Developers promise to turn H.P. King building into a showcase

Rafael Zabala, one of the operating partners of Stir Fry Cafe, said the "620 State Street" restaurant planned for the King Building will feature a sushi bar, live entertainment, an Asian and American menu and patio dining.

August 03, 2011
Exciting times for Historic Downtown! Please read this article by: Roger Brown — Published: August 03, 2011 — Bristol Herald Courier

The century-old H.P. King building will be transformed into a modern facility combining business, dining and other elements – and reclaim its stake as one of State Street’s showpiece buildings, new owner Allen Hurley said Tuesday.

“We have big plans for this building,” Hurley said during an afternoon news conference in front of the 43,000-square-foot facility, a long-empty former department store at 620 State Street. “We’re really excited.”

Hurley officially announced that he purchased the three-floor King building from the city of Bristol for $256,000 and that Stir Fry Café will be the first tenant.

The Knoxville-based chain will build “620 State Street” restaurant on the building’s first level, with plans to open the 6,000-square-foot eatery by late October.

“Getting a major upscale restaurant [operator] like Stir Fry Café into the building is huge,” said Hurley, founder and former chairman of Touchstone Wireless in Bristol. “It’s a great start to what we plan to do.”

Hurley, who will rename the King building as “City Central at H.P.King,” said a 15,000-square-foot conference and banquet center will go on the second floor and open simultaneously with Stir Fry’s restaurant in October. He added that there will be extensive renovations, including the installation of a new façade, digital marquee signs and an extensive patio area – and he said other unnamed tenants are being recruited to move into its upper levels.

“We have a vision for our downtown that’s similar to the city’s,” Hurley said. “We hope [the King building] can continue to add to our downtown economy.”

Hurley’s purchase of the King building, approved by the city’s Industrial Development Board last week, ends the city’s extensive effort to find a buyer for the historic site, which was once the city’s largest department store and later became an antiques store.

Last year, Bristol bought the vacant building from local businesswoman Jean Burnette – also for $256,000 — but did so with plans to quickly find a buyer with the resources to renovate and reopen it.

“It’s still one of the most significant buildings we have in downtown Bristol,” City Manager Jeffrey Broughton said during the news conference Tuesday. “Now we’ve got a great owner and a great tenant, with more to come.”

Burnette, who owned the King building for more than 20 years, wore a beaming smile as Hurley laid out his plans for the location.

“My dream has always been to see someone, with a vision, take this site and develop something wonderful with it,” Burnette said. “I feel that’s exactly what’s going to happen now, and I’m so happy it will. This is a great day.”

While Stir Fry Café will be the building’s first tenant, the chain is no stranger to the Tri-Cities. It already operates restaurants in Johnson City and Kingsport.

Rafael Zabala, a Stir Fry Café operating partner who oversees its Tri-Cities properties, said the planned “620 State Street” restaurant will feature an extensive sushi bar, live entertainment, a wide-ranging Asian and American menu and patio dining.

“Our Bristol site will have a lot of the elements that have made our Stir Fry Café restaurants so popular in Kingsport and Johnson City,” Zabala said. “But 620 State Street will also have lots of distinctive touches to set it apart. It will have its own special style.”

rbrown@bristolnews.com

(276) 645-2512

Border Bash...Because It's Great on State

Now You See Them

August 03, 2011
Believe in Bristol, Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion and The Birthplace of Country Music Alliance are proud to announce it’s time for Bristol’s’ Twelfth Annual Border Bash Summer Concert Series!!! The seventh summer concert of the year will begin on August 5, 2011. The evening’s events will start with children’s activities, crafters, and concessions at 6:00 PM, LIVE music begins at 7:00 PM with Now You See Them, followed by Spirit Family Reunion starting at approximately 8:30PM. Remember that Border Bash is free to the public! We look forward to seeing you on State Street!!!

The event is hosted by Believe in Bristol, Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, and The Birthplace of Country Music Alliance. A special thank you to our Sponsors for 2011: City of Bristol TN and City of Bristol VA, Wachovia Bank – A Wells Fargo Company, PennStuart, Dent K. Burk & Associates, Greg Fahn & Rob Simis – Edward Jones Investments, Merrill Lynch, Waste Management, Blakley-Mitchell, Curcio & Stout, Kerr-Boswell, Inc., Blackbird Bakery, Kil’n Time Pottery, Strongwell, First Tennessee Foundation, Bank of Tennessee, and Burke, Powers & Harty, Inc., Nash & Powers Insurance, Bristol Dental Group, Cranberry Lane, JA Street & Associates, Inari Wines, Sound Check Music, Jeff & Terri Gregory and Tom & Barbara Smith. In-Kind Sponsors-Coca Cola Distributing, CW4 and Fox Tri-Cities, The Bristol Herald Courier and Citadel Broadcasting.

