You can schedule an appointment through the Blush Facebook page, by calling 252.497.8875, or shop here. Follow Blush on Instagram @blushboutiqueetsy. The space at 223A Craven Street is a beautiful, historic mansion built in the mid-1850s that has been carefully restored so that every detail adheres to the period. The boutique’s natural lighting is breathtaking, and the space is serene. It’s a storybook setting for Jean Lloyd’s Blush Boutique to nestle and thrive. Lloyd started out with an Etsy pop-up shop creating custom veils and headpieces which she still offers both online and in the shop. She wanted to bring unique designer gowns to New Bern,Read More →

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The New Bern Board of Aldermen will conduct a public hearing and consider annexing an 11-acre West New Bern tract formerly called Craven Thirty. Clifford Parson, on behalf of Weyerhaeuser NR Company, requested the annexation. Once annexed, the area would benefit from city services such as water, sewer, and possibly power, as well as police, fire, and city development standards. Residents there would be New Bern citizens and can vote in municipal elections. A public hearing was called for 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 28, at city hall, corner of Pollock and Craven streets. Radio upgrade During the meeting, the board will also hear a presentationRead More →

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In response to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, the City of New Bern has amended its ordinance to allow for street cafes. This concept aims to help restaurants citywide in their economic recovery from Coronavirus and allow them more room to serve patrons during the State of North Carolina’s Phase 2 reopening, while also exercising stringent social distancing and capacity guidelines. Phase 2 is anticipated to begin on Friday, May 22 and last for 4-6 weeks. The Street Café Permit allows restaurants, upon approval, to serve patrons outside of their facilities. In the downtown area, the City has agreed to close portions of streets on FridayRead More →

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New Bern received a mediocre score for family friendliness in North Carolina from WalletHub, a website that produces data-driven articles ranking various subjects in various categories. In ranking North Carolina cities for “2019’s Best Places to Raise a Family in North Carolina,” New Bern ranked 56th out of 87 cities. The top-ranked city was Cary, while coming in at 87th was Laurinburg. In Eastern North Carolina, Havelock — you read that right — was the highest rated city in the survey, coming in at 35th. Other Eastern NC cities were Wilmington (44th), Greenville (53rd), Jacksonville (59th), Wilson (70th), Elizabeth City (75th), Tarboro (77th), Goldsboro (81st), andRead More →

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Six months after it made landfall, Hurricane Florence’s impacts on New Bern’s economy are still being felt throughout the city, but a new development may delay full recovery for some time. Hurricane-damaged DoubleTree Riverfront hotel is closed indefinitely over insurance coverage issues related to the hurricane. Downtown New Bern will continue to face its worst economic crisis since 2008-10, when access to downtown was crippled by a bridge replacement and road construction projects. “Business is definitely down,” said Lynne Harakal, director of Swiss Bear Downtown Development Corporation, said about Hurricane Florence recovery. “The best information I can provide is revenues are down about 15-20 percentRead More →

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The Board of Aldermen meets Tuesday for two separate sessions, a regular meeting starting at 6 p.m. and a work session covering utility rates starting at 3 p.m. During Tuesday’s regular meeting, here are some of the more interesting agenda items: 10. Presentation on NC Global TransPark Authority. Allen Thomas, Director of the North Carolina Global TransPark (“GTP”), was scheduled to make a presentation before the Board last July, but cancelled due to illness. He has rescheduled that presentation for this meeting. 11. Presentation by Craven County Board of Elections. Melani Wray, Director of the Craven County Board of Elections, will make a presentation thatRead More →

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Did you go by the new Harris Teeter since it opened on Wednesday? Odds are pretty good that you did. In a small town like New Bern, folks here can be relied on to try something new. Remember when Cook Out opened? On opening day, I saw city officials including Jeff Odham, in whose ward the new Harris Teeter is located, and City Manager Mark Stephens proudly roaming the vast floor space of the gleaming new store. Coke Mann, a partner with Columbia Development Group, developer of the shopping center, was quoted in the Sun Journal crediting Odham and Mayor Dana Outlaw for their bringingRead More →

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Remember back in  2012, all the buzz about Craven Thirty? All that sweet, sweet new retail space, a multiplex theater, and new neighborhoods? You probably also remember how last year Craven Thirty morphed into West Craven, with less focus on business and more focus on residential. Now, more than a year later, West Craven has emerged into the public eye again. Its developer, Weyerhaeuser NR Company, is asking for the city to enter into a development agreement. It is on the Board of Aldermen’s agenda for next Tuesday, when the board is expected to set a date for a public hearing. And this latest versionRead More →

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Governor Cooper announces 33 jobs and $2.25M investment in Craven County McGuckin & Pyle, Inc., a manufacturer of custom lamination and processing equipment, chose Craven County for its new plant, creating 33 new jobs and investing $2.25 million, N.C. Department of Commerce Secretary Anthony M. Copeland announced today. The company will bring mechanical and electrical control system assembly and machinery services to New Bern. “Much of our state is hurting after Hurricane Florence. As we continue to support each other and start to recover and rebuild, McGuckin & Pyle’s choice to move to New Bern and belief in this community underscores North Carolina’s resilience,” saidRead More →

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Times are tough for brick and mortar retail locations, particularly indoor malls. Just look at Vernon Mall in Kinston (hint: it’s vacant). New Bern Mall (aka Twin Rivers Mall) has been soldiering on, trying to fill remaining vacant out parcels and upgrade its interior tenants over the past several years. One such attempt was securing a Cracker Barrel. The mall’s owner, Hull Property Group, filled in a drainage pond and completely re-engineered its drainage system along with part of its parking lot in order to make space for a Cracker Barrel. The Cracker Barrel was to be located in the southeast corner of the mall,Read More →

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