented employees.”

Founded in Mooresville in 1976, Row Boat Dock & Dredge is a $10 million heavy marine construction business with 50 employees. The company designs and builds docks and marinas for waterfront developments. In addition to dredging for docks and marinas, the company also provides dredging services for golf courses and power and chemical companies.

With customers in the Lake Norman region and across waterfront areas throughout the southeast, Wilson says Row Boat Dock & Dredge will continue to expand its headquarters in the Mooresville area.

“Mooresville is not only a very strategic location with respect to transportation resources that reach our target markets, it’s also a community that has supported us over the years,” Wilson says. “Mooresville has been very good to us.”

STILL GOING STRONGWhen L.B. Plastics came to North

America in 1977, the company’s European founders were drawn to Mooresville for its hard-working population and proximity to the furniture manufacturing industry. Thirty years later, the Mooresville facility has grown to include more than 324,000 square feet of manufacturing, operations and storage space three miles east of Interstate 77, Exit 36.

According to Harry Davis, president of L.B. Plastics, many of the company’s 125 employees have been on board for 25 to 30 years.

“As we continue to add production, we recognize that a good part of our success can be attributed to the dedi-cation of our employees and the good working relationship we have with the local community,” Davis says.

With several award-winning pat-ented products, L.B. Plastics Inc. is recognized as an innovator and leader in the building products industry for its design and manufacturing of premium, low-maintenance vinyl railing, post clad, decking and related products.

– Valerie Pascoe

Row Boat Dock & Dredge built this marina in eastern North Carolina.


625 Business.indd 39 11/20/07 8:29:22 AM

visitors and exhibitors at two halls.“It is eye-opening,” Shore says. “The

diversity of the businesses and their products and services is amazing. We want people to be aware of what’s done here and of the potential of what can be available to them.”

Another highlight of the expo is the Taste of the Town, a two-hour social event that wraps up the expo and showcases the expertise of local

restaurants and caterers.“There is always a lot of excitement

over Taste of the Town,” Shore says. “During this time, the exhibitors are really able to socialize. Some of them have not been able to really see much of what the others have to offer because they’ve been at their booths most of the time.

“So this part of the expo has become very important in itself and allows an after-hours networking and a sampling of some of the great food provided in our area.”

Of course, the bottom line with this type of event is its impact on business, and Shore believes the effect is major.

“Everything we do aims for an impact by producing more revenue for the businesses and more jobs created within the community,” Shore says.

“The expo brings into focus every-thing we do as ‘the chamber.’ We are all about the promotion of doing business locally. This event highlights the diversity of the products and services available here.”

– Warren Denney

Business ExpoSpotlights DiversityCHAMBER-SPONSORED EVENT PROMOTES A VARIETY OF LOCAL BUSINESSES

W hen Karen Shore speaks of the annual fall Business Expo sponsored by the

Mooresville-South Iredell Chamber of Commerce, she can’t help but express both excitement and pride.

The expo showcases products and services offered by local businesses and organizations – from manufacturingto retail to nonprofit, in areas ranging from agriculture to advertising and recreation.

“Participation in the expo increases a little each year,” says Shore, who took over as the chamber’s executive director in August 2006. “It has grown some from my last year’s experience, and we may have to consider changing venues in the future if it keeps growing. That’s how popular it is.”

The Charles Mack Citizen Center has two exhibit halls that provide room for up to 100 exhibitors, and those accommodations have been pushed to the limit in recent years, Shore says. Increased participation by local businesses also indicates that the chamber has been successful at pro-moting the expo as part of its overall mission.

“We do market it widely through normal channels and resources, television and radio,” Shore says. “I do think the business community is strongly aware of it and relies on it each year, not only as a means of exhibiting services but as an important means of networking and establishing relationships.”

The event, free and open to the public, attracted 100 exhibitors in October 2007. The high level of participation mirrors the energy and broad-based enthusiasm of the local business community, Shore says.

During the event, Shore spends much of her time greeting and directing

“This event highlights the

diversity of the products and

services available here.”

KAREN SHORE

CHAMBER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The fall Business Expo showcases companies’ products and services.

CO

UR

TE

SY

OF

KE

EL

I K

EL

LY


Business | Chamber Report

625 Business.indd 40 11/20/07 8:29:25 AM

MOORESVILLE

TRANSPORTATION

Airports

Charlotte-Douglas

International Airport

(704) 359-4013

Concord Regional Airport

(704) 920-5900

Statesville Regional Airport

(704) 873-1111

Lake Norman Air Park

(704) 896-0822

Railroads

Norfolk Southern

(404) 529-1591

TAXES

Property Taxes

Mooresville

$.55 per $100 valuation

Iredell County

$.465 per $100 valuation

Next valuation year is 2007

Sales Tax

7% (4.5% state, 2.5% county)

Income

Personal tax on income varies

depending on income and

filing status

Franchise tax

$1.50 per $1,000

LABOR FORCE STATISTICS

Iredell County Labor ForceJune 2006

Labor Force, 73,250

Employed, 70,034

Unemployed, 3,216

Unemployment percentage,

4.4%

BUSINESS CLIMATEMooresville has a healthy and diverse economy, with a strong

manufacturing base. The city’s industries manufacture a variety

of products – from textiles to candy. The area’s economic base

is also anchored by tourism, spurred by the burgeoning stock

car racing industry.

Mooresville is nicknamed Race City USA.

More than 60 race teams and more than 100

race-related suppliers are in the city and county.

