by Elizabeth Ashford
Staff Writer
At the new one-stop shopping center next to Wilcox Emporium on Howard
Street, people can now get money, decorate their homes, and enjoy
a fine meal without stepping foot out of the building.
The Wildflower restaurant, Wildflower Store, High Country Bank and
Jane Higgins Interiors have moved into the shopping center (formerly
Boonedocks), leaving four unoccupied spaces available for rent.
Wildflower co-owners Brad D. and Bernadette G. Kirk first opened
the restaurant on King Street three years ago.
“We are happy about Wildflower’s success so far, and
having to move to a bigger location is a good sign,” Bernadette
said.
Bernadette said the restaurant needed more seating space for customers.
“We turned away over 1,000 people between August 1 of last
year through Valentine’s Day because we didn’t have
enough room to seat everyone,” Bernadette said.
The old restaurant sat 47 people, whereas the new restaurant has
seating for 130, Bernadette said.
The Wildflower co-owners are enthusiastic about opening a bar, an
amenity the old restaurant did not have, Bernadette said.
Brad said a bar menu, with prices ranging from $4-12, will serve
food beginning at 3:30 p.m. daily. Wildflower opens for dinner at
5:30 p.m.
Bernadette said the relocation allows the restaurant to serve larger
groups of people, including graduation and wedding parties and fraternity
and sorority functions.
Wildflower owners will also open the Wildflower Store, which will
sell fine wines, aged cheeses, wine and kitchen service ware, and
freshly made items from the Wildflower restaurant, Bernadette said.
The restaurant’s grand opening is today and the store is expected
to open at the end of May, Bernadette said.
The High Country Bank moved into the shopping center as an additional
branch to the two existing branches located on Jefferson Road and
Shadowline Drive in Boone.
High Country Bank Branch Manager Vickie K. Cook said the main reason
the bank opened the branch in the shopping center was the location.
“We opened the branch here because it is more convenient for
a lot of customers, and we can service the downtown area,”
Cook said.
Cook said the bank hopes to attract more students because it is
close to campus.
“We want to be available for the students, and they can walk
here from campus easily,” she said.
Cook said the bank offers a free checking account with no additional
fees and no interest charges. The bank opened April 5.
Jane Higgins Interiors is an interior design company specializing
in unique window coverings, wall coverings and upholstery.
Owner Jane Higgins said she has been in business in the Boone area
since 1977, and she has worked out of her home for the last seven
years.
“I decided to move into the building because the location
is great, and the other business are very respectable,” Higgins
said. “I want to get back into the loop.”
Higgins said the tentative opening date is May 1. |