Now You See Them — Now You See Them is an acoustic indie folk/ pop trio dedicated to delivering a great time. Appealing to virtually all audiences through beautiful harmonies, slow burning lyrics, and non traditional instruments, NYST combines thoughtfully ironic originals alongside carefully selected covers making their shows a not-to-be-missed breath of fresh air. All three members of the band are from western Pennsylvania and met in Manhattan. Being nothing more than close acquaintances, the three of them decided to pack up and travel the world together. It was in Australia where the band was formed. After playing in bars and clubs around Sydney, they were deported back to U.S. for playing music and making money without the proper papers. The band regrouped in Asheville, N.C. They soon became Asheville’s hottest new band. Now You See Them conveys an upbeat and beautiful sound. Sporting unique instrumentation while delivering beautiful harmonies, they’ve quickly turned their fan base from a few by-passers to perpetually packed houses. Much like traditional American folk and oldies, the root of their music is in spiritual growth through life experience while appealing to the everyman’s constant search for quality of life.

Spirit Family Reunion — Spirit Family Reunion are an up and coming group steeped in the tradition of Woody Guthrie, dusty boots, and worn acoustic instruments. The band works because it doesn't discriminate from any sort of 'traditional' music, iconic folk's lyricism rubs up against zydeco rhythms and the Gospel hallelujah rides a top a claw-hammer banjo line. Spirit Family Reunion is from Brooklyn, NY originally.

For more information about Border Bash please visit www.believeinbristol.org, www.bristolrhythm.com, or call (423) 573-2200 or (423) 573-4898.

Downtown Bristol Blog

Executive Chef Richard Erskine will be presenting his first cookbook and demonstrating his cooking and techniques at the Bristol Public Library on August 9th at 6pm!

Chef Richard Erskine and associates

August 09, 2011
Executive Chef Richard Erskine, President and Owner of the Southeast Culinary and Hospitality College in Bristol, VA, will be presenting his first cookbook, Taste of the South, along with a demonstration of his cooking and techniques at the Bristol Public Library on August 9th at 6p.m.
Click here to read more.

What are you doing Sunday? Come support the Paramount!

August 07, 2011
MOUNTAIN MUSIC SHOWCASE GOSPEL SING is a revival of the very popular Huff-Cook Gospel Sing hosted by the late Jack Harmon and seen each Sunday morning on WCYB TV from 1965-1988. MOUNTAIN MUSIC SHOWCASE GOSPEL SING, a 2-hour show, features 4 local bands performing bluegrass, traditional country and southern gospel music. The show is taped for television from 3-5 pm the first Sunday of each month at the Paramount Center for the Arts in Bristol. MOUNTAIN MUSIC SHOWCASE GOSPEL SING is open to the public. Donations are appreciated for the Paramount’s fund raising project to repair the building’s roof and upgrade the air conditioning system.

Tou're A Good Man, Charlie Brown at Theatre Bristol! The first show of the 46th anniversary season!

Charlie Brown, is brought to life by Theatre Bristol newcomer Alan Gallivan

August 05, 2011
Theatre Bristol is proud to present, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown as the first show on the 46th anniversary season. You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown is a musical adaptation of the beloved comic strip. You'll meet the Peanuts gang: Sally, Schroeder, Linus, Lucy, Snoopy and of course, Charlie Brown.
Click here to read more.

Border Bash is back FRIDAY NIGHT in downtown!

Spirit Family Reunion

August 05, 2011
Believe in Bristol, Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion and The Birthplace of Country Music Alliance are proud to announce it’s time for Bristol’s’ Twelfth Annual Border Bash Summer Concert Series!!! The seventh summer concert of the year will begin on August 5, 2011. The evening’s events will start with children’s activities, crafters, and concessions at 6:00 PM, LIVE music begins at 7:00 PM with Now You See Them, followed by Spirit Family Reunion starting at approximately 8:30PM. Remember that Border Bash is free to the public! We look forward to seeing you on State Street!!!
Click here to read more.

Tunes @ Noon presents the Bristol Virginia Senior Show Choir

August 04, 2011
Thursday, August 4th @ 7:00 & Friday, August 5th Noon — David Caldwell TUNES@NOON presents Senior Show Choir! The Bristol Virginia Senior show choir has once again outdone themselves in putting together their 2011 production. Spun off the popular TV show American’s Got Talent, their show is entitled “America’s Got Talent—Senior Style”. Just like the television series, the Show Choir will display various forms of talent both musical and otherwise with senior adults!!

Check this out....

August 03, 2011
Jeff Broughton, Bristol TN City Manager has begun a blog that appears on Facebook and as a Google blogg. He offers good information about the city of Bristol TN's activities. Try it out here — Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/City-Manager-Jeff-Broughton/157028914365988 — or check out Blog: http://citymanagerbristoltn.blogspot.com.

Downtown Bristol Blog

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