High Speed LearningMary Ann Mauldwin

[email protected]

P.O. Box 4928Mooresville, NC 28117

(704) 902-2899Fax: (704) 799-7553

www.highspeedlearn.com


Business | Economic Profile

625 Economic Profile.indd 41 11/20/07 8:30:05 AM

MAJOR EMPLOYERS

Company Product/Service No. of Employees

Lowe’s Companies Regional headquarters 1,800

Lake Norman Regional Medical Center Hospital and medical offices 930

Wal-Mart SuperCenter Retail 500

Mooresville Graded School District Public education 465

NGK Ceramics USA Inc. Manufactures ceramic auto parts 450

Super Target Retail 350

BestSweet Inc. Manufactures candy 300

WinCup Inc. Manufactures plastic utensils 290 and containers

Dale Earnhardt Inc. Racing-related company 250

Town of Mooresville Town government 250

Cardinal FG Manufactures flat glass 230

Penske Racing South Inc. Racing-related company 210

PGI Non-Wovens Manufactures polypropylene 210 non-wovens

Lowe’s Home improvement center, retail 175

Overcash Electric Inc. Commercial, residential 175 and industrial electrical

NASCAR Technical Automotive repair/collision 150Institute technical school

Service Partners Inc. Manufactures glass logs, ceiling 150 tiles and insulation

Southern Container Corp. Manufactures corrugated boxes 150

L.B. Plastics Inc. Manufactures PVC profile extrusions 145

Custom Products Inc. Manufactures airline seats and cushions 143

Brian Center Health Skilled intermediate nursing 130& Retirement and rest home

Michael Weinig Inc. Woodworking machinery specialist 130

Spectrum Financial Alarms, ATMs, bank security systems 120Systems Inc.

General Microcircuits Inc. PC board assembly 90

Carolina Beer & Beverage Brewery 85




HOUSEHOLD INCOME

Iredell County Income (2005)Median household income

$48,686

Median family income

$60,587

Per capita personal income

$23,802

BUSINESS PARKS

Barley Industrial ParkIs zoned light industrial.

Approximately 40 acres

remain available. Among the

current tenants are

Carolina Beer & Beverage,

AeroDyn Wind Tunnel and

DDP Holdings Inc.

Deerfield Business ParkIs a Class A industrial park

located next to I-77 and the

future I-77 interchange. This

park is zoned light industrial.

Tenants include Recource Plus

and Scott Glenn Motorsports.

Lakeside Business ParkIs a 245-acre business park

zoned general industrial and

business. Approximately 25

acres remain undeveloped.

This park is close to I-77,

I-40 and I-85. Water, sewer

and natural gas are available

to the site. This park is close

to hotels, restaurants and

shopping. Among the current

tenants are Ameritech

Die-Mold, the North Carolina

Racing Hall of Fame, REDS

Athletic Club, Michael Weinig

Inc. and Master Power

Brake Inc.

Mooresville Business ParkIs a 500-acre industrial park

with all utilities in place.

Approximately 90 acres

remain undeveloped.

Norfolk-Southern Railroad

considers Mooresville Business

Park one of their top industrial

sites in North Carolina.

Current tenants include

Cardinal FG, Duke Power,

Southern Container, PGI Non-

Wovens, Penske Racing South,



120 Consumer Square Dr.Mooresville, NC 28117(704) 663-6100 tel • (704) 663-6138 fax www.marriott.com/cltmr

• Luxury bedding

• Marriott’s new Early Eats™

complimentary hot breakfast

• Complimentary high-speed Internet

• Executive and whirlpool rooms available

• Fully equipped fitness center

• 1,066 sq. ft. of meeting facilities

• Seasonal outdoor pool

• Conveniently located off exit 36, adjacent to shopping and dining

• 100% smoke-free environment

the Griffin Agencies

227 W. Plaza Dr.Mooresville, NC 28117

Statesville (704) 871-8002Mooresville (704) 664-9111Lincolnton (704) 735-6974Denver (704) 483-4383



Toyo Seal of America and

WinCup. Restrictive covenants

are in place to preserve and

maintain the visual appeal of

the park.

Talbert Pointe Business Park

Is a 260-acre, Class A business

park that fronts I-77. The park

is zoned for light industrial.

Approximately 150 acres remain

undeveloped. Sites range from

one to 10 acres. Located

nearby this park are hotels,

restaurants and shopping.

Among the current tenants are

PIT Instruction and Training,

NASCAR Technical Institute

and Robert Yates Racing.

Timber Ridge Industrial Area

Consists of 37 acres of land

located close to I-77, I-40 and

I-85. This property is zoned for

general industry and would be

an ideal location for an office,

distribution or manufacturing

facility. City water, sewer and

natural gas are available to the

site. This park is not in a

watershed district. Tenants

include Goodridge USA,

Pro System, Details Inc., and

Varnell Struck and Associates.

SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCE CONTACTS

Small Business Center

Mitchell Community College

Michael J. Tucker, Director

701 W. Front St.

Statesville, NC 28677

Phone: (704) 878-3227

Fax: (704) 878-4265

Centralina Development Corp.

Richard D. Vitolo, President

One Charlottetown Center

P.O. Box 34218

Charlotte, NC 28235

Phone: (704) 373-1233

Fax: (704) 372-1280

Small Business Technology

and Development Center

The Ben Craig Center

8701 Mallard Creek Rd.

Charlotte, NC 28262

4.5 miles west off Exit 36I-77 on Hwy 150

1459 River HighwayMooresville, NC

Jacks Lakeside Grill | Tiki & Dock Bar | Special Events/PartiesBanquet & Conference Facilities | Full ABC Permits | Special Corporate Cruises

Check out our monthly event calendar! | www.queenslanding.com

Jokers – Dueling Piano BarWed-Sat 7 pm-2 am

Entertainment starts at 8 pm

Dinner Cruises on the Lady of the LakeCheck our Web site for dates

for our theme cruises

Pirateland, Golf & Bumper BoatsLunch, Sightseeing & Dinner Cruises Aboard the Catawba Queen

For cruise reservations, call (704) 663-2628

Your local destination forFOOD, FUN & FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT



Phone: (704) 548-9113

Fax: (704) 602-2179

SCORE (Service Corporation

of Retired Executives)

Phone: (704) 344-6576

Call Monday-Friday

10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Small Business

Resource Center

Eileen Joyce

Phone: (704) 344-9797

Fax: (704) 344-3990

Meets monthly at

the chamber. Call

(704) 664-3898 for

an appointment.

