by EDWARD SZTUKOWSKI
News Reporter

While the effects of liquor by the drink in the Town of Boone remain to be seen, Blowing Rock similarly is waiting to see how the referendum will influence their town.

“This is new ground for everybody,” Bart E. Conway, owner of Canyons Restaurant said. “We aren’t planning on changing our business plans at all though, we plan to keep on taking care of ourselves and our visitors.”

Before the passing of the liquor by the drink referendum, Boone residents could only get a mixed drink from businesses in Blowing Rock and beyond. Photo by Adam Dixon

Blowing Rock was previously the town of choice for residents of Boone to get liquor. However, this is something that may change in the future due to the liquor referendum allowing the sale of liquor by the drink in Boone.

“It’s just not worth making the drive to Blowing Rock to get liquor drinks, now that we have it in Boone,” Rebecca L. Noland, a junior photography major said. “It’s way cheaper on the gas to stay in town, and it’s safer too.”

While liquor in Blowing Rock was certainly a large draw to residents of Boone, restaurant owners are confident other factors contributed to visitors.

“People come here from Boone not only to drink, but also for the entertainment we provide,” Conway said. “We have bands that pull people here every Thursday through Sunday, and the scenery and socializing is very nice.”

Other restaurants and bars seem to feel the same way, and are not too worried about losing business.

“During the course of the year, I can estimate that only about 10 to 15 percent of our business was from students,” Stephen P.

Love, a manager at the Green Park Inn said. “We plan on losing out on students who travel to Blowing Rock, but the bars here will work together to retain business.”

Conway feels students will sometimes need an escape from Boone, and will make their way to Blowing Rock.

Outback Steakhouse is one of the business in Blowing Rock to offer mixed drinks to Boone residents and students. Photo by Adam Dixon

“People will still go to Blowing Rock for diversity, there are only a few bars in Boone anyway,” Noland said. “People need a change of scenery every now and then.”

Several Blowing Rock businesses have questions and concerns over the well being of Boone after the referendum takes full effect.

“Blowing rock is so stringent on regulations for businesses,” Conway said. “We don’t have chains here other than Outback Steakhouse, and Blowing Rock is a small area without a college.”

“My question is what’s going to happen to Boone? It hopefully won’t hurt the character of the town, and liquor requires higher responsibility,” Conway said.

Love has similar concerns about the referendum and believes it will require more responsibility than Boone has needed in the past.

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