The owners of Winston Tower, located at 301 North Main Street, have purchased a new building at 8 West Third Street across the street to redevelop into an exciting Class A office building. The renovations have begun on this historical building full of history and an exciting future. 

The owners are currently under construction for a new 7-story parking deck with 550 spaces at the corner of Third Street and Main Street. The parking deck will serve both 8 West Third and Winston Tower. The deck will also include visitor parking and hourly parking options. The demolition has begun and  Blum Construction is overseeing this great development with an anticipated fall completion. 

Cindy Christopher stopped to visit and see the progress first hand. See her video update below. 

Winston-Salem has grown exponentially in the last ten years and we continue to see positive growth that is placing our wonderful city on the nation’s radar. Earlier this spring Mayor Allen Joines addressed the City with a State of the Community update. The overview of growth and change that our amazing city is going through is truly impressive and sets us up for more success to come.

The State of the Community was full of valuable statistics and information that covers the economic, educational, and cultural trends of Winston-Salem and how they impact the city now and in the years to come. Winston-Salem’s government and organizations have set out plans for the future in order to meet their shared goal of making Winston-Salem Metropolitan area one of the top 50 Metro areas in the country. Winston-Salem has recently been featured in the following:

• Forbes- #14 best places to visit in 2019

• Realtor.com- one of 10 “next urban powerhouse”

• USA Today- ranked River Run Film Festival one of 10 amazing film festivals worth traveling for

As we continue to show up highly curated lists we also have seen amazing economic growth. Highlights include:

• Unemployment rates are trending down. Forsyth County finished 2018 with a 3.6% unemployment rate and Guilford County finished 2018 with a 3.9% unemployment rate.

• In 2017 we created  2,065 new jobs and in 2018 we created 5,300 new jobs - a 157% increase.

• Visitor spending increased 6.1%

One of the highlights of the discussion is the substantial impact that has come with the Wake Forest Innovation Quarter at Bailey Park. This development continues to grow with more retail, office, and restaurant spaces. The Innovation Quarter currently consists of:

• 176 companies

• 1,075 residential units

• $800 million invested

• 3,762 employees

• 9,185 student

The Innovation Quarter is right on trend with the continued growth and development of our vibrant downtown. Since 2000 Downtown has been infused with $1,955,930.00 of development. It truly is a great time to be in Winston-Salem!

Many other topics and statistics were shared that shed a positive light on all the amazing initiatives that are taking place in our wonderful city. The insight into the efforts our city and organizations are working on daily for growth is reassuring and helpful as we look ahead to a brighter future.

For more information please click here for the entire State of the Community Update.

The Shaffner House, located at 150 S Marshall Street, has re opened and partnered with the Flour Box their dining experience and authentic British tea in the afternoons. Located within walking distance of downtown theatres, dining, arts and entertainment to the North, and to the historic village of Old Salem to the south, the Shaffner House offers unsurpassed convenience and accessibility. The bed and breakfast has recently updated all rooms as well as a new commercial kitchen. All rooms are currently open and ready for business! A small boutique has been added and is open to the public. Private party rooms are also available for special events.

Betty and Henry Falls Jr purchased the Shaffner Home in 1990 and undertook one of the most thorough renovation projects in Winston-Salem. Due to their attention to detail and commitment to quality, the Shaffner House has received local awards and has been featured in national publications. We are thrilled to see such an established and special business re open and offer unique experiences to locals and visitors alike.

The Flour Box, located at 137 West Street in Old Salem, has also opened their second location in the Shaffner House. Their first location opened in 2015 with light seasonal fare including soups, pies, salads, sandwiches and appetizers. In addition, they offer full tea services, fresh baked pastries, vegetarian and gluten free options, as well as a dog friendly patio.

Bank of OZK has a new location under construction on Hanes Mall Boulevard that is making substantial progress. Cindy Christopher was glad to represent the bank as their Commercial Broker for the purchase of 2 acres at Little Creek where their offices will be located.

They are constructing a two-story, 10,300-square-foot branch. The estimated completion is expected to be June 2019 with Fourth Elm Construction overseeing the project as the general contractor. 