SUPERLATIVES

Mooresville’s economic

development group ranks

among the 10 best economic

development organizations in

the nation. Site Selection

magazine, May 2005.

Ranked the No. 1 community in

the nation out of the top 100

U.S. micropolitan areas.

Site Selection magazine, March

2005 and 2004.

Named one of the 25 Best

Managed Small Cities in

America by Pat Summerall

Productions, 2004.

A Champion of Industry

award winner. (Pat Summerall

Productions, 2003)

Ranked the No. 1 Small Town

in the U. S. for New and

Expanded Corporate

Facilities by Site Selection

magazine, 2002.

FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

Bank of America

(704) 664-8300

Bank of Granite

(704) 987-9990

BB&T, (704) 664-3434

Catawba Valley Bank

(704) 658-9261

Charlotte Metro

Credit Union

(704) 375-0183

Citizens South Bank

(704) 799-2800

Fidelity Bank, (704) 799-3302

First Charter, (704) 664-4488

First Citizens Bank

(704) 799-6233

First Trust Bank

(704) 662-9004

Mooresville Savings Bank, SSB

(704) 664-4888

Mountain National Bank

(704) 799-7740

Piedmont Aviation

Credit Union

(704) 660-7200

Piedmont Bank

(704) 660-0111

RBC Centura Bank

(704) 658-2280

Southern Community

Bank & Trust

(704) 663-7426

State Employees

Credit Union

(704) 663-0305

SunTrust Bank – Motorsports

Banking Group

(704) 662-3487

Wachovia Bank

(704) 663-5344

Mooresville Savings Bank, SSB

347 North Main Street

Post Offi ce Box 1158


(704) 664-1383

Member FDIC




IREDELL COUNTY EMPLOYMENT DIVERSITY

7%

2%

12%

28%

23%

25%

3%

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Mooresville-South Iredell Chamber of Commerce149 E. Iredell Ave.


Phone (704) 664-3898

Fax (704) 664-2549


Mooresville-South Iredell Chamber of CommerceEconomic Development151 E. Iredell Ave.


Phone (704) 664-6922

http://economicdevelopment.mooresvillenc.org

Sources:

www.mooresvillenc.org, http://economicdevelopment.mooresvillenc.org, www.city-data.com

Construction

and Mining

Finance, Insurance

and Real Estate

Government

Manufacturing

Service and

Miscellaneous

Trade

Transportation,

Communication

& Public Services

A Tradition of Equipping Students for SuccessEstablished 1905

“Excellence isn’t a skill. It is an attitude.”

– J. Marston

305 N. Main St.Mooresville, NC 28115

(704) 658-2530Fax: (704) 663-3005

mgsd.k12.nc.us

Generations of Trust. Decades of Knowledge. Since 1979.

www.FinancialStrategiesForLife.comSecurities through Advantage Capital Corporation. A registered broker/dealer.

A registered investment advisor. Member FINRA/SIPC

Sara Seasholtz, CFP®

(704) 658-1040

Scott Andrew, LTCP(704) 663-9041



In the not too distant future, teenagers around here will be acting out, singing a different tune and

marching to the beat of their own drummers.

And they will be applauded for it.Those young creative types will

be enrolled at the Iredell-Statesville School District’s School of Visual and Performing Arts, set to open in 2008 with 400 students.

“This is an exciting new program that will serve students in the areas of visual and performing arts,” says Principal Lisa M. Miller, who came on board Aug. 1.

The school is a “learn and earn” early-college high school, the ninth such school in the state. Students will earn an endorsement in fine arts that will appear on their diplomas when they graduate from high school. It is part of the North Carolina New Schools Project, sponsored by Gov. Mike Easley, that allows students to earn both an

associates degree and a high school diploma in five years. The new Visual and Performing Arts School will be partnered with Mitchell Community College and Catawba College.

“The county commissioners did a proposal last fall where they asked for a vision for 2025,” Miller says. “They determined that we needed to do more in Iredell County for visual and performing arts.”

Visits were made across the state to determine the best offerings for area students. As a result, instruction will include choral arts, dance, theater art, visual arts and orchestra.

The school will incorporate the Mac Gray Auditorium, a 1942 facility whose renovation has kept some of the charm of the historic structure. Classes will be held in a new building that is adjacent to it.

“My background is band and music, and I’m just thrilled to be a part of this, especially when you have students and

teachers who are eager to participate and grow with it,” Miller says.

Other teachers on board include theater and orchestra instructors. Some students will be accepted as early as January 2008. The early college classes will begin next fall.

The student-selection process will include an application and an audition or portfolio submission, depending on the student’s area of interest.

“Most of the kids and parents I’ve talked to are very excited,” Miller says. “A lot of them are taking piano, dance, voice, things like that, and they are thrilled to have something that is special for them.

“This is not to take away from their high schools, but to enhance it. Some of them will have AP [Advance Placement] credit, so they’re just thrilled to take it up a notch from what they have in their traditional high school.”

– Catherine Darnell

Arts on the ScheduleNEW SCHOOL COMBINES HIGH SCHOOL- AND COLLEGE-LEVEL LEARNING

A new visual and performing arts school will use the Mac Gray Auditorium in Statesville.

