Latest / Mind Your Business - A Podcast Series produced by the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce / Supporting the Team Through the Product: The Story of Mountaineer Tavern

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Supporting the Team Through the Product: The Story of Mountaineer Tavern · Mind Your Business - A Podcast Series produced by the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_01: Another midweek game day at the room brings visitors into town from four and wide at a very busy time of year.
• 0:08
  SPEAKER_01: This week is a perspective on game day influence.
• 0:11
  SPEAKER_01: What it means for a business is trying to tie itself to the election.
• 0:15
  SPEAKER_01: From the Boon Area Chamber of Commerce, this is Mind Your Business.
• 0:19
  SPEAKER_00: Mind Your Business brought to you by Appalachian Commercial Real Estate, providing professional commercial real estate services.
• 0:26
  SPEAKER_00: Visit AppalachianCRE.com.
• 0:31
  SPEAKER_01: Hello and welcome into Mind Your Business.
• 0:33
  SPEAKER_01: I'm David Jackson, president and CEO of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce.
• 0:37
  SPEAKER_01: Thanks for joining us once again this week, whether that's through the airwaves of WATA here in Boone or as a subscriber of the podcast version of the program, which is made possible each week by our good friends at Appalachian Commercial Real Estate.
• 0:49
  SPEAKER_01: If you haven't yet subscribed, that's not a problem.
• 0:52
  SPEAKER_01: Just search for Mind Your Business wherever you get those podcasts.
• 0:55
  SPEAKER_01: You can gain access to full archives, occasional bonus content, like all of the content that we have provided for the upcoming election.
• 1:03
  SPEAKER_01: Those candidate form files are available to subscribers fairly easily.
• 1:08
  SPEAKER_01: That plus extended episodes and plenty more, as we connect you with the business news that you can use from right here in the mountains of Western North Carolina.
• 1:24
  SPEAKER_01: Game Day at the Rock.
• 1:26
  SPEAKER_01: Those words mean a lot of things to a lot of people in this part of the state.
• 1:30
  SPEAKER_01: For the app football enthusiasts, the next chance to watch our team play.
• 1:35
  SPEAKER_01: For those not in tune or maybe just indifferent to the sport, a chance to ask, who are all of these people and why is traffic so bad?
• 1:43
  SPEAKER_01: For the local business community, a chance to connect with a good number of repeat visitors, which is important, as many times, especially for downtown retailers, they would tell you that their sales actually lag on game day.
• 1:55
  SPEAKER_01: But it's the Friday or the Sunday, or perhaps that visit later in the year that is the one that rings the cash register.
• 2:02
  SPEAKER_01: For restaurants, honestly, it's been a bit all over the map this year.
• 2:06
  SPEAKER_01: Remember back to that Charlotte game.
• 2:08
  SPEAKER_01: That's the one with the big lightning storm that saw tailgates abandoned and tables full inside many nearby establishments, waiting it out with food and drink in hand.
• 2:18
  SPEAKER_01: Homecoming Saturday, now that was a little bit soggy, and a depressed crowd meant an important weekend played out a little bit less impactful than normal.
• 2:27
  SPEAKER_01: Then there are weekends like this past weekend.
• 2:30
  SPEAKER_01: Peak Leaves, Woolly Worm, Valley Country Fair, Abstate Open House, all rolled into one.
• 2:36
  SPEAKER_01: Depending on the audience of business plays too, the results, even on a high volume weekend, can be mixed.
• 2:43
  SPEAKER_01: Timing, weather, and location of concentrations of people, all of these are factors in creating a financially meaningful weekend.
• 2:51
  SPEAKER_01: So let's take it back to game day.
• 2:53
  SPEAKER_01: For those of you listening on this Thursday, October 22nd, as we record this episode, James Madison, one of Abstate's closest Sunbelt rivals, is the team on the docket tonight for a nationally televised game on ESPNU.
• 3:07
  SPEAKER_01: Now, anecdotally, there is a ton of purple on the streets out there.
• 3:11
  SPEAKER_01: And some retailers will say that this is the part of the fan base for this game that will actually spend more because they're here once, judging from hotel chatter for multiple days, in fact.
• 3:23
  SPEAKER_01: And this is their one guaranteed trip to town.
• 3:26
  SPEAKER_01: So there's a chance to make a sale, but also make an impression.
• 3:30
  SPEAKER_01: Still, it's the home crowd that's more consistent and reliable.
• 3:34
  SPEAKER_01: And that's who the business community will always cater toward on a game day.
• 3:38
  SPEAKER_01: Playing into the local vibe, always something that a Chamber of Commerce supports, of course, and it can be an attraction for those that are looking for an experience that feels married to the reason they came to town in the first place.
• 3:50
  SPEAKER_01: One such business is the focus of this week's program as we visit with Jay Harrell, one of the partners in the new Mountaineer Tavern on Blowing Rock Road.
• 4:00
  SPEAKER_01: It's right there in the name, of course, an abstate fan-friendly place through and through.
• 4:05
  SPEAKER_01: The reason for that allegiance runs deeper than a casual business connection.
• 4:09
  SPEAKER_01: This is about generations of family support and looking for a unique way to support the product on the courts and fields.
• 4:16
  SPEAKER_01: We'll connect with Jay Harrell right after the break.
• 4:18
  SPEAKER_01: And before that, two quick notes for you.
• 4:21
  SPEAKER_01: The first one, especially for all of you weekend visitors, make sure to check out Howard Knob Park and its new observation platform situated above downtown Boone.
• 4:31
  SPEAKER_01: On Thursday morning, Watauga County administration confirmed the park will maintain its regular operating hours through dusk on Sunday, November first.
• 4:40
  SPEAKER_01: After that, it will close for the season, an operational decision tied directly to the return of daylight savings time.
• 4:47
  SPEAKER_01: In the meantime, you won't see Boone from a better vantage point.
• 4:51
  SPEAKER_01: And if you'd like to learn more about this project, Howard Knob Park's Revitalization was our Dan Meyer Partnership Award winner at Spirit of Boon last month.
