EAST FLAT ROCK - Upward Road has become a haven for construction workers in the past few months, and that means a big boost for the local economy, according to Henderson County Business and Community Development Director Chris Todd.
Currently, there are three construction projects going on, with the latest being something Western North Carolina customers have yet to see: A QuikTrip. This will be the first location in the western part of the state for QuikTrip, which is a chain of convenience stores based in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
"Henderson County is always happy to see private investment in our county. The Upward Road corridor is ideally situated between downtown Hendersonville and Interstate 26. The addition of a new Quick Trip gas station right off the interstate will increase the chances of travelers getting off the road and exploring our beautiful county for all that it has to offer, most of which they may miss driving down the artery that feeds through the middle of our county," Todd told the Times-News on March 31.
There are 37 QuikTrip locations in North Carolina, with the closest ones in Charlotte (18 stores) and Gastonia (three stores), according to QuikTrip.com. As QuikTrip's commercials say, the store is more than just a gas station and a convenience store, offering plenty of food options, including breakfast, lunch, dinner and desserts.
The construction plans have been approved, but the county is currently waiting on a general contractor to be selected for the project.
Just a short drive down Upward Road is another construction project: A Starbucks Shell, which is being built at 41 Upward Crossing Drive, just across the street from Bojangles. The permit for this project was issued on Jan. 18. Adam Updike, who is the Mid-Atlantic Starbucks Store Development Manager, said in an email to the Times-News that workers are hoping to have the store completed by the fall of 2023.
"The store will be approximately 1,000 square feet and will operate as a drive-thru only. The store will also have a walk-up window for mobile order pick up or placing an order traditionally," he said.
The new Dairi-O is also being built across from East Henderson High School and is expected to be completed sometime in the summer, according to past Times-News reporting. The restaurant chain began in 1947 in King as a take-out burger joint, selling hot dogs and hamburgers. Since then, it has added more to its menu, with healthier options like specialty salads, grilled chicken wraps and even veggie burgers, according to its website (https://dairio.com/).
A building permit for this project was issued last week on March 24.
Todd said these new businesses will bring in more money to the local economy and also provide more jobs for local residents.
"The addition of Dairi-O site and Starbucks add options for our local citizens to shop, and they will create a multitude of jobs in our community. We always say that Henderson County is open for business, and we are thrilled to see anyone who wants to continue to create jobs and invest in our county," he said.
Dean Hensley is the news editor for the Hendersonville Times-News. Email him with tips, questions and comments at [email protected]. Please help support this kind of local journalism with a subscription to the Hendersonville Times-News.