IAN

CU

RC

IO


Education

625 Education.indd 48 11/20/07 8:30:35 AM

Growth Brings ChallengesAREA IS FULL OF YOUNG FAMILIES

Along with the usual

trappings of a school

superintendent’s office, Dr. Mark

Edwards has something one

might not expect to see in an

educator’s environment.

That would be a hardhat.

And it’s not just for show.

When Edwards came on

board at the Mooresville Graded

School District in May 2007,

he inherited the second-fastest-

growing school system in North

Carolina. Currently the district

has 5,700 students – a number

expected to continue to

increase by 600 to 700

students each year.

“Growth is our biggest

challenge,” Edwards says.

There are several factors

contributing to the growth.

Mooresville is about 20 minutes

north of Charlotte, which

attracts a lot of people who

don’t necessarily want to live

in the city, the superintendent

says. Also, Lake Norman is in

Mooresville, and it is one of the

largest, most beautiful lakes in

North Carolina. In addition,

Mooresville is the NASCAR

capital, and Lowe’s corporate

headquarters is here.

Whew.

So while there are seven

schools already in Mooresville,

there are still lots of plans for

expansion.

“We have an aggressive

capital [building] plan which

includes opening up a new

intermediate school in 2008,”

Edwards says. “We will start

construction on a new

elementary school in the

winter [of 2007]. We are also

in the process of renovating

other school spaces.”

It’s all pretty exciting stuff

to Edwards. “I think one of the

things about being a high-

growth area is that people come

in from all over the country with

energy and ideas,” he says. “It’s

a great place for families. My wife

and I have a 7-year-old. We think

it’s going to be a great place for

our child to grow up.”

– Catherine Darnell

Mark A. Edwards, Ed.D, is the new superintendent at Mooresville

Graded School District.

IAN

CU

RC

IO


625 Education.indd 49 11/20/07 8:30:40 AM

Intrigued by art?If so, head to downtown

Mooresville and visit the epicenter of the community’s arts scene.

“The art scene is lively in downtown Mooresville, and we’re trying to be even livelier,” says Sandie Bell, publicity director and board member of the Mooresville Artists Guild.

Once a month, the guild sponsors a Gallery Crawl, which takes place in conjunction with a classic car cruise-in and always attracts large crowds.

The Saturday evening Gallery Crawl begins with a 6 p.m. reception at the old Southern Railway depot, home of the Artists Guild.

“There is no charge for the event, and many downtown businesses, such as the antique shops and restaurants, stay open for it,” Bell says. “We feature an artist of the month at one of the galleries.”

Four Corners Framing and Gallery displays the work of more than 80 artists. Gallery owners Tony McDaniel and Kim Saragoni provide live music, as well as wine and cheese, for art lovers to enjoy as they browse during the monthly Art Crawl.

Four Corners occupies a 104-year-old building on Broad Street next to the Deluxe Ice Cream Co.

“We’ve provided a bench where gal-lery crawlers can sit to eat their ice cream

and look at the art,” McDaniel says.Exhibited art ranges from water-

colors and oils to pottery and some very popular metal work.

“We also display photography,” says McDaniel, a photographer and a former Charlotte Police Department detective. Saragoni did custom framing in the Charlotte area prior to the gallery’s opening.

“Kim and I always talked about opening a gallery, and one day our spouses said, ‘Quit talking about it and do it.’ So we did,” McDaniel says.

The gallery rotates exhibits on a regular basis. Prices range from $25 to $2,000.

Artist James M. Moore created this tall maple vase on display at Four Corners on Broad Street.

Art in the LimelightDOWNTOWN DISTRICT ATTRACTS GALLERY OWNERS AND ART PATRONS


Arts & Culture

625 Arts.indd 50 11/20/07 8:28:44 AM

Artist John Melius created this natural edge vessel of ambrosia maple burl.

The framing side of the business offers 3,500 samples for customers to contemplate. McDaniel considers framing an art in itself. The owners’ expertise in the area is one of the perks of having framing done at Four Corners.

Another benefit is a computer pro-gram that allows customers to test various frame and mat colors, textures and sizes before their picture is framed.

McDaniel says all the framing work is done in-house.

“We get a lot of return customers at the gallery and the frame shop,” he says. “I think that speaks for itself.”

Another popular stop on the Gallery Crawl is the Depot Fine Arts Gallery, which is housed in the old Southern Railway Depot, home of the Artists Guild. Remodeled space at the depot also includes a converted warehouse used for large exhibits.

This Mooresville Artists Guild began in 1955 with six artists. Now with 225 members, the guild includes Mooresville residents as well as others from throughout the surrounding region.

The nonprofit organization is sup-ported by the North Carolina Arts Council and the Iredell Arts Council.

– Bridget Huckabee

PH

OT

OS

BY

IA

N C

UR

CIO

Cardinal Glass Industries is the world’s largest producer of Insulating Glass units. Since our opening here in Mooresville (August 1999) we have produced enough glass to

wrap around the equator twice and we are about 1/3 of the way around again!

Cardinal FG Mooresville has 230 employees and produces 625 tons of flat glass every 24 hours.

Striving to set the industry standard for safety, quality, customer serviceand employee satisfaction by everyone working together.

Cardinal FG342 Mooresville Blvd. • Mooresville, NC 28115

(704) 660-0900


625 Arts.indd 51 11/20/07 8:28:53 AM

Look, a tall purple rectangle!

When you talk to your child you build vocabulary, so everyday moments become learning moments. For more tips, visit bornlearning.org

Representing the people of Iredell County since 1962

Mooresville Office | Lakeside Business Park | 236 Raceway Dr., Ste. 7Mooresville, NC 28117 | (704) 664-1127

Statesville Office | 316 E. Broad St. | Statesville, NC 28677 | (704) 873-2172

Offering legal services in real estate, corporate and business law, personal injury, criminal law, domestic, civil law, contract, probate and estate planning.

