All of us transplants to Lake Norman have a list of those special restaurants, markets, hot spots and businesses that we still miss from our prior home town or state.  Mine is kind of like a “Bucket List” and as the years go by I have been checking them off one by one:  Trader Joe’s, Five Guys (well, In n’ Out Burger but Five Guys is pretty darn close to it) Bed Bath and Beyond, healthy breakfast options (Daily Grind and Egg at Davidson), Whole Foods (well, the closest one is in Winston Salem but I count our Fresh Market in Cornelius), Neiman Marcus (I thought this was a priority until I realized that our casual Lake Norman lifestyle has deemed this almost obsolete), North Lake Mall.

FreshBerry Frozen Yogurt Cafe, (which is similar to PinkBerry who has several locations in Charlotte), was near the top of my daughter’s list so when I heard it had just opened in Mooresville sandwiched between Panera Bread and Starbucks on Williamson Road, we were there.

Freshberry does not serve your typical frozen yogurt that you would buy in any grocery store.  Freshberry serves all natural frozen yogurt available in FreshBerry Tart, Decadent Dark Chocolate, Vanilla No Sugar Added, Acai Berry, Classic Strawberry, Mango, and Pomegranate.  Plus, they have over 25 toppings available from fresh fruits and cereals to candies and nuts.  They have a complete nutrition chart available.

The first time you taste FreshBerry yogurt you will notice a distinct tang.  Ahhhh, this is not ice cream-like, this is the real thing.  My favorite flavor is FreshBerry Tart topped with fresh kiwis, mangoes and blackberries!  Although I tried their vanilla yesterday and it was delicious as well.

We have owner Matthew Ganis, who recently moved here from New York, to thank for this great addition to Lake Norman.  A resident of Mooresville, his enthusiasm for his new business is evident just watching him in action while serving his customers.  

Want more information? Check out their Facebook page. Or, email Matthew at FreshBerryNC@gmail.com.

So, next time you find yourself sitting at the signal at Williamson Rd and Hwy 150, make a quick turn into the Panera/Starbucks parking lot and check out FreshBerry!

BTW, my husband and I are still waiting for a Baja Fresh so let me know if one is coming our way!

More Businesses of the Week

Shoals Saloon and Grille on Brawley School Road

Josh’s Farmers Market

Lake Norman Real Estate’s Business of the Week:  Lake Norman Gardens

The Fresh Market:  Lake Norman Just Keeps Getting Better!

The other day I was finally able to try out one of Historic Downtown Mooresville’s latest additions;  JJ Wasabi’s …”An Asian Grill with an American Flair” which has the same great food and fun atmosphere as its highly successful big sister “Joel’s Asian Grill & Sushi”  located on the Lake Norman side of Mooresville.  As I watched the young, rather hip looking staff dart from table to table I was struck by the diversity of the diners and the vibrant atmosphere that had been lacking in Downtown Mooresville since long before I moved to Lake Norman in 2005.

I remember my husband and my’s very first visit to Mooresville.  It was 3pm and we couldn’t find one place to even have a sandwich in our Historic Downtown!  Today, thanks to the tireless efforts of  the Town of Mooresville, investor/developer Howard Kosofsky and other passionate local residents, JJ Wasabi’s joins other exciting new businesses that have recently opened in Downtown including a mouth-watering bakery:  The Whirling Whisk Baking Company (who has truly awesome pastries, cookies, cupcakes and more), The Bathtub Gin, (a happening nighttime hangout offering “Good times. Good drinks. Good Friends.” including live music and free WiFi!) and one of my favorite Lake Norman restaurants The Daily Grind which will be opening their second location on Main St. soon as well.  When I look down Main Street and note the many refurbished buildings, lively storefronts, sidewalk and street improvements it is hard to believe we are in a recession.

According to a May 21, 2010 news article by WBTV.com, “Small business is booming and construction is continuing….” in Mooreville.  While this may be overstating the facts which include our high jobless rates,  the Mooresville Economic Development Corporation is focused on continuing their long-term success of recruiting new businesses to Mooresville. (In 2009, Mooresville was once again ranked #1 for micro-politan areas nationally after attracting a robust 20 economic development projects.  See excellent article in the Business Today’s April issue).

One of the biggest coups recently was the announcement by America’s Park LLC  that a site in Mooresville had been selected for a 25-field youth baseball complex that plans to host 8-11 year-olds and 13-year-olds for week-long tournaments from June through August.  This facility, which will be the largest of its kind in the US, will also offer a 4,000- 6,000 seat stadium and parking.  ”The new Mooresville park won’t supplant Cooperstown Dream Park, but will supplement it, officials said.”  Because Cooperstown primarily serves as a tournament site for 12-year-olds, Mooresville will offer the other age groups.  It is estimated that it will bring in $35 Million annually according to a recent Mooresville Tribune article.  The camp is slated to be opened in 2012.  Move over NASCAR, baseball is coming to Mooresville!

While not nearly as high-profile,  The Town of Mooresville recently announced is will receive a grant from the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources to assist in the preparation of a National Register of Historic Places nomination for the Mooresville Mill Village.  (This revitalization will play a strong role in our Historic Downtown Mooresville area).

