Specialty Shopping in Downtown Blowing Rock NC November, 2007Blowing Rock is a town of specialty shops. Some have been there for many years and some are new startups by people who "stumbled upon" the town. Blowing Rock is and always has been a resort town. Its businesses reflect its seasonal nature and the many second- or even third- home owners who are part-time residents. In the 1990s and before, Blowing Rock had a hardware store, small groceries and other shops of a more practical nature. Visitors and residents now head for Boone to purchase those items and Blowing Rock is left to provide restaurant meals, fudge, ice cream and crafts, some local and some not. North Carolina artist Bob Timberlake owns a store which sells prints of his paintings and home furnishings and clothing which bear his signature. |
Tomberlake continues to contribute his designs to the area including the neighboring Chetola resort. Timberlake has a large following and his name is on many goods including his paintings, furniture and clothing. 
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From the Follow Your Dream website (see link below): " Everything happens for a reason holds especially true for Ben and Robin (Follow Your Dream Store Owners). Many years ago, they "discovered" the quaint village of Blowing Rock truly by accident. . . They set out after dark and ended up in a "warm and welcoming little inn". The next day, they awoke to sunny skies and discovered the charming little town of Blowing Rock. It became a special place to them, one they would return to for many years to escape from the "real world", where the fresh air seemed to enter your body and refresh your spirit. They decided to "Follow their Dream" and made this special place their home." |
The center of downtown Blowing Rock is the community park. The large trees and many benches offer the opportunity to escape the Main Street activity and watch the crowds pass by.
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While many of the shops offer handmade items, some special shops offer locally made crafts. They include the Main Street Crafts Co-op Gallery and Gaines Kiker Silversmith on Sunset Drive (see links below).
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Many part-year residents in Blowing Rock are furnishing second or third homes in the area and find furniture, accessories, art and antiques in the Blowing Rock downtown area.
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The Blowing Rock Christmas Parade on November 24, 2007 is the kickoff to the Blowing Rock Holiday Season. The stores are filled with goods for the many holiday shoppers from the region.
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It is hard to spend a few hours in downtown Blowing Rock without stopping in Kilwin's Ice Cream and Fudge Shop. You can see the individual batches of fudge being made and pick from among their many flavors of ice cream and fudge.
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The town offers several restaurants for lunch during shopping breaks or dinner later on. Click here to learn about some of those restaurants.
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