Homesley, Jones, Gaines,Dudley, Childers, McLurkin

& Donaldson, PLLC

T.C. Homesley, Jr. | Walter H. Jones, Jr. | Edmund L. GainesL. Ragan Dudley | Mark L. Childers | Elise B. McLurkin Horton

Kevin C. Donaldson | J. Patrick Stutts


625 Sports and Recreation.indd 52 11/20/07 8:35:22 AM

The Mooresville Parks and Recre-ation Department is developing a greenway and planning for a

new skate park. But those projects are just the tip of the iceberg.

Funding is on its way for numerous additional parks and rec improvements, and the community’s enthusiasm for the added amenities is palpable.

“This is a very exciting time at the Parks and Recreation Department,” says Wanda McKenzie, who has served as the city’s parks and rec director for the past 12 years.

“I’m excited about our future. We have more going on and more funding becoming available for our projects than at any time during the 28 years I’ve been with the department.”

A bond issue passed by the town council generated $25 million for parks and recreation facilities.

The new Mazeppa Road Park is one of the department’s most ambitious

projects, with amenities likely to include three softball fields, a baseball field, dog park, a BMX/mountain bike trail, tennis courts, playground structures, a trail system, a recreation center, soccer fields and practice fields.

The John Franklin Moore Memorial Park planned across from the depot would include an interactive water fountain and pavilion.

The department is also working with architects Wirth and Associates of Charlotte to design a skate park.

Land has been purchased on Cornelius Road for a park and a possible recreation center, and contractors are currently working on two more Mooresville parks: Bellingham Phase 2 and Nesbit Street Park.

“I am very excited for the citizens of Mooresville,” McKenzie says.

As if they didn’t have enough going on, the department staff recently moved into new offices.

The Mooresville Parks and Recre-ation Department runs nine parks that include seven tennis courts, eight outdoor basketball courts, six lighted ball fields and a gym for volleyball, badminton and basketball.

The department also offers a variety of classes – such as tennis instruction, dog obedience, creative arts and fitness – for youth and adults.

At the War Memorial Center, the parks and rec staff provides summer programs for 80 to 100 children each week. A special program for eighth- though 10th-graders includes leadership training, character education, etiquette and life skills.

The city’s 60,000-square-foot Charles Mack Citizen Center has space for large and small functions, which, along with the center’s Joe V. Knox Auditorium’s seating capacity of 235, are all available for rentals.

– Bridget Huckabee

Green Light for FunNEW RECREATION PROJECTS GET THE GO-AHEAD IN MOORESVILLE

Charles Mack Citizen Center is a popular public gathering spot in Mooresville.

IAN

CU

RC

IO


Sports & Recreation

625 Sports and Recreation.indd 53 11/20/07 8:35:30 AM

“I’ve had two kids and I

lost the weight from both

pregnancies. Going to the

Y just makes me feel better

about myself. I like the way

I look. I like the way my

clothes fit.” – Carla Halpern

Real People. Real Solutions.

Lowe’s YMCA • 170 Joe Knox Ave. • (704) 716-4000

Financial assistance available.YMCA Mission: To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all.

Lowe’s YMCA

www.ymcacharlotte.org


Health & Wellness

625 Health.indd 54 11/20/07 8:34:13 AM

Creating beautiful smiles that last a lifetime: Teeth whitening Tooth-colored fillings Porcelain bonding & veneers Custom crowns & bridges Full & partial dentures Implant restorations Sedation dentistry Laser certified TMJ diagnosis & treatment Invisalign – straight teeth without braces

Family-style comfort & convenience: Warm, friendly care Televisions, DVDs & CD headphones Warm towels & cozy blankets Convenient appointment times Major credit cards welcome Insurance-form preparation No- & low-interest payment plans

Call (704) 664-7774 today!

631 Brawley School Rd., Ste. 500Mooresville, NC

(In the Lowes Foods shopping center)www.LakeNormanSmiles.com

Dr. H. H. DrouinPronounced Drew-in

Restore your confidence with a beautiful smile that lasts.Don’t waste one more day embarrassed by your aging smile. Dr. Drouin offers

advanced dental techniques to restore your smile’s lost strength and beauty. By first rebuilding a healthy foundation, he ensures that your beautiful smile will outlast “cosmetic band-aid” treatments that simply cover up unhealthy teeth.

Best of all, you’ll love the warm, friendly atmosphere at Lake Norman Cosmetic & Restorative Dentistry. We treat you like family and offer you the comforts of home – even sedation dentistry for those who are anxious about treatment.

Featured in Charlotte Magazine as one of Charlotte’s Top Dentists.


625 Health.indd 55 11/20/07 8:34:17 AM

SEVER SURDULESCU, MD, FCCPCHRISTOPHER POOR, MD, FCCP

Specializing in the diagnosisand treatment of:

• Asthma• Shortness of Breath• Emphysema• Sleep Apnea and Sleep Disorders• Other Breathing Disorders

Lake Norman Medical & Professional Plaza170 Medical Park Rd. • Ste. 103

Mooresville, NC 28117(704) 660-4094 • Fax: (704) 660-8901

www.lakenormanpulmonary.com

Hospice & Palliative Care

of Iredell CountyMooresville/

Lake Norman Office

Mooresville/Lake Norman150 Fairview Rd. • Ste. 325

Mooresville, NC 28117(704) 663-0051

www.HospiceOfIredell.org

Providing quality and compassionate carefor patients and their loved ones for 24 years.

A nonprofit, community-based organization, we are the leading provider of medical, emotional and spiritual care for Iredell County residents. With a dedicated staff that lives and works in the community, we have earned the trust of our local doctors, hospitals, nursing homes and families like yours.