• 5:00
  SPEAKER_01: You can check out the Boon Area Chamber of Commerce YouTube channel and learn more about that project and all of the partners that made it happen.
• 5:07
  SPEAKER_01: Last note, merely a thank you to all that reached out to our team for national support your Chamber of Commerce Day.
• 5:15
  SPEAKER_01: Apparently, there is a day for everything.
• 5:17
  SPEAKER_01: I'd like to take a moment to hat tip our sister organizations in Ash County, Blowing Rock, Avery County, Banner Elk, Allegheny County, and of course, those chambers across Western North Carolina that have remained banded together, post to lean, advocating for this region and advocating together every day.
• 5:35
  SPEAKER_01: We do what we do because of you.
• 5:37
  SPEAKER_01: So thanks for the kind words, and know that wherever you live, your local chamber of commerce is the best place to keep your business connected and informed about the opportunities impacting the entire community.
• 5:50
  SPEAKER_01: And with that, a chamber member joins us after the break.
• 5:53
  SPEAKER_01: Jay Harrell of Fosco Companies and a partner in the Mountaineer Tavern comes up right after this.
• 6:00
  SPEAKER_01: Pull up a chair you're listening to mind your business.
• 6:03
  SPEAKER_00: Appalachian Commercial Real Estate provides professional commercial real estate services in the Boone area.
• 6:09
  SPEAKER_00: They provide sales, leasing, consulting, and appraisal services to owners and users of commercial real estate.
• 6:15
  SPEAKER_00: For more information, go to their website at Appalachian CRE.com.
• 6:22
  SPEAKER_01: Welcome back to Mind Your Business.
• 6:23
  SPEAKER_01: I'm David Jackson.
• 6:24
  SPEAKER_01: Before we talk about new businesses getting connected to community, let us tell you about a local professional that's eager to help you park your business next to a long-lasting opportunity.
• 6:36
  SPEAKER_01: That's James Milner and Appalachian Commercial Real Estate.
• 6:38
  SPEAKER_01: They solve simple and complex commercial real estate problems in and around the Boone area and beyond.
• 6:44
  SPEAKER_01: Whether you own or lease commercial real estate, regardless of the property type, have an advocate on your side, along with the expertise and experience to assist you and your business.
• 6:53
  SPEAKER_01: For more information, check them out on the web, Appalachian CRE.com.
• 6:58
  SPEAKER_01: Game Days in Boone.
• 6:59
  SPEAKER_01: You can probably close your eyes and see the car flags as I say those words.
• 7:03
  SPEAKER_01: Six fall Saturdays in this area mean big business for the local community, and an opportunity to create relationships with customers that become more like family over time.
• 7:14
  SPEAKER_01: For the Harrels, it's been about family connecting around abstate athletics for generations and seeing an opportunity to redefine what supporting the team means in today's era of college athletics.
• 7:27
  SPEAKER_01: Jay Harrell, son of Missy, and the late Mark Harrell, has known Abstate since day one of his life.
• 7:33
  SPEAKER_03: Dad moved here when he was two years old.
• 7:36
  SPEAKER_03: Both of his uh parents worked for the university.
• 7:39
  SPEAKER_03: Um so he grew up on campus.
• 7:41
  SPEAKER_03: I mean, uh, he his elementary school was on campus.
• 7:43
  SPEAKER_03: When he got out of elementary school, he went straight to Brim Kirk Gym and started playing basketball with the college kids.
• 7:48
  SPEAKER_03: Um always had a love for for basketball.
• 7:52
  SPEAKER_03: Um mom came up here to to go to school from Chapel Hill and never left.
• 7:57
  SPEAKER_03: Um I've been going to games since I was less than six months old.
• 8:02
  SPEAKER_03: Um it's just that it's a very important part of our life.
• 8:04
  SPEAKER_03: I mean, you know, I my wife will laugh that I'm I'm saying this here, but our wedding was on our bye week two years ago.
• 8:10
  SPEAKER_03: Um, you know, so it's just it's it's an important part of our lives.
• 8:14
  SPEAKER_03: I mean, it's a very uh fun aspect of what we do.
• 8:17
  SPEAKER_03: We we love it.
• 8:18
  SPEAKER_03: You know, App State is a very special university, special community.
• 8:22
  SPEAKER_03: You know, I give the example all the time.
• 8:24
  SPEAKER_03: You you can be in an airport anywhere in the country and you can you can watch two guys in in Carolina hats walk past each other and they don't say hello.
• 8:32
  SPEAKER_03: Someone wearing an App State hat, you'll walk three gates down the road just to say hello, hear their story.
• 8:37
  SPEAKER_03: Oh, I graduated this year, I went there, my kids went there, whatever.
• 8:40
  SPEAKER_03: I mean, we we were in the airport in uh Iceland, ran into a guy with the App State sweatshirt, talked to him for 45 minutes, you know.
• 8:46
  SPEAKER_03: Um I just think that that App State family, everyone's so passionate about it.
• 8:51
  SPEAKER_03: Um I definitely think we're one of the most passionate fan bases in the country.
• 8:54
  SPEAKER_03: Um, you know, and then and everything's changing so rapidly, and so um we just we love being a part of it.
• 9:00
  SPEAKER_03: Uh huge, huge fans of Dustin Kearns.
• 9:03
  SPEAKER_03: Um that that it you're not gonna find someone who's bought into the community and that the program and the university more um than that.
• 9:11
  SPEAKER_03: And so um, you know, it's just it's always been an important part of our lives, and we want to do everything we can to help it.
• 9:16
  SPEAKER_01: Aaron Powell So in the spirit of Billy Napier being in town, I will tell you that my wife and I got married the day after Miracle on the Mountain, uh just to get a fall wedding in in the football calendar, and it's just so happy that Billy uh gave us a great wedding present to start what what ended up being a party for the entire weekend.
• 9:31
  SPEAKER_01: So thanks, Billy, if you're out there listening.