And, The Arbor Day Foundation recently named Mooresville NC a “Tree City USA”, a designation that ensures that our community has a viable tree management plan and program.

When one drives around Mooresville and Lake Norman, you get a sense that things are happening in so many different ways.  What impresses me the most is the number of projects that I drive by or through almost every day including the Brawley School Road widening.  (I had plenty of time to shoot this picture as I sat in the now typical afternoon traffic.)

The new Rite Aid that just opened at the corner of Brawley School Road and Willimanson Road  features their company’s “Customer World” design which I have yet to check out but sounds great.

The new Lowe’s Foods has added quite a bit of the good kind of traffic to The Mooresville Town Square.

The work on our new Exit 35 is making astounding progress considering work started in late winter.  This is a photo I took yesterday looking north from the Brawley School Road Bridge over I-77.

So, while our real estate market still struggles and we have lost businesses during the past several years, there are many signs of a bright future throughout the Lake Norman and Downtown Mooresville.  If you have been reading my blog for any length of time you will know that I am not a Pollyanna type.  I sincerely believe that our Mooresville and entire Lake Norman area are doing remarkably well during very tough economic times and will continue to attract businesses and people from around the country for many years to come.

One of my out-of-state buyers once asked me if the communities around Lake Norman were small, sleepy towns.  Well,  I’m guessing you know my answer!

RELATED ARTICLES

Lake Norman Real Estate:  Growth and Development is Happening!

Lake Norman’s Growth and Development Update Part 2

Lake Norman’s Brawley School Road Widening:  Be Careful What You Wish For!

Hope Park in Mooresville Epitomizes the Giving Spirit of Lake Norman!

Today is May 1st  and another beautiful day in Lake Norman. Our weather is perfect, our gardens have been refreshed for summer and now it is time to get out on the lake and have some fun.  This is why we all moved here!

Lake Norman truly comes alive in May.  While I have been seeing many boats out already, the weather in May provides endless days with our Carolina Blue Skies, gentle breezes and mild temperatures.  Quite a few of my clients are avid sailors so this photos is particularly for them and all of you sailors out there. 

To make your desktop calendar, go to the round button at the top of this site’s home page entitled: “Lake Norman Calendar”.  Click on this button and up will come an image of my Lake Norman photo wallpaper calender for May 2010.  All you have to do is right click and select “set as background”.  If you would like a copy of this photo without the calendar, just send me an email.  

While I have great fun taking pictures of Lake Norman, I would love to use one of your favorite photos depicting life here in Lake Norman!. If you’d like to submit a photo for a future calendar, please send it to…  

Articles of Interest 

Lake Norman Relocation Resources

 Relocating to Lake Norman

What are Lake Norman’s “Seasonal” waterviews?

 Lake Norman Real Estate’s Business of the Week:  Think Green Recycling 

Lake Norman Real Estate: How YOU can search for Lake Norman’s ”distressed properties”!

On a rainy weekend in March more than 900, yes NINE HUNDRED, Lake Norman residents came together to make  Hope Park at the Lowes YMCA in Mooresville a reality.  According to several of my clients who volunteered, they did everything from assembling the custom designed swings, slides and climbing apparatus to painting flowers in cheerful colors on several play houses.  Many of our struggling local builders also generously volunteered and played the critical role of organizing and performing some of the more difficult jobs.

At a time when we can all use a bit of good news, this 5-day Herculean project showed how our community will come together for the good of all, especially our children. 

Thanks to the vision and dedication of Sarah Dumser, daughter of the late Doug Shierson for whom the The Shierson Society Winners Circle Foundation was formed and with the support of The City of Mooresville, Lowe’s YMCA, The Hope at the Point, Leathers Associates (who designed the park) and so many others, they will be celebrating their their grand opening on April 17th at 11:00am.

To learn more about Hope Park, see some wonderful photos of the project in progress or make a donation, visit their website:  Hope Park

Spring is here!  Just in the last two weeks our entire Lake Norman area has sprung to life.  Blossoming trees line the streets and adorn gardens.  Bright yellow forsythia and daffodils are in full bloom and all of our plants and trees are budding.  It is supposed to be 80 degrees this afternoon!

Here is a photo I took yesterday in Huntersville:

The photograph I chose for this month’s wallpaper calendar truly depicts what Lake Norman will experience in April.  This is simply my favorite month of the year here in Lake Norman! 

To make your desktop calendar, go to the round button at the top of this site’s home page entitled: “Lake Norman Calendar”.  Click on this button and up will come an image of my Lake Norman photo wallpaper calender for April 2010.  All you have to do is right click and select “set as background”.  If you would like a copy of this photo without the calendar, just send me an email.

While I have great fun taking pictures of Lake Norman, I would love to use one of your favorite photos depicting life here in Lake Norman!. If you’d like to submit a photo for a future calendar, please send it to… 

Articles of Interest 

Lake Norman Relocation Resources

Relocating to Lake Norman

What are Lake Norman’s “Seasonal” waterviews?

 Lake Norman Real Estate’s Business of the Week:  Think Green Recycling 

Lake Norman Real Estate: How YOU can search for Lake Norman’s ”distressed properties”!