Gordon Hospice House2341 Simonton Rd.

Statesville, NC 28625(704) 761-2400

Statesville Office2347 Simonton Rd.

Statesville, NC 28625(704) 873-4719

Serving south Iredell and north Mecklenburg since 1984.

P601

8923

19 weeks

24 weeks

30 weeks

Now Available in Statesville!

“Making An Emotional Connection!”

• 3D/4D/Elective/Prenatal Ultrasound

• Licensed/Certified Ultrasound Technologists

• Sessions Available from $95

• Makes an Unforgettable Baby Shower, Birthday or Holiday Gift

• Gift Certificates are Available

Call for your appointment:(704) 883-83631620-A Davie Ave. • Statesville, NC 28677Visit our Web site for more information:www.watchmegrowultrasound.com

All images are projected on our seven-foot home theater screen!

Mom may bring up to five friends/family with her to debut this special occasion!

Serving you with dignity since 1925

(704) 664-3363 • 494 E. Plaza Dr.Hwy. 150 • Mooresville

www.cavin-cook.com

Owned and operated byH. Mike Cook

Member National Funeral Directors Association, NC Funeral Directors Association and

Cremation Association of NCLNU5578419


625 Health.indd 56 11/20/07 8:34:36 AM

When you pronounce the name of Ahlara Interna-tional, just remember the

first syllable is pronounced, “Ahhh.” That’s fitting, considering that the Mooresville business is a wellness center and spa unlike any other in the community.

“People’s lives are so busy, and we have a very tranquil atmosphere,” says company owner Lynne Wiggins. “People tell me every day when they come that, first of all, they’ve never seen anything like it. Second of all, they tell me that they immediately calm down when they walk in.

“Even if they take half an hour out of their lives to get a manicure, it’s very relaxing.”

Wiggins founded Ahlara in 2005 and patterned it after a wellness center she owned in Boston in the late 1980s and early ’90s.

“I found that there was nothing here like what I had in Boston, a true

wellness center.”Wiggins bought an acre of land and

built the 7,500-square-foot facility on Joe Knox Avenue, now an area of considerable growth.

“We built it out in the middle of a field,” she says. “Now the YMCA is near us; it’s one of the biggest in the South.”

Ahlara employs 22 specialists in body, skin and nail care. Wiggins’ enterprise boasts four distinctive divi-sions: the wellness center, a spa, a retail shop and a travel service. Wiggins leads two to three trips annually for travelers interested in seeing more of other countries – not just the traditional tourist spots. On these excursions to places such as Thailand, Nepal, Tibet, India, Egypt and South American countries, Wiggins buys local-artisan handcrafted treasures, which are sold in Ahlara’s International Market. She brings 20 years of retail experience to the merchandising side of the business.

The overall atmosphere at the well ness

Just Say, ‘Ahhh’AHLARA OFFERS CITY A TASTE OF THE GOOD LIFE

Lynne Wiggins offers pampering and relaxation to customers at Ahlara International spa.

IAN

CU

RC

IO

center and spa also has an exotic flavor. Wiggins says the interiors are “decorated in an Asian motif” and that many of the space services are Asia-inspired.

“One of my areas of interest has been to travel all over Asia, so I brought back a lot of their thinking and philosophy.” Wiggins says.

The 1,500-square-foot wellness center offers classes in yoga, meditation, tai chi and Pilates, as well as symposiums taught by local physicians and practitioners such as accupressurists, chiropractors and podiatrists. “We look upon ourselves as preventive health,” she says.

The spa takes clients into an atmos-phere of pampering and relaxation, with an eclectic assortment of services, from shirodhara, a sesame-oil treatment for the forehead and scalp, to prana mas-sage, designed to release blocked energy and realign healing forces.

“People will come to us so that, at least, they get an hour or two out of their day for themselves. That’s the main thing,” Wiggins says. “We find that people don’t take care of themselves. They don’t take the time to take care of themselves.”

– Sharon H. Fitzgerald


Health & Wellness

625 Health.indd 57 11/20/07 8:34:44 AM

625 Community Profile.indd 58 11/20/07 8:29:47 AM

THIS SECTION IS SPONSORED BY

EDUCATION

Public Schools

Iredell-Statesville Schools

(iss.k12.nc.us), (704) 872-8931

Mooresville Graded Schools

(mgsd.k12.nc.us)

(704) 664-5553

Private Schools

Believer’s Faith Center

Christian Academy

(704) 873-5484

Cannon School

(704) 786-8171

Chesterbrook Academy

(704) 658-1344

Montessori Children’s House

(704) 873-1092

Montessori Elementary School

(704) 873-1092

Mooresville Christian Academy

(704) 633-4690

Primrose School of Lake

Norman, (704) 658-0460

Southview Christian School

(704) 872-9554

SNAPSHOTMooresville is about a 35-minute drive from the Charlotte/Douglas

International Airport and is known for its excellent schools, strong

neighborhoods and flagship industries such as Lowe’s corporate

headquarters and NASCAR racing teams.

Statesville Christian School

(704) 873-9511

Higher Education

Catawba College

(704) 637-4290

Central Piedmont Community

College, (704) 342-6633

Davidson College

(704) 892-2000

Gardner-Webb University at

Statesville, (704) 761-5100

Johnson C. Smith University

(704) 378-1000

Livingstone College/Hood

Theological Seminary

(704) 797-1000


(Mooresville), (704) 663-1923


(Statesville)

(704) 878-3200

Montreat College (Charlotte)

(800) 436-2777

Pfeiffer University at Charlotte

(704) 521-9116

Queens University of Charlotte

(704) 332-7121

University of North Carolina

– Charlotte, (704) 547-2000

Racing Schools

NASCAR Technical Institute

– UTI, (704) 658-1950

PIT Instruction & Training Main

(704) 799-3869

(866) 563-3566

CLIMATE

Annual Precipitation

43.35 inches

Average July high

temperature, 88 F

Average January low

temperature, 26 F

GARDENING

Average last frost date, spring

April 11

Average first frost date,

autumn Oct. 24

Iredell County Agricultural

Extension Service

873-0507

NUMBERS TO KNOW

Emergency Services

For all emergencies, dial 911.

