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Top Shop Will Open To Public By June 12

“We anticipate that the contractor will hand over the keys to the new Top Shop on Memorial Day,” said Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation Executive Director Penn Dameron.

“There will be a brief shake-down period while our staff familiarizes themselves with the operation of the new building,” he continued, “but we are shooting to be ready to open the shop to the public on or about June 12.”

The month of May saw a flurry of activity as construction personnel and Grandfather personnel worked hand in hand to make the building work. Floors were finished, phones went in, display fixtures and casework were installed, inventory was entered into the computer and the elevator received its final inspection.

Trish McCellan of Newland became the first person in a wheelchair to ride the elevator up to the Mile High Swinging Bridge. The elevator finally makes the Bridge truly handicap accessible, righting a wrong that has pained the Grandfather family for years.

After the new shop is comfortably up and running, the temporary shop will be dismantled and taken to a service area down the mountain where it can be repurposed as storage space. Contractors will then repair the parking area where the temporary shop sat and return 20 parking spaces to service.

Contractor Skip Greene reflected back on the past two years saying, “I am not sure anyone on the design/construction team fully appreciated all the implications that the weather would have on such a project. But the challenges were met and overcome, and it has been a thrill to see the old come down and the new going back in its place.”

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