The banks of the Catawba River could not hold back the floodwaters from Helene, submerging River Village shopping center on Sanford Drive near North Green Street. The Town Tavern, Queen City Appliances, salons, physical therapy practices, and several other businesses were severely damaged.
The banks of the Catawba River could not hold back the floodwaters from Helene, submerging River Village shopping center on Sanford Drive near North Green Street. The Town Tavern, Queen City Appliances, salons, physical therapy practices, and several other businesses were severely damaged.
The owners of Town Tavern in Morganton are more than ready to resume normal operations, and the city has now provided financial assistance to help them.
Jeff Lamont and Justin Davis own L&D Restaurant of Boone, LLC, which operates Town Tavern of Morganton. The restaurant at 315 Sanford Drive in the River Village Shopping Center was severely damaged by Hurricane Helene and has been working diligently to bring it back to normal operations.
As of Monday, Feb. 3, the two are approved for a $75,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Small Business Loan to help restore the restaurant and sports bar. If the business maintains a good standing on the loan and completes its original business plan, 50% of the principal will be forgiven after five years.
“They are desperate to be back as soon as possible, and we are very excited about that,” City Manager Sally Sandy said.
As part of the loan requirement, the restaurant will create at least 10 full-time positions with six jobs for low- and moderate-income individuals.
The City sets aside part of the CDBG funds to stimulate small businesses. This endeavor also meets the goals of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and IMAGINE 2040.
In other River Village news, Sandy said the City is working with the center’s tenants to reopen all the spaces damaged in the wake of the hurricane. One eager business, Salon 337, reopened Tuesday with others expected to soon follow.
Just behind the center is the Morganton boardwalk, which must be torn down and rebuilt.
“We are working on getting bids to demolish that and then to figure out the process of engineering, redesigning, and putting something back there,” Sandy said. “Fairly soon, the demolition bids will probably come before you at the March council meeting. It is our intention that the job is larger than our crews can do. It’s going to require some framework and quite a bit of other work.”
Saydie Bean is the municipal and courts reporter. She may be reached at 828-445-8595, ext. 2011, orsaydie@thepaper.media.
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