• 9:34
  SPEAKER_01: Um so you know, you have in growing up in this community, you've seen how the community itself is transformed, not saying that athletics is 100% responsible for that, but certainly the university's place in serving as an economic driver is.
• 9:49
  SPEAKER_01: Um, from a business perspective in the various ways that you touch that, how has that allowed for business to happen?
• 9:55
  SPEAKER_01: How how has that changed your companies over time?
• 9:58
  SPEAKER_03: Oh, absolutely.
• 9:59
  SPEAKER_03: I mean, it it's huge for us for the local economy.
• 10:01
  SPEAKER_03: I mean, it gets people up here on weekends that maybe wouldn't be super busy otherwise.
• 10:05
  SPEAKER_03: You know, I mean, yes, October, you got you got the leaves, so where you're gonna be busy the whole time.
• 10:09
  SPEAKER_03: But you know, September, not always a super busy month.
• 10:12
  SPEAKER_03: Um so bringing people up here, you know, they're staying, you know, whether they're they're renting homes, hotel rooms, whatever, they're coming out, they're eating, they're shopping, they're doing everything.
• 10:20
  SPEAKER_03: So it's it's great for the you know the local economy.
• 10:22
  SPEAKER_03: I mean, we're typically sold out of of all of our vacation properties that we manage on on game game weekends.
• 10:27
  SPEAKER_03: Um so it's it's great for us, it's great for everybody in the local economy.
• 10:31
  SPEAKER_03: Um, and then that's kind of what led us to to Mount New York Tavern, was figuring out another way to do something uh special and something cool.
• 10:38
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, so let's let's talk about that concept from from the time that that idea first you know generated uh to now being open right next to uh one of the more prominent athletic facilities.
• 10:48
  SPEAKER_01: What did it take to make this dream a reality?
• 10:51
  SPEAKER_03: Uh it it was very interesting.
• 10:53
  SPEAKER_03: Never uh imagined being into the restaurant industry.
• 10:56
  SPEAKER_03: Um you know, but we put together a group of very passionate uh App State fans.
• 11:01
  SPEAKER_03: Pretty much everyone's an alumnus, um, and we got multiple former athletes, you know, played here 40, 50 years ago.
• 11:07
  SPEAKER_03: Um you know, and and as everything's changing, I mean it it's it's no surprise, you know, transfer portal, NIL money, everything, you know, and I I I think everyone up here kind of knows that, you know, we're not sitting on a pot of gold money-wise for for athletics.
• 11:20
  SPEAKER_03: Um and so the idea was let's create something that will benefit the community, but then that we can give back to the university and try and create some additional funds.
• 11:29
  SPEAKER_03: Um, you know, because everyone here wants to win.
• 11:31
  SPEAKER_03: I mean, we all know that.
• 11:32
  SPEAKER_03: Everyone likes having a good time, but the wins matter.
• 11:35
  SPEAKER_03: Um and so we got to do everything that we can to try and help this you know the the university get set up, you know, to succeed.
• 11:41
  SPEAKER_03: Um so there there's a a rather large group of investors into it.
• 11:45
  SPEAKER_03: Um and we got paired up with uh Preston Dishman and uh and his wife Nicole, who Preston's actually born and raised here, um, moved out, has been all over the place.
• 11:57
  SPEAKER_03: Um I mean, absolutely brilliant guy.
• 12:00
  SPEAKER_03: I mean, he knows this stuff inside and out.
• 12:01
  SPEAKER_03: And so that was what was attractive to us.
• 12:03
  SPEAKER_03: Nobody that is a an investor in it has any restaurant experience, really, you know, and no one wanted to.
• 12:08
  SPEAKER_03: Um we were fine, you know, funding it, doing the construction for it, doing all that, but we don't know restaurants.
• 12:14
  SPEAKER_03: And and so luckily he does.
• 12:15
  SPEAKER_03: And so he was brought on board, and I mean he is just you know taking it and run with it.
• 12:19
  SPEAKER_03: We've got nothing to do with the food, so I feel like I can brag on the food.
• 12:22
  SPEAKER_03: I mean the food's fantastic.
• 12:23
  SPEAKER_03: Um and you know, so he's done a good job.
• 12:25
  SPEAKER_03: And and I think we really nailed the atmosphere we wanted to create, like yes, we wanted to be an App State theme, you know, but we we didn't want it to look like an Applebee's, you know, and um we wanted it to be nice and and elegant, but you know, bring the kids in their soccer jerseys after soccer game.
• 12:40
  SPEAKER_03: You know, we want it to be a family place.
• 12:43
  SPEAKER_03: Um and so and so it's been great seeing, you know, I I've moved all my lunch meetings there now, you know, and so it's awesome seeing the community folks come in there for whether it's lunch meetings, bringing families in for dinner.
• 12:52
  SPEAKER_03: Um, you know, that it's uh we've got a lot of student athletes coming.
• 12:56
  SPEAKER_03: I mean, we're we're preparing the the um post-game meals for every single home basketball game for the team, you know.
• 13:02
  SPEAKER_03: So we've had a lot of great support from the athletic department as well, you know, buying into it.
• 13:08
  SPEAKER_03: Um you know, we we've had numerous coaches uh reach out to us, you know, book a large reservation, bring the entire team, you know, and and that's what it's all about.
• 13:16
  SPEAKER_03: Like that's what we absolutely love is is seeing these guys get in there, enjoying it.
• 13:20
  SPEAKER_03: Um, you know, and then hopefully as we continue to gain traction, it'll be a successful business and we'll be able to, you know, make a substantial give back to to athletics, you know, every year.
• 13:29
  SPEAKER_03: Um and that's the goal.
• 13:30
  SPEAKER_03: Um, you know, and it's and it in uh these times you can never have too much money.
• 13:36
  SPEAKER_03: So we want to do everything we can to try and get a little extra in there for them.
• 13:38
  SPEAKER_01: Now, I I know that that you probably had a little bit to do with the interior design of the facility.
• 13:44
  SPEAKER_01: Uh it is uh almost an apstate museum.
