Author Archives: moconnor

ANDY ZIMMERMAN Through his 15-year-old company, AZ Development, Andy Zimmerman works as a real estate developer, new product developer, and consultant for the outdoor industry. Previously, he was founder/owner of Legacy Paddlesports for seven years and Wilderness Systems for 15 years. Andy built and sold kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards. He currently holds four patents for outdoor products. Andy has a passion for downtown rehabilitation, and he has renovated buildings for both the Forge (Greensboro's Makerspace) and Gibbs Hundred Brewing. Preyer Brewing and Crafted-Art of Street Food occupy his building on Battleground Avenue, which will be adjacent to the Downtown Greenway. In addition, AZ Development has renovated the HQ Greensboro space at 111 West Lewis Street.  Andy has just opened BoxCar Bar & Arcade at 120 West Lewis Street - it is an arcade and bar, located in downtown Greensboro, for the ultimate drinking and gaming experience! Andy shares with us his love of greenways and Greensboro: From a developer's standpoint, the Downtown Greenway is Greensboro's 'icing on the cake.' The Downtown Greenway has helped influence numerous development decisions in the downtown area; it's truly a small ingredient within the larger finished product. Andy believes that successful downtowns and cities have greenways-gathering places that tie people together-and he wants Greensboro to be a leader in greenway development. Andy is also a strong proponent of biking. He bikes every day in downtown Greensboro; he bikes for exercise or for riding 4-6 blocks to a meeting instead of getting in his car and hassling with traffic and finding a place to park. He has three bikes at HQ for members to utilize at either HQ or the Forge. At any given time, there are 5-10 bikes available for use at the Forge. Andy feels that Greensboro's downtown and the city, itself, are not complete without a finished greenway.  

JIM JONES Greensboro native Jim Jones has spent most of his professional life in the few blocks surrounding Joymongers Brewing Co.  For 25 years, he and his brother ran North State Chevrolet. Then after its sale, they developed the remaining six acres of downtown space into two Greenway apartment communities. And the beer lover that he is, Jim next partnered with Mike Rollinson and Jim's son Brian to open Joymongers. Now his new favorite activities are music and beer research!  "I have spent my professional life invested in downtown Greensboro. My partners and I recognized the intrinsic value of urban greenways long before Greensboro began theirs. This public/private venture has inspired us to create more than $30 million of new tax value in both our apartment communities and a new brewery in just the last five years. The Downtown Greenway is a home run-and it isn't even finished!" Lookout for more 'spotlights' in the coming weeks!

LEE COMER Lee Comer, owner of Iron Hen Café and the new Fresh.Local.Good. Food Group, has opened a 30,000-square-foot retail multiplex in November called Morehead Foundry. The building, located along Greensboro's Downtown Greenway, operated as a coal and ice factory when it was originally built in the 1920s. The former factory now houses 6 business spaces, all owned by Comer. Four Flocks & Larder, Revolution Burger, The Baker & The Bean, Hush (a members-only speakeasy), Carolina Event Rentals, and an event space called The Public are located at Morehead Foundry. The space offers outdoor seating and overlooks Morehead Park on the Downtown Greenway at the corner of Spring Garden and South Edgeworth Streets.  Lee talks about the importance of urban development near the Downtown Greenway:  "We want Morehead Foundry to be a place that connects all types of people within Greensboro. Developing these businesses near the Downtown Greenway was very important to me because of the shared goal with the Downtown Greenway: bringing people together. The Downtown Greenway promotes a connectedness and a strong community spirit that is key as we continue to grow and advance as a city." We look forward to making connections with Lee at Morehead Foundry and the Downtown Greenway. Lookout for more 'spotlights' in the coming weeks!