By: Kelsey O’Connell
Walking around Hendersonville, our group was surprised by what we saw. We expected a small town feel, but the downtown area was very up-scale, not at all like their neighbors’ in Brevard. Our group stopped into a small coffee shop to refuel after a long trip back from Murphy, only to find an adorable treasure in the Black Bear Coffee Shop.
The shop was covered in colorful decorations, even featuring displays containing books and facts about coffees from around the world. The back wall had hanging flags and comfortable seating for groups and individuals alike.
After grabbing a few snacks and some coffee, we were able to sit down and chat with the owner’s wife, who very nicely and willingly agreed to talk to us about Route 64. She told us that without the influence of Route 64, the shop would most likely suffer.
We also discussed advertising on Route 64, how there used to be a billboard for Hendersonville up on the road, but that it was taken down. She, however, didn’t lament the loss of the billboard because she felt that it didn’t adequately portray Hendersonville. I agree with her that if an advertising agency were to accurately portray Hendersonville and the Black Bear Coffee Shop, as well as their charms on an ad on Route 64, they’d create even more business for the beautiful Hendersonville.