• 13:46
  SPEAKER_01: Is there a favorite thing that you've got or favorite era that you're paying homage to?
• 13:51
  SPEAKER_03: I cannot take credit for any of the interior design.
• 13:53
  SPEAKER_03: That was all my mother, Missy.
• 13:54
  SPEAKER_03: She she worked very, very hard on that, and uh I I think she knocked it out of the park.
• 13:59
  SPEAKER_03: Um you know, we we got started with some stuff and we're gonna continue to add.
• 14:04
  SPEAKER_03: So, like when Luke Combs came up for his honorary degree, he signed a game day picture for us to Mountaineer Tavern, that's hanging up.
• 14:11
  SPEAKER_03: We just got a Joey Aguilar picture signed, you know, that's gonna get hung up.
• 14:15
  SPEAKER_03: So we'll we've gotten started with some really cool stuff in there, and we want to keep adding to it, you know, as things change and everything.
• 14:21
  SPEAKER_03: Um I'm biased, you know, so uh there's a App State beaten Auburn picture in there.
• 14:26
  SPEAKER_03: That's my favorite.
• 14:27
  SPEAKER_03: That's always gonna be my favorite.
• 14:29
  SPEAKER_03: Um but no, it it's it's been it's really cool too.
• 14:32
  SPEAKER_03: We have you know the the timeline of Yosef changing, if you've seen that on the top.
• 14:38
  SPEAKER_03: Um, you know, it's interesting.
• 14:40
  SPEAKER_03: I only remember two of the designs, you know, but there's about six of them in there.
• 14:43
  SPEAKER_03: So I I think and we worked with the graphics company that the university works with, and they they knocked it out of the park.
• 14:49
  SPEAKER_03: I mean, they they sent us stuff and it it they just they did a great job, you know, and and so we've we tried to cover a little bit of every sport in there, um, you know, and we're gonna continue to add to it as as time goes on.
• 14:59
  SPEAKER_01: You know, I saw you the other night before the the men's basketball exhibition with Western Carolina, and I remember you said it was like Christmas morning for you.
• 15:05
  SPEAKER_01: I know you've got a passion for basketball that a lot of ties into that, but I also noticed at the same time that your parking lot was pretty full next door.
• 15:13
  SPEAKER_01: Um leading into an event day like this, what do event days mean for those businesses that do attach themselves to the game day atmosphere?
• 15:24
  SPEAKER_03: Well, obviously, yes, we want to be very busy on game day.
• 15:26
  SPEAKER_03: You know, football, we'd love to be busy, but we also want to place too for for the basketball games.
• 15:31
  SPEAKER_03: You know, Coach Kern's uh maybe his first or second season here, you know, he he changed our home start times from 7 to 6.30, trying to get more families to to come.
• 15:40
  SPEAKER_03: And you know, and it's kind of a mental thing.
• 15:42
  SPEAKER_03: Like I remember as a as a kid, you know, mom like, oh man, the game's not gonna be over till nine, you're not in bed till ten.
• 15:47
  SPEAKER_03: I mean, that just changed, you know.
• 15:48
  SPEAKER_03: Now game's over at 8.30, you can talk yourself into being in bed by nine, that's a lot more doable, you know.
• 15:53
  SPEAKER_03: And so we wanted somewhere where people can come, you know, come come get a meal, have a drink if you want, and and then walk over, you know, to the game.
• 15:59
  SPEAKER_03: Um so we're we're hoping that'll be a good feeder, but what we hope too is that if you're in town for the game, you come check it out, you love it, and then when you're back up, even if it's not for a game, you know, you're choosing to come eat there.
• 16:10
  SPEAKER_03: Um, especially knowing what we're what we're trying to do and give back to the university.
• 16:14
  SPEAKER_03: Um, you know, uh yes, while it is abstate themed, we we also want to do community stuff too.
• 16:19
  SPEAKER_03: You know, so obviously we got we got opened in in August or no, sorry, July.
• 16:24
  SPEAKER_03: Um, you know, still working out a few things, but next year we we want to do some community stuff too.
• 16:29
  SPEAKER_03: You know, we want to have school nights, we want to have all that kind of stuff.
• 16:31
  SPEAKER_03: So yes, we we're very much abstate focused, but we we want to give back to the local community as a as a whole as well.
• 16:36
  SPEAKER_03: Um and just get as many people involved as we can.
• 16:39
  SPEAKER_03: You know, we want it to be a a a comfortable place where, you know, if you want to come in tune thai, come in cunning.
• 16:44
  SPEAKER_03: You want to bring the kids in in Shen Gardens, High Sox, and Cleats, bring them, you know.
• 16:47
  SPEAKER_03: But like we want it to be um very much a a family atmosphere.
• 16:51
  SPEAKER_01: Um you know, and it's you you've picked an interesting time to get into this business uh with inflationary pressures and all kinds of things hitting that particular industry sector.
• 17:02
  SPEAKER_01: How has that changed the way that you need to present yourself as a a viable option for you know everybody's attention and and everybody tries to go out and support their favorite local place, but to do that now uh is is probably a little bit more challenging than it would have been, say, five, six, seven years ago.
• 17:20
  SPEAKER_03: Aaron Ross Powell I probably so, and I'll be honest, that that's more a Preston's you know deal than than mine.
• 17:25
  SPEAKER_03: Um so I can't really speak to the cost quite as much though.
• 17:28
  SPEAKER_03: But our goal was to we don't want to be the sports bar with a bunch of frozen food that's just refried and served.
• 17:35
  SPEAKER_03: You know, almost everything we make is completely handmade, um, tons of gluten-free options.
• 17:40
  SPEAKER_03: And and we wanted to have uh you know uh higher-end food, but not super expensive.
• 17:45
  SPEAKER_03: You know, so we wanted you to be able to come in and say, man, this is fantastic, but then not get the bill and go, well, yeah, no wonder it's this good.
• 17:51
  SPEAKER_03: You know, we wanted you to go, wow, you know, that's a that's a great value for for what you're getting.
