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Hotel to replace portifino

Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2022 3:51 pm
by appdaze
It'll be a tight squeeze but I guess it will be worth it. Gotta think prices will be wild on game weekends.


https://theappalachianonline.com/plans- ... portofino/

Re: Hotel to replace portifino

Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2022 4:44 pm
by Saint3333
Should do well, walkable to restaurants. 10 years from now Boone will become more upper class than many would like to see. It's a trend that isn't likely to stop, the secret leaked out a decade ago and is spreading like bacteria.

Re: Hotel to replace portifino

Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2022 4:50 pm
by APPdiesel
The town of Boone (specifically the town council) has done an awful lot to stunt the growth of the area for a long long time. Blowing Rock is beautiful. Banner Elk is beautiful. Boone...kinda dumpy. It's because they've dug their heels in and fought gentrification tooth and nail. If they could ever change their tactics and let more outside money in but manage the way growth looks (like a historic preservation society does) Boone would be incredible.

Re: Hotel to replace portifino

Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2022 5:24 pm
by BambooRdApp
With the new owners at the Horton Hotel, the have raised prices on game weekends and just overall rates and seem to be doing well. Seems to indicate that another boutique hotel is needed. Be nice if bottom floor has bar as well as a rooftop bar. We like the rooftop bar at The Horton. We do not stay as much as we used to as I am a cheap bast@# .

Re: Hotel to replace portifino

Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2022 6:34 pm
by Bootsy
Horton really has something special with the views from their rooftop bar.
That's a great scene and I'm sure we'll see several more of these establishments pop up on the Boone skyline in the next 5 years.

Someone remind me...doesn't App's master growth plan have a hotel/conference center going in where Legends sits now?

Re: Hotel to replace portifino

Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2022 6:47 pm
by boonetown1
Saint3333 wrote:
Tue Nov 22, 2022 4:44 pm
Should do well, walkable to restaurants. 10 years from now Boone will become more upper class than many would like to see. It's a trend that isn't likely to stop, the secret leaked out a decade ago and is spreading like bacteria.
I’ve noticed this season, boone kind of has a restaurant problem; if you want something beyond pub food. ODB has closed all season at like 5pm, booneshine is packed, black cat is packed, lost province (good luck getting in there), etc. i feel like we need a couple more local quality options around campus; especially if a hotel goes there.

Re: Hotel to replace portifino

Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2022 7:17 pm
by WASU 93
boonetown1 wrote:
Tue Nov 22, 2022 6:47 pm
Saint3333 wrote:
Tue Nov 22, 2022 4:44 pm
Should do well, walkable to restaurants. 10 years from now Boone will become more upper class than many would like to see. It's a trend that isn't likely to stop, the secret leaked out a decade ago and is spreading like bacteria.
I’ve noticed this season, boone kind of has a restaurant problem; if you want something beyond pub food. ODB has closed all season at like 5pm, booneshine is packed, black cat is packed, lost province (good luck getting in there), etc. i feel like we need a couple more local quality options around campus; especially if a hotel goes there.
We ate at Wild Craft on Sunday before the basketball game. Great food, but they are limited on seating on cold days.

Boone also has a post basketball game dinner problem. Even Troy's was closed Saturday night by the time we arrived back at our car and started driving. That may have been another issue that limited the crowd.

Re: Hotel to replace portifino

Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2022 8:43 pm
by BayouApp
My guess is within a few years of completion they will wish they had twice that number of rooms or more, though historic standards may restrict it.

Re: Hotel to replace portifino

Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2022 12:30 am
by WASU 93
BayouApp wrote:
Tue Nov 22, 2022 8:43 pm
My guess is within a few years of completion they will wish they had twice that number of rooms or more, though historic standards may restrict it.
i would guess that parking would come into play. The Horton uses a gravel lot across the street behind the hotel.