MOORESVILLE

The area code for Mooresvi l le i s 704 . IMAGESMOORESVILLE .COM 59

Community Profile


Registration, (704) 663-5472

Business Office

(704) 663-3800

Charles Mack Citizen Center

662-3334

Convention & Visitors Bureau

(704) 799-2400 or

(877) 661-1234

Driver’s License

(704) 664-3344

Human Resources

(704) 662-8724

Hunting & Fishing License

(may be obtained at Wal-

Mart) (704) 664-5238

Parks and Recreation

(704) 663-7026

Personal & Real Estate Tax

(704) 878-3000

Planning Department

(704) 662-7040

Post Office

(800) 275-8777

Public Library (Iredell County)

(704) 878-3090

Public Library (Mooresville)

(704) 664-2927

Public Works Department

(704) 664-4278

Mooresville Town Clerk

(704) 664-3800

Town Engineer

(704) 662-8472

Town Manager

(704) 663-3800

Vehicle Registration

(704) 663-1699

Voter Registration (Iredell

County)

(704) 878-3140

Voter Registration

(Mooresville)

(704) 664-3898

Water-Sewer Maintenance

(704) 664-3705MEDIANewspapers

Business Today(704) 795-6030

The Business Journal(704) 347-2822

Lake Norman Neighbors/Charlotte Observer(704) 987-3670

(Non-emergency numbers)

Iredell County EMS

(704) 878-3025

Iredell County Fire Marshal

(704) 878-3035

Iredell Sheriff’s Department

(704) 878-3180

Lake Norman Volunteer

Fire Department

(704) 664-2468

Mooresville Fire Department

Station #1 (704) 664-1338

Station #2 (704) 660-7740

Station #3 (704) 235-5900

Mooresville Police Department

(704) 664-3311

Mooresville Rescue Squad

(704) 663-3660

Mount Mourne Volunteer Fire

Department, (704) 892-1530

MSI Crimestoppers Inc.

(704) 658-9056

Shepherd’s Volunteer

Fire Department

(704) 663-1245

South Iredell Volunteer

Fire Department

(704) 664-3043

Other numbers

Automobile & Boat


Community Profile


Lake Norman Magazine(704) 892-7936

Lake Norman Times(704) 664-2822

Mooresville Tribune

(704) 664-5554

Que Pasa Newspapers

and Radio, (704) 391-5044

Statesville Record & Landmark(704) 873-1451

Benfield Sanitation

(704) 872-2668

Iredell County Garbage Refuse

Depot and Transfer Station

(704) 663-5314

Water

Water Department

(704) 663-3800

ATTRACTIONS

Bird Brain Ostrich Ranch

(704) 483-1620

Championship Yacht Charters

(704) 905-1495

Children’s Museum

(Statesville)

(704) 872-7508

Cotton Ketchie’s

Landmark Galleries

(704) 664-4122

D.E. Turner

& Co. Hardware

(704) 664-5145

Dale Earnhardt Inc.

(877) DEI-ZONE

Energy Explorium

(704) 875-5600

Fishin’ with Gus

(704) 489-0763

Less than $50,000

$50,000-$99,999

$100,000-$149,999

$150,000-$199,999

$200,000-$299,999

$300,000-$499,999

$500,000-$999,999

$1 million or more

5.1%

24%

29.6%

22%

15.4%

3.4%

.2%

.4%

HOUSING VALUES

UTILITIES

CableMI Connection, (704) 662-3255

Time Warner, (888) 683-1000

ElectricityDuke Power Co., 594-9400

Energy United, 892-0278

GasPublic Service Co. of N.C.

(877) 776-2427

TelephoneWindstream Communications

(704) 664-4123

TrashTown of Mooresville

(704) 664-4278



Gasoline Alley Collections

of Mooresville

(704) 662-9479

Historic Mooresville

Downtown Commission

(704) 662-3336

Iredell Arts Council

(704) 873-6100

Iredell Museums, Inc.

(704) 872-7508

Lake Norman State Park

(704) 528-6350

Lake Norman

Yacht Club

(704) 799-2446

Lazy 5 Ranch

(704) 663-5100

Memory Lane

Motorsports & Historic

Automotive Museum

(704) 662-3673

Mooresville Convention &

Visitors Bureau

(704) 799-2400

Mooresville Dragway

(704) 857-9364

Mooresville Ice Cream

(704) 664-5456

Mooresville Museum

(704) 664-2704

North Carolina Auto Racing

Hall of Fame

(704) 663-5331

Penske Racing

(704) 664-2300

Pit Instruction

and Training Facility

(866) 563-3566

Queen’s Landing/

Catawba Queen

(704) 663-2628

Race Shop Tours

(704) 688-1466

The Quilter’s Loft

(704) 662-8660

MEDICAL FACILITIES

Carolinas Medical Center

(Charlotte)

(704) 355-2000

Davis Community Hospital

(Statesville)

(704) 872-0281

#1 Properties of Lake Norman www.number1properties.net

Ahlara International www.ahlarainternational.com

Blanco Tackabery Combs & Matamoros, PA www.btcmlaw.com

Buonosera Media Services, LLC

Cardinal FG www.cardinalcorp.com

Cavin-Cook Funeral Home & Crematory www.cavin-cook.com

Dale Earnhardt, Inc. www.daleearnhardtinc.com

Energy United www.energyunited.com

Fairfi eld Inn by Marriott www.marriott.com/cltmr

Farm Bureau Insurance www.ncfbins.com

First Command Financial Planning www.fi rstcommand.com

First National Bank & Trust www.myyesbank.com

Fishing With Gus www.fi shingwithgus.com

Garage Pass Shop Tours, Inc. www.adventureinmotorsports.com

Griffi n Brothers www.griffi nbrothers.com

Griffi n Insurance Agency, Inc.