• 17:55
  SPEAKER_03: And I think Preston nailed that.
• 17:56
  SPEAKER_03: You know, I mean, going in there, I think the price points are very appropriate for what you're getting.
• 18:00
  SPEAKER_03: I mean, it's it's a ton of food.
• 18:01
  SPEAKER_03: I mean, I go in for lunch and I eat half a sandwich, you know, and take the other half to go.
• 18:05
  SPEAKER_03: Um and and so I I think Preston did a fantastic job of giving us a very wide variety of offerings, but then still having a lot of your traditionals.
• 18:14
  SPEAKER_03: Um, you know, for for anyone out there listening that hasn't had the ta the tavern tots, um, you've got to give those a shot.
• 18:19
  SPEAKER_03: Those are the best tater tots you've ever you'll ever have.
• 18:21
  SPEAKER_03: Um but no, I think Preston worked very hard.
• 18:24
  SPEAKER_03: Preston knows the stuff inside and out.
• 18:25
  SPEAKER_03: You know, I mean mixing flavors that for someone like me, I'm not you know not necessarily a foodie, don't do a whole lot of cooking.
• 18:30
  SPEAKER_03: I never would have thought of mixing this kind of stuff together, you know, and then then he he puts it out there and you're like, man, this is this is fantastic.
• 18:36
  SPEAKER_03: How do how do you know that this is gonna work so well?
• 18:38
  SPEAKER_03: Um so a lot of credit to him.
• 18:40
  SPEAKER_03: He's put together a really good staff, we've got great chefs in there.
• 18:42
  SPEAKER_03: Um and and and it's a fun atmosphere, you know.
• 18:45
  SPEAKER_03: I I I will barge back in the kitchen to say hello to everyone back in, you know, and everyone's has having a good time.
• 18:49
  SPEAKER_03: Everyone's friendly, you know, and and that's not always maybe the environment in every single kitchen.
• 18:53
  SPEAKER_03: You know, that's a that's a very high stress environment a lot of times.
• 18:56
  SPEAKER_03: And and so I think he's done a really good job of putting a great team together.
• 18:59
  SPEAKER_03: Um, you know, and and we're just happy to be open, you know, lunch and dinner seven days a week, you know.
• 19:04
  SPEAKER_03: So anytime you want to come, we're pretty much open.
• 19:07
  SPEAKER_01: Or with Jay Harrell of Mountaineer Tavern, right after this, you are listening to Mind Your Business.
• 19:13
  SPEAKER_00: Appalachian Commercial Real Estate provides professional commercial real estate services in the Boone area.
• 19:19
  SPEAKER_00: They provide sales, leasing, consulting, and appraisal services to owners and users of commercial real estate.
• 19:25
  SPEAKER_00: For more information, go to their website at Appalachian CRE.com.
• 19:30
  SPEAKER_01: Welcome back to Mind Your Business.
• 19:31
  SPEAKER_01: I'm David Jackson.
• 19:33
  SPEAKER_01: We continue our conversation with Jay Harrell about one of Boone's newest restaurants, Mountaineer Tavern.
• 19:39
  SPEAKER_01: I will say that that having some experience in the Home Center over the years, one of the knocks on that facility early was that, and again, goes back to your start time, is that if you are thinking about trying to feed a family there, that wasn't always the easiest place to do that.
• 19:52
  SPEAKER_01: Now, as as you have traveled the country, I know you're a huge sports fan, you have seen places where arenas and stadiums have done this right, where there is a creation of atmosphere outside that draws people in.
• 20:05
  SPEAKER_01: Is this the first step toward that?
• 20:06
  SPEAKER_01: And are you seeing kind of that that pattern maybe start to emerge of I I can go to the area, not necessarily the building, and I can get everything I need to make the experience worth the time, effort, and energy it it it takes to get a family outside to a basketball game on a random weeknight.
• 20:23
  SPEAKER_03: Well, and and I think you nailed that.
• 20:24
  SPEAKER_03: I mean, if you look at any of these new new stadiums they're building, it's not just a stadium.
• 20:28
  SPEAKER_03: I mean, it usually has a whole plaza with it with shopping and dining and all that kind of stuff because a lot of these games, it it's a you know, it it's an experience.
• 20:37
  SPEAKER_03: You know, some yeah, some may come in five minutes before tip-off and leave straight after.
• 20:41
  SPEAKER_03: Others, though, you know, they may be up for the weekend, so they're not just coming for a two-hour basketball game and leaving.
• 20:45
  SPEAKER_03: You know, they they want to come have a meal, you know, and hopefully we win and then maybe a celebratory drink afterwards, you know.
• 20:50
  SPEAKER_03: Um but no, I agree with you a lot.
• 20:52
  SPEAKER_03: I think I think this this and especially as everything's getting more expensive too.
• 20:55
  SPEAKER_03: You know, I think people want that experience.
• 20:58
  SPEAKER_03: Um, you know, and so we're just we're proud to have somewhere where um you know you can come in on game day, you know, get a get a good meal, and then you know, head to the game.
• 21:06
  SPEAKER_03: Um, you know, we're a little bit further out walking distance to the football stadium, um, you know, and so you know, and we're trying not to have a a ton of people leave their cars there, obviously, because we we do want to have people that aren't going to the game coming in to watch the game there, you know, and eat.
• 21:21
  SPEAKER_03: Um but no, I I think you nailed it.
• 21:23
  SPEAKER_03: I think the entire sports, you know, um I think it's it's all kind of changing to where it's it's about the the full-on experience.
• 21:31
  SPEAKER_03: I mean, none of these new stadiums that are getting built, NFL, any of this kind of stuff, are just stadiums.
• 21:35
  SPEAKER_03: I mean they're they're full-on projects.
• 21:37
  SPEAKER_03: I mean, I don't know if you've seen the renderings for the maybe the new Miami stadium on top of uh, you know, a a a huge building with multiple hotels and plazas and all that kind of stuff, you know.
