The streEATERIES and Parklets in Downtown Morganton permitted by the COVID-19 Small Business Recovery Strategy, allowed businesses to expand outdoor spaces creating a framework for restaurants to operate further into the street during scheduled road closures. This project was able to boost food sales and retain businesses that may have otherwise closed indefinitely.  The City of Morganton’s Main Street Office's foresight to maximize outdoor space for businesses not only provided a safe area for customers but it also brought forth artistic endeavors for two local artists Jamie McGimsey and Brandon Lynn during the King Street streEATERY creation.

McGimsey, owner of downtown restaurant and bar Homer’s Soda Shop, studied Industrial Design, Historic Preservation and painting at The Savannah College of Art and Design. The McGimsey’s have deep family roots in Morganton, Grandfather James Frank McGimsey, owned Morganton Hardware, acquired in the 1920’s.  Previous owner of M.A.D., Morganton Art & Design, McGimsey’s said his drive upon returning to Morganton in 2009 was, “I wanted to see more diverse public art in Morganton. I saw lots of open canvases on buildings around town that I hoped business owners would provide artists with the opportunity to create art on their spaces. Public art is a great look for a city.” McGimsey was invited to paint a mural in the strEATERY, and he chose to recreate a radical yet ingenious design called Dazzle Camouflage, also known as razzle dazzle. This original concept and design was created by a Royal Navy Volunteer reserve lieutenant and artist, Norman Wilkinson, and used to camouflage ships during World War I. The idea was that the wild patterns would make it more difficult to determine the ship’s size, shape, speed and direction. “I’ve always been a huge fan of the Razzle Dazzle, as a series, and it is a platform that I’ve wanted to play with for ten years. The three dimensionality of the cement blocks and road scene, seemed like the best time to bring it to life. This inspired me to bring the same concept to the walls of Homers, a work still in progress.”

The StreATERY located on King Street also contains a neon color hopscotch mural by artist Brandon Lynn. Lynn, a Morganton native, is also the creator of the mural on the side of Oak Hill Iron + Wood. His piece, painted directly in the southbound lane of the street, is meant to evoke happiness and the joy of childhood and help people connect with their inner child. Lynn said that the work represents “becoming a child.” His mural, made up of bright vibrant colors, has hidden letters within a white line that flows throughout the piece — a “C,” “C” and “T” — which are the initials of his daughters, Cadence and Caitlin, and his wife Tiffany. This line contains a heart shape and flows to another portion that resembles an EKG line. Brandon said “It’s the heartbeat of Morganton, and my family is my heartbeat.” He never received any formal art training and, by day, Lynn works in nuclear medicine at Frye Regional Medical Center, but said that art is his passion. He loves his patients and nuclear medicine, but art is what he wants he wants to do for the rest of his life.

The City of Morganton invites you to come to the strEATERY  to enjoy delicious flavors of the neighboring restaurants and bask in the ambiance that is heightened by the creations of these two local artists.  

Jamie McGimsey, pictured above, created the "Razzle Dazzle" camoflauge mural on various parts of the North King Street Streatery in Downtown Morganton. The design is modeled after a camoflauge pattern that was painted on Royal Navy ships in World War I.

Brandon Lynn, pictured above in this photograph by the Morganton News-Herald, is a Morganton native, and painted the neon mural in the southbound lane of North King Street. His design represents "becoming a child."

Shown above is a detail shot of the "razzle dazzle" pattern painted on part of the North King Street streatery by Jamie McGimsey.

McGimsey is painting the walls of Homer's Soda Shop, a business in Downtown Morganton that he owns, with the same "razzle dazzle" pattern he painted in the streatery on North King Street.

Brandon Lynn's mural, shown above, has hidden letters within a white line that flows throughout the piece: a “C,” “C” and “T” — which are the initials of his daughters, Cadence and Caitlin, and his wife Tiffany.

Coming Soon - Union Street Food Hall + Downtown 2nd Floor Living at 117 East Union Street

Historic Courthouse Square Project October Update

The square truly looks like a construction site these days! As with all early days in a project it is mostly for removal of items and the beginnings of infrastructure.

To date:

• 3 Renderings of the finished project were placed on the construction fencing on Green Street (across from the theater) and on East Union Street across from Benjamin's for all to see!
• Trees that were scheduled for removal have been taken down and most of them removed from the site. New trees will be planted in various areas but not necessarily in the same locations. Some trees had to be removed because of the new design and some because they were overgrown for the space.
• The Green Street rock wall has now been completely removed and the rock placed on palettes to be reused once the concrete masonry unit (CMU) wall is put in place. The CMU wall will hold the dirt in place and will not be seen once the rock wall is rebuilt.
• The steps leading to the Courthouse, on the Green Street side, across from the theater, have been removed to be rebuilt along with the wall.
• A bore under Meeting Street, to the other side of the street, was made to provide the entire square with underground utilities, eliminating unsightly overhead wires and poles. Contractors were able to do this without disruption to traffic flow.
• All Sternberg lighting poles have been removed in preparation for new sidewalks. 
• Pavers were removed along the Green Street sidewalk and placed on palettes to be reused along Sterling Street with the new sidewalk.
• There will be new sidewalk poured beside existing pavers along Green Street to match the other sidewalks with pavers.
• A portion of the grading for the stage area was started in the southwest quadrant.

More information about this page is below.

October 23rd, 24th, 30th and 31st

During two weekends this fall learn about Morganton's spooky history and enjoy our quaint downtown district! The Morganton Ghost Walk was researched by local paranormal investigator Joshua P. Warren who documented creepy events, spooky stories and some bizarre history. The 1 hour-long, scenic tour tells of local history, strange sightings and folklore during a mile and a half walking tour of historic downtown Morganton. Some stories date back 500 years!

The tours are scheduled for October 23rd, 24th, 30th and 31th with tours beginning at 6:00pm, 7:00pm, 8:00pm, and 9:00pm. Tickets are $5.00, in limited quantities. Tickets may be purchased at the Main Street Office, located at 112B West Union Street. Reservations required. No on site tickets purchased. Limited to groups of 15. Ghost Tours walk will begin in front of the Marquee Cinema (101 South Green Street). Be sure to dress warmly and comfortably, these tour occur after dark. The entire tour will take place outdoors and is suitable for kids. Due to COVID regulations, masks and six feet social distancing are required.

Patty M

Saturday, October 31st 8:00-10:00am

Live Music at the Morganton Farmers Market. Shop with your local farmers while enjoying the sounds of local talent.

Saturday, October 31 10:00am-5:00pm 

Do you enjoy Halloween, quality time with friends, dressing up as someone or something else and scavenger hunts? If you answered "yes" to at least three out of the four above then boy, do we have the event for you! You need to "creep it real" and form your power team of no more than 6. Once you have your ghouls, come up with a creative team name and costumes. The clues we create, will be revealed to your crew to translate!Teams can register before the event or on site. All teams will meet at the Huntacular table located under the Wells Fargo Clock at the intersection of Union and Sterling Streets in downtown Morganton.

The first team to complete the huntacular event will win $300 in downtown bucks, Halloween candy, and a great trophy! The team with the best costume will win $200 in downtown bucks, Halloween candy, and trophy. The team that comes up with the best team name will win $150 in downtown bucks, Halloween candy, and trophy. And the team with the best team photo (sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) will win $100 in downtown bucks, Halloween candy, and trophy.

See you on the 31st!

Registration form to participate in Huntacular!