Guardian Fence Company www.guardianfenceco.com

High Speed Learning, LLC www.highspeedlearn.com

Holiday Inn Express www.maya-hotels.com

Homesley, Jones, Gaines, Dudley, Childers, McLurkin & Donaldson, PLLC www.hjattorneys.net

Hospice & Palliative Care of Iredell County www.hoic.org

Iredell Memorial Hospital www.iredellmemorial.org

Iredell-Statesville Schools www.iss.k12.nc.us

L.B. Plastics, Inc. www.lbplastics.com

Lake Norman Cosmetic & Restorative Dentistry www.lakenormansmiles.com

Lake Norman Hematology Oncology Specialists www.lnho.org

Lake Norman Pulmonary

Lake Norman Realty www.lakenormanrealty.com

Lake Norman Regional Medical Center www.lnrmc.com

Mitchell Community College www.mitchellcc.edu

Mooresville Downtown Commission www.downtownmooresville.com

Mooresville Graded School District www.mgsd.k12.nc.us

Mooresville Savings Bank

MSI Economic Development Corporation www.edcmooresville.org

Piedmont Healthcare www.piedmonthealthcare.com

Pinnacle Properties, LLC www.pinnacle-properties.net

PIT Instruction & Training www.5off5on.com

Preferred Financial Strategies www.fi nancialstrategiesforlife.com

Queen’s Landing www.queenslanding.com

Raymer Oil Company

Re/Max at the Lake www.homesatthelake.com

Ryland Homes www.ryland.com

Sells Service, Inc.

Soiree www.soireeonmain.com

State Farm www.chrisburnham.net

The Clusters Premier Rental www.clustersbybmc.com

Town of Mooresville www.ci.mooresville.nc.us

Watch Me Grow www.watchmegrowultrasound.com

Windstream Communications www.windstream.com

Yadkin Valley Bank www.piedmontbank.com

YMCA of Greater Charlotte www.ymcacharlotte.org

Visit Our Advertisers



FOR MORE INFORMATION

Mooresville-South Iredell

Chamber of Commerce

149 E. Iredell Ave.


Phone: (704) 664-3898

Fax: (704) 664-2549


Sources:

www.mooresvillenc.org,

http://economicdevelopment.

mooresvillenc.org,

www.ci.mooresville.nc.us

Iredell Memorial Hospital

(Statesville)

(704) 873-5661

Lake Norman Regional

Medical Center

(Mooresville)

(704) 660-4000

Northeast Medical Center

(Concord)

(704) 783-3000

Presbyterian Hospital

(Huntersville)

(704) 384-4000

University Hospital (Charlotte)

(704) 548-6000

MEETING VENUES

The Charles

Mack Citizen Center

(704) 662-3334

5 Off 5 On/

PIT Crew U

Training Facility

(704) 799-3869

Fairfield Inn by Marriott

(704) 663-6100

Hampton Inn & Suites

(704) 660-7700

Holiday Inn Express

Hotel & Suites

(704) 662-6900

Iredell County

Outdoor Education

Center/Ropes Course

(704) 878-3103

Memory Lane Museum

(704) 662-3673

NC Auto Racing

Hall of Fame

(704) 663-5331

Queens Landing/

Catawba Queen

(704) 663-2628

Sleep Inn

and Suites Hotel

(704) 799-7070

The Springhill Suites

by Marriott

(704) 658-0053

The War Memorial

(704) 663-7026

Wingate Inn

(704) 664-4900

PROFESSIONAL SPORTS

Professional sports

in nearby Charlotte include:

Carolina Panthers,

football

Charlotte Bobcats,

basketball

Charlotte Sting,

basketball

Charlotte Checkers, hockey

Charlotte Knights, baseball

Kannapolis Intimidators

baseball


Community Profile


Providing Full Service Moving & Storage Since 1960

Family Owned and Operated

Approved Carrier for the Department of Defense

Call for a Free Estimate(704) 872-9841 • (800) 723-80032313 W. Front St. • Statesville, NC 28677 • [email protected]

D&B 030491633 • NCUC-C-609 • DOT 512499 • MC 197142

Moving & StorageSells

©2002 American Cancer Society, Inc.

questions answers

8 0 0 . A C S . 2 3 4 5 / c a n c e r . o r g

“GARAGE PASS” SHOP TOURS, INC.The VIP Race Experience

Tour the NASCAR race shops, museums, Lowe’s Motor Speedway and more on a guided VIP tour of NASCAR.

www.adventuresinmotorsports.com

Gift certificates [email protected]

Monday-Friday(704) 938-7390

We specialize in:Ornamental • AluminumPVC • Wood • Chain linkCustom arbors & pergolasSwimming pool enclosuresInstallation & repairs(704) 799-3666

Fax: (704) 799-6444

The job is not complete until you are happy!

www.guardianfenceco.comwww.downtownmooresville.com

Unique Shopping & Dining

215 N. Main St.Mooresville, NC 28115



625 C2 C3 C4.indd C3 11/20/07 8:29:42 AM

625 C2 C3 C4.indd C4 11/20/07 8:29:44 AM

images mooresville, nc: 2008

Documents

knowof mooresville

ne mooresville

amof mooresville

downtown mooresville

funthe mooresville parks

indd c1

indd c2

am625 toc