Re: Hotel to replace portifino

Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2022 8:41 am
by ArmantiWaterSafety
boonetown1 wrote:
Tue Nov 22, 2022 6:47 pm
I’ve noticed this season, boone kind of has a restaurant problem; if you want something beyond pub food. ODB has closed all season at like 5pm, booneshine is packed, black cat is packed, lost province (good luck getting in there), etc. i feel like we need a couple more local quality options around campus; especially if a hotel goes there.
Admittedly, I didn't go to many restaurants as a student because I had no money. However, I think Boone struggles mightily with an insanely disproportionate student to resident ratio. With 18k residents and 20k students, it's hard to support a full time restaurant year-round in Boone with all the breaks students get. I'm not saying it can't be done (see Blowing Rock), but I think it was AppDiesel that said something about the fight against gentrification in Boone in another thread and I agree with that. Unfortunately, you get the "student" restaurants (aka pubs and fast food), and the nicer restaurants in Blowing Rock. There are a few in Boone but they're very spread out.

I literally just got back from a Blowing Rock trip with a few buddies and I was amazed at that downtown for such a small place.

Re: Hotel to replace portifino

Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2022 10:03 am
by APPdiesel
Right. Blowing Rock has an elevated cohesive look. When you drive in from 321 it’s stunning. Boone is so far behind on upgrading facades all over town.

Re: Hotel to replace portifino

Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2022 2:01 pm
by Mjohn1988
APPdiesel wrote:
Wed Nov 23, 2022 10:03 am
Right. Blowing Rock has an elevated cohesive look. When you drive in from 321 it’s stunning. Boone is so far behind on upgrading facades all over town.
I think more than anything it’s the landscaping and the park that make Blowing Rock look so good. Kings St doesn’t have that space. I would like to see Boone keep its rustic, college town look but I agree it could be dressed up some.

Re: Hotel to replace portifino

Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2022 2:12 pm
by BeauFoster
Clean up Hippy Hill and the town instantly looks 1000x better.

Re: Hotel to replace portifino

Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2022 3:09 pm
by Bootsy
APPdiesel wrote:
Wed Nov 23, 2022 10:03 am
Right. Blowing Rock has an elevated cohesive look. When you drive in from 321 it’s stunning. Boone is so far behind on upgrading facades all over town.
Fair points, but you also have to congratulate Blowing Rock for intentionally working towards its current image for the past 15 years.

When I attended App back in the early 90's, Blowing Rock reminded me a lot of Mt. Airy. That definitely isn't a bad thing and I sort of liked it better that way. But the town recognized the shift in visitor demographics and responded in kind to gentrify and attract more of those of folks.

Re: Hotel to replace portifino

Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2022 3:22 pm
by BambooRdApp
Bootsy wrote:
Wed Nov 23, 2022 3:09 pm
APPdiesel wrote:
Wed Nov 23, 2022 10:03 am
Right. Blowing Rock has an elevated cohesive look. When you drive in from 321 it’s stunning. Boone is so far behind on upgrading facades all over town.
Fair points, but you also have to congratulate Blowing Rock for intentionally working towards its current image for the past 15 years.

When I attended App back in the early 90's, Blowing Rock reminded me a lot of Mt. Airy. That definitely isn't a bad thing and I sort of liked it better that way. But the town recognized the shift in visitor demographics and responded in kind to gentrify and attract more of those of folks.
west jefferson is on same path as BR. nice downtown catering to tourism. they know what they got so to speak

Re: Hotel to replace portifino

Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2022 6:04 pm
by huskie3
Can’t remember where I heard/read it but the difference is Blowing Rock is mostly home ownership while Boone is rental.

Re: Hotel to replace portifino

Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2022 6:35 pm
by t4pizza
I really think a big reason for the shift in Blowing Rock is that Boone got liquor by the drink so the students stopped making the drive to go to the bars. That place rolls up the streets at 10 with the exception of Town Tavern. When I was at App, there were many bars pouring until 2 am. Students stopped spending money on booze so Blowing Rock adapted and targeted well healed tourists. But I disagree that Boone only has student type of restaurants, there are a lot of very good places to eat in downtown (way more than when I was in school). In addition to some that have already been mentioned there is Vidalia's, the Local, Proper, Cobo which all has really good food. There is also Ransom which is more bar fare but it is usually easy to get into and of course Lost Province, and the others. I actually find downtown Boone to have more options for good food than downtown Blowing Rock.