HIGH POINT — The operators of an arcade bar are eyeing a site in High Point’s downtown catalyst district across the street from Truist Point stadium for their third location.
The Dive Bar has requested $124,798 in economic development incentives from the city for a “barcade” at 312 N. Elm St.
The Dive Bar, which has locations in Hickory and Mooresville, serves beer, wine and liquor, and includes pool tables, arcade games, darts and pinball, High Point Economic Development Director Sandy Dunbeck said.
“They exist to bring North Carolina back to the days of simple fun and affordability,” Dunbeck said. “Their model is built to serve everyone, as they pride themselves on being family-friendly before 8 p.m. and welcome to all.”
The city announced an incentives public hearing for the project last week but didn’t name the business involved until Wednesday.
The Dive Bar would create 19 new jobs and expects to invest $650,000 in real and personal property improvements to 312 N. Elm St., a former medical office building it would lease from Peters Development.
The lease would be for seven years, with options to renew for five and then three years.
The City Council will hold a public hearing on the incentives request on Monday.
Longtime restaurant Giannos of High Point says a dispute over parking with one of its neighbors is hurting its business.
HIGH POINT — Longtime restaurant Giannos of High Point says its business is taking a hit from a dispute with one of its neighbors.
Centre Stage shopping center representatives in recent months began strictly enforcing no-parking rules for its separately owned lot behind the restaurant at 1124 Eastchester Drive, after allowing Giannos patrons to park there without any restrictions since it opened, according to owner Dave Nicoletta.
The abrupt change has included off-duty police officers patrolling the shopping center lot and property managers “on-site taking pictures, yelling at customers and even threatening to have vendors arrested for trespassing,” Nicoletta said. “It is certainly disappointing, as we have coexisted peacefully for over 22 years, and now this is being enforced.”
The restaurant “is experiencing tremendous loss of revenue. We are in fear that this will affect Giannos to where we are not sure what the outcome will be of the business,” said Sammy Gianopoulos, who founded Giannos in 2000 and still owns the property.
Nicoletta said he suspects the stepped-up enforcement is a result of a disagreement with the shopping center’s representatives over a water-line leak under the parking lot.
Centre Stage, which is anchored by a Planet Fitness and Get Air Trampoline Park, is owned by Mark Properties of Durham and managed by New Wave Properties in Raleigh.
That firm’s owner, Troy Gordon, called the case a private property-rights issue, and he declined to comment on Giannos’ allegations.
Mark Properties could not be reached for comment.
Giannos has about 40 parking spaces in front of and on both sides of the restaurant.
Nicoletta said part of the shopping center lot has been used for overflow Giannos parking at busy times, such as High Point Market, High Point University events and on weekend nights, although there has never been a formal agreement for this.
He said, at the busiest times, Giannos patrons might use 25-30 spaces at Centre Stage, but this still leaves ample parking for shopping center tenants.
An easement granting Giannos access to its parcel runs behind the restaurant through part of the shopping center property.
Last year, Gianopoulos said a sinkhole started forming in the easement area, which was being caused by a water-line leak beneath the parking lot.
Centre Stage representatives initially thought it was Giannos’ responsibility to repair the leak, but a review of legal documents showed that the shopping center was responsible for maintaining the easement area, he said.
Nicoletta said he thinks apparent hard feelings stemming from the pipe leak led to a parking crackdown, with new signage going up threatening towing and off-duty police and security personnel enforcing the parking ban for Giannos and a neighboring outparcel.
“It feels retaliatory,” he said. “There’s no other reason they would be doing it.”
Giannos has offered to lease parking space from the shopping center, but hasn’t received a response, he said.
GUILFORD COUNTY — A new round of appointments of principals includes changes in leadership for several High Point schools.
T. Wingate Andrews High School Principal Marcus Gause will become the new principal at Dudley High School in Greensboro, the Guilford County Board of Education announced. Gause, who has been Andrews principal for the past six years, gained national notice two years ago when a video of him singing “I Will Always Love You” at the Andrews graduation went viral on social media.
Gause’s successor at Andrews will be Darell Baker, a familiar figure on campus. Baker has been an assistant principal at Andrews since 2017.
Baker has developed professional development experiences for new staff members, assisted with building operations and supervised and evaluated teachers and staff, according to the school district. He previously worked as a school social worker and principal intern at the A&T Four Middle College at N.C. A&T and as an assistant principal at Lexington High School in Davidson County.
In other local shifts, Crystal Gaymon, principal at Parkview Village Elementary School, will become principal at Oak Hill Elementary School, and Monique Curry, principal at Irving Park Elementary School in Greensboro, will become principal at Parkview Village.
Other Guilford County Schools personnel moves have High Point area connections.
Shanta Buchanan, who has been assistant principal at Southwest Guilford Elementary School since 2021, will become the principal at Archer Elementary School in Greensboro. She previously served as assistant principal at Oak View Elementary School.
Yvonne Eason, who has been an assistant principal at Ragsdale High School, will be principal at Sedalia Elementary in eastern Guilford County. Eason is pursuing a doctoral degree in educational leadership from High Point University.
The school board approved the appointments at its meeting Tuesday night at High Point City Hall. The appointments take effect July 1.