• 21:45
  SPEAKER_03: So I think that's where everything's going.
• 21:47
  SPEAKER_03: Um and and and people come up here too at because of of, you know, they love it here.
• 21:52
  SPEAKER_03: I mean, uh you know, the amount of alumni that come back all the time just, you know, just because they came here and they want to come back to Boone.
• 21:57
  SPEAKER_03: Um so I think, you know, having somewhere where they can They can go is just, you know, hopefully beneficial for all.
• 22:02
  SPEAKER_01: Trevor Burrus Well, and I think you you tap into the business of campus too.
• 22:05
  SPEAKER_01: And that was one of the things that people will remember Red Onion for that reason.
• 22:08
  SPEAKER_01: You walk in there on any given day and the entire university cabinet was sitting in there and a variety of other people and and having something well positioned right on the periphery sets you up for that activity, I'm sure as well.
• 22:20
  SPEAKER_03: I said you just have a have to have a reservation for 11:30 lunch on a Tuesday at Red Onion.
• 22:25
  SPEAKER_03: If there's upstate folks listening, you know, please make us our new Red Onion.
• 22:31
  SPEAKER_03: But no, 100%.
• 22:32
  SPEAKER_03: And then a lot of folks walk, you know, and that and that's what's nice, is that we um, you know, you we've got apartments all around us, um, you know, and then we are close enough to the university that if if if you know some of the faculty and staff want to, you know, walk by for lunch, you know, we've got it.
• 22:45
  SPEAKER_03: But we also have a great parking lot.
• 22:46
  SPEAKER_03: You know, that's one of the big things.
• 22:47
  SPEAKER_03: I mean, I'm I'm born and raised here.
• 22:49
  SPEAKER_03: There's several restaurants in downtown Boone I absolutely love.
• 22:51
  SPEAKER_03: But in the middle of winter, I don't feel like walking three-fourths of a mile because I couldn't get a parking spot nearby, you know, and so that was one of the big aspects, you know, the big advantages is what a killer location, great parking, all of that.
• 23:02
  SPEAKER_01: So last couple of things I want to touch on Fosco companies a little bit because you built this place out.
• 23:08
  SPEAKER_01: And and I know that a lot of people know Echota and have seen that work evolve over the years, but this was probably, if I'm not mistaken, maybe one of your most prominently placed commercial projects.
• 23:19
  SPEAKER_01: What has this done for your company in that regard of just having the logo on the fence there for a while?
• 23:24
  SPEAKER_01: Um Well, uh you know, it could very well lead into some other things.
• 23:29
  SPEAKER_03: We actually had while working on it, had someone else reach out and go, hey, I'm opening up a restaurant, would you guys be interested in the upfit?
• 23:34
  SPEAKER_03: Um But what I want to talk about on that was the the coolest thing, the coolest part of that for us was, you know, uh we have a lot of employees been with us for 20 years.
• 23:42
  SPEAKER_03: I mean, including subs and everything like that too.
• 23:44
  SPEAKER_03: Well, all of their work they do for us are are behind gates.
• 23:47
  SPEAKER_03: They don't get to show it off, their family doesn't get to see it.
• 23:50
  SPEAKER_03: The number of the the the amount of our guys that said, Hey, can I bring my family in here and show them my work?
• 23:56
  SPEAKER_03: That was the coolest thing of the entire part.
• 23:58
  SPEAKER_03: Like to see the amount of pride they take in their work and the fact that now they have somewhere public to show it off, you know, and and like it was a t a tile installer.
• 24:06
  SPEAKER_03: We had a soft opening um that was for everybody who worked on the building.
• 24:09
  SPEAKER_03: And the amount of of family members that they brought to show off their work was was honestly the coolest part of the entire thing for me.
• 24:16
  SPEAKER_03: Um to see the amount of pride they take in their work and the fact that then they got to show it off to people was uh it was interesting.
• 24:23
  SPEAKER_03: I mean, it was honestly it was heartwarming to see the amount of pride taken.
• 24:26
  SPEAKER_01: Uh that's wonderful, and it's such a great local connection to that.
• 24:29
  SPEAKER_01: Um last last question for you.
• 24:32
  SPEAKER_01: You know, now that you've got this project off the ground, what's next now as you continue on the on the real estate side of things, but but also see this this type of of effort out there, whether that's supporting athletics or not, uh notice the jersey patch, uh that that's pretty awesome.
• 24:47
  SPEAKER_01: But but what what is it next for you and and your family to think about ways that you can either directly or indirectly support such a valuable engine here within the economy?
• 24:58
  SPEAKER_03: Well, and you know, I mean my brother and I both born and raised here.
• 25:01
  SPEAKER_03: Mom came here from Apple We're never leaving, you know.
• 25:04
  SPEAKER_03: I've got my first child on the way coming in in in January.
• 25:08
  SPEAKER_03: Um I'm I'm never leaving here.
• 25:10
  SPEAKER_03: I absolutely love it.
• 25:10
  SPEAKER_03: This will be home forever.
• 25:12
  SPEAKER_03: Um and the local community means a lot to us.
• 25:14
  SPEAKER_03: I mean, it really does.
• 25:15
  SPEAKER_03: You know, we try and do as much as we can to give back.
• 25:17
  SPEAKER_03: Um we've got some very exciting projects coming up.
• 25:20
  SPEAKER_03: You know, we were very fortunate enough to uh have been hired by the owners of shops on the parkway to help them with that project, you know, so we'll be dabbling into more commercial as well there.
• 25:29
  SPEAKER_03: Um my brother started his own company about two and a half years ago and is crushing it.
• 25:34
  SPEAKER_03: Um you know, so we're we're trying to grow in every aspect of our business, but in strategic ways.
• 25:39
  SPEAKER_03: Um, you know, we opened a new general real estate office in in Blowing Rock.
• 25:44
  SPEAKER_03: Um and and you know, we're finishing up our last phase of Echota.
• 25:47
  SPEAKER_03: Um, you know, so in about two and a half years, you know, we'll we will be finished with Echoda.