Bank of OZK entered the market in 2015 after the purchase of of the Mocksville-based, Bank of the Carolinas. Bank of the Carolinas transitioned to Bank of the Ozarks in July 2015 to reflect the ownership’s expansion from Arkansas to nine additional states, including North Carolina, Texas, New York, and California. The bank's headquarters are still located in Little Rock, Arkansas.

The new location is expected to include a modern look with frameless glass partitions, energy efficient windows and LED lighting. This office will be joining the additional 25 offices located in North Carolina.

The owners of Winston Tower, located at 301 North Main Street, have purchased a new building at 8 West Third Street across the street to redevelop into an exciting Class A office building. The renovations have begun on this historical building full of history and an exciting future.

Eight West Third street, a nine story office building designed by architect Frank Pierce Milburn, was completed in early 1911 to become North Carolina’s first “skyscraper” and the first true headquarters building for the recently created Wachovia Bank and Trust Company (created by the merger of Wachovia National Bank and The Wachovia Loan and Trust Company). Remnants of the former retail banking portion of the building still remain.

Eight West Third, now nearly 100 years old, has watched over the downtown business district as three major home-grown companies, Wachovia Bank and Trust, R.J. Reynolds and Branch Banking and Trust Company, developed into Fortune 500 businesses. A truly iconic presence in Winston-Salem, Eight West Third Street remembers its history yet looks forward to contributing to the continued revitalization of the city’s downtown core.

Once renovations are complete the building will offer 9 floors of Class A office space with each floor consisting of 10,000 SF. The street level floor will be restaurant and retail space to complete the 100,000 SF building. The owners are currently under construction for a new 7-story parking deck with 550 spaces at the corner of Third Street and Main Street. The parking deck will serve both 8 West Third and Winston Tower. The demolition has begun and the project has an estimated completion by fall 2019.

Spring is an exciting time in Downtown Winston-Salem. Outdoor dining, block parties, and the opportunity to explore new places are just a few things that make our Downtown a special place. In the spirit of this wonderful time we found it appropriate to highlight one of our very favorites spots downtown, Canteen Market & Bistro.

Cindy Christopher has had the pleasure of working with Claire Calvin on all three of her unique and amazing restaurants. Her first woman owned business was Dinners on the Porch which she started in 2010. Next Claire opened The Porch Kitchen & Cantina five years ago in Millworks off Northwest Blvd and helped re-purpose that project.  This past year, she opened two more restaurants both downtown: Alma Mexicana opened in January, 2018 in Bailey Power Plant in Wake Forest Innovation Quarter and then Canteen Market and Bistro opened in August, 2018 on 411 W Fourth Street.

Canteen Market & Bistro opened August 2018 on the corner of 4th and Spruce Street in Downtown Winston-Salem. Claire Calvin partnered with Eric Swaim, partner of Hoots Roller Bar and Hoots Beer Co., as co-owners of this exciting new addition. Canteen aims to be more than a restaurant and features a specialty market, gourmet grab-and-go, and a 60-seat dining area. The market is curated to feature specialty items that can not be found in a typical grocery store including rare wine, unique ingredients, and delicious gifts. The bar serves morning coffee and is open throughout the evening for cocktails, wine, and beer. The deli and grab-and-go section were inspired to help people solve dinner and offer quick lunches for downtown employees. The dine in menu offers global inspiration while utilizing local ingredients creating dishes that offer a bistro vibe.

In February 2019 Claire Calvin and Canteen Market and Bistro were both honored with a Downtown Excellence Award. The Downtown Excellence Awards were established in 1995 and are presented to projects, people, and events who have brought excellence to Downtown Winston-Salem.

Christopher Commercial is so proud of Claire Calvin, Eric Swaim, and their entire team. We are happy to not only see their success and impact in Downtown Winston-Salem but are also pleased to share office space with their team and call them friends. Cheers to Canteen Market & Bistro and Spring in Downtown Winston-Salem. 

Check out all of their amazing restaurants:

The Porch Kitchen & Cantina

​​Alma Mexicana

​Canteen Market & Bistro​​​