Future Fashion Designers Academy - Mooresville, NC

123 N. Main Street, Mooresville, NC 28115

http://www.futurefashiondesigners.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FutureFashionDesigners

Photo courtesy of Google Maps

Located approximately 25 miles north of Charlotte, Mooresville, North Carolina is the home of several NASCAR drivers and racing teams. In fact, it is nicknamed "Race City USA." It isn’t the first place that would come to mind when thinking fashion design. Yet, here, on a historic stretch of Main Street, is the starting block for many future designers, taught by a true Hollywood fashion designer.

Owner Shawnelle Cherry graduated from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) in Los Angeles and from the UCLA extension program where she studied costume design for film.  She worked in the Los Angeles garment industry before starting her own design studio in Pacific Palisades, California. There, she specialized in evening gowns for the Oscars, Emmys, Golden Globes and the Daytime Emmy Awards. In 1995, five of her gowns were worn at the Oscars. During her 20 years in Hollywood, Cherry also had a list of more than 30 films to her credit. 

When she got engaged, she moved to Mooresville and decided to start her own business. The idea came about as her father was going through treatments for lung cancer. She read the book, "One Month to Live: Thirty Days to a No-Regrets Life" by Kerry Shook.  Cherry asked herself what she really wanted to do. "I discovered what would really feed my soul was to share my talents and teach kids (of all ages) my passion for the art.”

While the engagement didn’t last, the business did. She stayed in Mooresville, opened her doors in January 2010 and offered classes in sewing and design. Students do everything in the process from sketching to draping and sewing. They also show off their work on the runway.

Cherry’s busiest time is summer, when she has camps from June through August. Students as young as 8-years-old sign up for half-day and full-day beginner and intermediate classes. Last summer, almost all the slots were quickly filled.

While there are some other businesses like this in New York and San Francisco, this is the only designer academy in the area. Students come from as far away as South Carolina. Many of the kids Cherry mentors end up continuing with their talents and study fashion design at North Carolina State or Savannah College of Art and Design.

Cherry is passionate about her desire to share her skills and lifetime of experience with kids of all ages and skill levels. To expand her reach, in addition to her in-house classes, she has started Project Sew*Way, an online subscription program where kids can get projects mailed to them on a monthly basis.

“Many kids know how to sew,” Cherry says, “but if they go and pick their own projects, sometimes they are too hard and when they are too hard, they sometimes just quit.” That’s what Cherry says happened during her childhood. She just doesn’t want kids to stop when they have the interest. “We send them the fabric, thread, stuffing, everything they need to do the project.”

The hope is that these easy-to-do projects will not only spark imagination, but also build confidence by seeing ideas take form. Kids are able to build their self-esteem and confidence because they are able to complete the projects.  Even though the kits can be sent anywhere in the world, Cherry keeps connected via an online community.

Now more than six years out of the frantic pace of Hollywood, Cherry notes how much she really likes downtown's revitalized Main Street and Mooresville (which is growing so quickly it now has a second zip code). She adds that there are some perks to having the 123 N. Main Street address. “I get some of the funniest mail,” she says, noting that hers is often used as a test address. One time, she got a package with so many cookies that she couldn’t give them all away.

Barley's Taproom and Pizzeria - Spindale, NC

123 W. Main Street, Spindale, NC 28160

www.barleystaproomspindale.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/barleysinspindale

Spindale, North Carolina has been described as “an hour away from everywhere.” Thus, this taproom and pizzeria located on Main Street is a pretty popular place for those in the area.

Located in the Southeastern section of the state, the town sits in Rutherford County, a county that was “dry” until the early 2000s.  Tim Smith – who shares ownership with Rodney Butler and Linette and Mark Gosnell – opened a pawnshop in this space, but then began the restaurant when liquor could be sold.

Today, they have 20 beers on tap that rotate every week. Customers will find a variety of local microbrews. There’s no other domestic beer on tap; you can still get it in bottles.

While very family-friendly and, as they describe, “where suit and tie meet tie dye,” one might be surprised by the decor when first entering. “At the doorway,” owner Linette Gosnell states, “is a big arrow that says ‘drugs’ and points in.” That antique tile work is left over from the 1920’s when the building housed Sloan’s Drug Store in the heart of downtown Spindale.

Barley’s continues the antique look inside. The 3500 square foot space, remodeled by the owners before opening in 2006, has the original tin ceilings, a bar top made from the floor of the old local school and hallway lights obtained before the demolition of a residence hall at Appalachian State University.

The many photographs that line the walls were donated by the families of the Stonecutter Foundation from days when Spindale was a mining town. “There’s a photo of the time all the employees got paid in coins and some guy is there with his wheelbarrel [full of his weekly pay],” says Gosnell.

The restaurant was recognized as “Best Taproom in the South” in Southern Draught Beer News and picked as “Top Tap in the South” by Celebrator Beer Magazine, but the hand-tossed sourdough pizza and live music (bluegrass, country and jazz performed local artists) also bring in the crowds.

Interestingly, their address wasn’t always 123 West Main Street. “We originally started out as 115 West Main Street, but GPS was having a hard time finding us and sending people to the next county,” noted Gosnell. Approximately five years ago, in 2010, the town renumbered the businesses on Main Street. “We ended up with 123.”

There are four other Barley’s locations in the area – Ashville, NC; Greenville, SC and Knoxville, TN. All are independently owned and operated.