• 25:51
  SPEAKER_03: Now we're not leaving anywhere, we'll still be there, but you know, we will be done with with new construction for the first time since you know 2000.
• 25:56
  SPEAKER_01: Gosh, that's amazing.
• 25:57
  SPEAKER_01: I I'd be sidebar real quick on that.
• 26:00
  SPEAKER_01: From where that started to where it is now, how how many units are up there?
• 26:04
  SPEAKER_01: How long did that take?
• 26:05
  SPEAKER_03: So, you know, dad initially acquired the property, I believe, in 99, you know, and that was for what we call original Echota.
• 26:11
  SPEAKER_03: Yep.
• 26:12
  SPEAKER_03: Um, you know, and then as that was a success, you know, he he started finding other tracts of land, and so then moved to Echota on the ridge, then to Chaliki.
• 26:20
  SPEAKER_03: You know, and and that's when, you know, unfortunately dad got sick, you know, and so we kind of thought we were gonna be done.
• 26:25
  SPEAKER_03: Um and then um a local landowner that had joined us, I approached him.
• 26:30
  SPEAKER_03: We he made a very favorable deal with me and and we were able to kind of keep it going.
• 26:34
  SPEAKER_03: And then as that one was finishing up, an another opportunity kind of just landed on the doorstep, and we were able to buy another adjoining track.
• 26:40
  SPEAKER_03: Um but that this will be, you know, this this will be it.
• 26:44
  SPEAKER_03: Um it it's been awesome to to see.
• 26:46
  SPEAKER_03: I mean, we we have so many great homeowners, you know, and and quite a few of them do a lot to get back to this local community too, even though this is not their truly their home, you know.
• 26:54
  SPEAKER_03: Um bigger thing for me is is the employees.
• 26:58
  SPEAKER_03: I mean, uh, you know, honestly, I mean we have we have the the gentleman who poured the first footer ever in Echota is still on our staff.
• 27:06
  SPEAKER_03: You know, and and he's run it out.
• 27:07
  SPEAKER_03: So he will have been a part of every single condo building ever built, you know, up there.
• 27:11
  SPEAKER_03: Um we we've got a a great team, and that that's what allowed us to can to continue on.
• 27:17
  SPEAKER_03: Um we inherited one heck of a team that that mom and dad had built, you know, and and we were lucky enough that they bought into to to what our new vision was and and wanted to be a part of it.
• 27:26
  SPEAKER_03: Um so we've just I mean beyond blessed to to have the team that we walked into um and to and to get the additional buy-in.
• 27:32
  SPEAKER_03: You know, a lot of people may have said, Whoa, you're you're you're 22 years old, I'm gonna go look at another job, and that you know, that didn't happen.
• 27:38
  SPEAKER_03: We had everyone, you know, you know, um have our backs, you know, and and that's special nowadays, that that you don't always find that, you know.
• 27:45
  SPEAKER_03: Um so we're just we're very fortunate um to be in the position that we're in, but with that we want to do as much as we can, you know, to give back to the community.
• 27:51
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 27:52
  SPEAKER_01: All right, seriously, last question.
• 27:53
  SPEAKER_01: What do you what do you think your dad would have thought of the NIL era of college athletics?
• 27:57
  SPEAKER_03: Um well, I I actually joke with Dustin about this all the time that if dad was still around, it probably would have led to a divorce between him and mom.
• 28:04
  SPEAKER_03: Um, I don't know.
• 28:09
  SPEAKER_03: He he he would have disliked it just like you know, just about every other fan would have, but he would have bought in, you know, because that's it it matters to us, you know, and and it it's I I get it, you know, and there's all kinds of different opinions on on the matter.
• 28:23
  SPEAKER_03: Um but it is what it is, you know, so we can either sulk and pout about it or we can find ways to adapt and try and do everything that we can to give them the resources that they need.
• 28:34
  SPEAKER_03: Um, but nowadays that you know it it in my opinion is sad, you know, when it comes down to you know, you used to go to the school because you wanted to play for the best coach that was recruiting you, you know, and that's not necessarily always the case.
• 28:45
  SPEAKER_03: And I think that was what was so cool to hear last night at the tip-off dinner.
• 28:48
  SPEAKER_03: Um numerous players said this was the hardest I've ever been recruited by any coach my entire career.
• 28:53
  SPEAKER_03: Like that that's why I'm here.
• 28:55
  SPEAKER_03: You know, and and I mean I I'm very fortunate enough to get to spend a good bit of time with Dustin and see how he he does everything and um he does it the way you want it done.
• 29:04
  SPEAKER_03: You know, I mean truly, if everyone could could could see the stuff that goes on behind the curtains, I think everyone would be extremely proud of how this program is run.
• 29:11
  SPEAKER_01: Hey, when it when it always comes back down to is relationships.
• 29:14
  SPEAKER_01: It may get to it a little bit differently now, but but it always comes back down to that.
• 29:18
  SPEAKER_01: Well, Jay, appreciate the time, man, and and best of luck with Mountaineer Tavern.
• 29:22
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, I know that that will be a popular destination, especially your walking proximity on cold nights to the home center is going to be really appealing uh here soon.
• 29:30
  SPEAKER_01: But uh just super excited to see where that goes and and appreciate your your mind always working and your mom's mind always working uh at what this community needs and how best to address it.
• 29:39
  SPEAKER_01: So thank you, Jay.
• 29:40
  SPEAKER_03: We appreciate the opportunity.
• 29:42
  SPEAKER_01: Jay spoke of his mom, Missy.
• 29:44
  SPEAKER_01: She was our Baker Jones woman of the year for 2026 and was recently recognized at Spirit of Boone.
• 29:50
  SPEAKER_01: You can watch her story on the Boone Chambers YouTube channel as well and hear more about the story behind Mountaineer Tavern.
• 29:57
  SPEAKER_01: Some news and notes coming up after the break.
• 29:59
  SPEAKER_01: You are listening to Mind Your Business.
• 30:02
  SPEAKER_02: Are you a young professional looking to expand your network?
• 30:05
  SPEAKER_02: The High Country Young Professionals, affectionately dubbed the High Country Yopros, is a dedicated group of 200 plus professional young adults under the age of 40 serving in various industries across the high country.
• 30:18
  SPEAKER_02: Join us for our casual networking event on the first Tuesday of each month from 5 to 7 p.m.
• 30:23
  SPEAKER_02: As we visit locations across the high country.
• 30:26
  SPEAKER_02: Events are free of charge, however, donations are appreciated.
• 30:29
  SPEAKER_02: If you're not a chamber member, that's okay.
• 30:31
  SPEAKER_02: No membership needed to join us.
• 30:33
  SPEAKER_02: You just have to be under 40.
• 30:35
  SPEAKER_02: Learn more about High Country OPROS at Goodchamber.com slash H C Y P.
• 30:43
  SPEAKER_00: Mind Your Business.
• 30:44
  SPEAKER_00: Brought to you by Appalachian Commercial Real Estate, offering sales, leasing, consulting, and appraisal services.
• 30:51
  SPEAKER_00: Visit Appalachian CRE.com.
• 30:55
  SPEAKER_01: Last week we heard from Nathan Nipper, president and CEO of UNC Health Appalachian about the need for healthcare jobs to support the industry here in the high country and really across rural markets throughout western North Carolina and the entire state for that matter.
• 31:08
  SPEAKER_01: How do you get kids interested in jobs and career paths these days?
• 31:13
  SPEAKER_01: Well, you start early, and Appalachian State has been at the forefront of blending learning with the opportunity for career exploration with its GearUp program.
• 31:23
  SPEAKER_01: Earlier this week, it was announced that Appalachian State University's Office of Rural Promise is the awardee of a seven-year,$35 million Gear Up Grant from the U.S.
• 31:34
  SPEAKER_01: Department of Education.
• 31:35
  SPEAKER_01: GearUp stands for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs.
• 31:41
  SPEAKER_01: This award marks the second consecutive$35 million federal grant AppState has received in support of its Gear Up program, allowing the university to serve more students and families across western portions of North Carolina.
• 31:54
  SPEAKER_01: GearUp is a federally funded college access program designed to increase the number of students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education immediately after high school.
• 32:06
  SPEAKER_01: Through a wide range of research-based services to students, families, and teachers, AbState's GearUp North Carolina Appalachian Partnership aims to improve college-going mindsets, high school graduation rates, and post-secondary enrollment rates.
• 32:20
  SPEAKER_01: Results from AbState's previous Gear Up grants demonstrate the program's effectiveness in improving those educational outcomes.
• 32:26
  SPEAKER_01: Among participating schools, 97% of students were on track to graduate by the end of ninth grade.
• 32:34
  SPEAKER_01: 98% graduated from high school on time, significantly exceeding the statewide average of 88%, according to data available after the 2024-25 school year.
• 32:47
  SPEAKER_01: With the addition of this new award, ABState's Gear Up Appalachian Partnership grant programs now serve over 42,000 students across 22 Western North Carolina school districts.
• 33:00
  SPEAKER_01: Congratulations to ABSate on attaining another Gear Up grant.
• 33:05
  SPEAKER_01: Speaking of grants, the Wataga Housing Council has been awarded two years of competitive funding from the Z Smith Reynolds Community Progress Fund, which, according to the Foundation's website, helps organizations move an idea or project forward with the goal of improving their community.
• 33:22
  SPEAKER_01: Founded back in 2024, the Watauga Housing Council uses a collective impact approach to increase the housing supply for Watauga County's cost-burdened residents, those who spend thirty percent or more of their annual income on housing related expenses.
• 33:36
  SPEAKER_01: The collective impact approach engages leaders from different community focused areas and high country residents to solve this multifaceted issue.
• 33:45
  SPEAKER_01: This community progress fund grant is for$50,000.
• 33:50
  SPEAKER_01: Now funds from the Z Smith Reynolds Foundation support the organization's capacity to maintain the manufactured housing dealers license, which through partnerships with other nonprofit organizations will increase their supply of attainable housing.
• 34:04
  SPEAKER_01: This grant funding has also bolstered other elements of the organization's work, like convening housing-focused organizations and programs across the high country.
• 34:14
  SPEAKER_01: Congratulations to the Watauga Housing Council, a longtime partner here of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce.
• 34:20
  SPEAKER_01: You can find more details about these stories and more in your chamber report email that's sent by our staff to you, members of the Boon Area Chamber of Commerce, each and every Thursday afternoon.
• 34:32
  SPEAKER_01: A little perk for membership, if you will.
• 34:35
  SPEAKER_01: You are listening to Mind Your Business.
• 34:41
  SPEAKER_01: Two quick events to tell you about High Country Young Professionals meets Wednesday, November 3rd for its next social gathering.
• 34:48
  SPEAKER_01: That's at FA Fitness Dover in Blowing Rock from 5 to 7 p.m.
• 34:53
  SPEAKER_01: The following week, the next Business After Hours event at Mountain Community Bank in Boon.
• 34:59
  SPEAKER_01: That's also from 5 to 7 o'clock on November 12th.
• 35:02
  SPEAKER_01: It's RSVP for both of these events at Boonechamber.com.
• 35:06
  SPEAKER_01: That'll do it for this week's Finder Business.
• 35:09
  SPEAKER_01: This program is written and produced by the Boon Area Chamber of Commerce each week.
• 35:13
  SPEAKER_01: Special thanks to WATA for placing us on the airways each and every week.
• 35:17
  SPEAKER_01: And a thanks as always to James Milner, team at Appalachian Commercial Real Estate, for making the podcast version of this program possible.
• 35:25
  SPEAKER_01: If you are not yet a subscriber, you can fix that today by searching for Mind Your Business.
• 35:30
  SPEAKER_01: Wherever you get those podcasts, you can also visit us online anytime at foodchamber.com.
• 35:36
  SPEAKER_01: Until next week, so long, everyone.