La Bouteille
“We offer unique local and international wine and beer selections that you dont see on supermarket shelves,” said Shelly Block, co-owner with her husband Fred. “Most of our wines are undiscovered and the focus is on small scale production wines to enhance higher quality. Similarly our beer selections are from all styles and all corners of the world German-Czech, Belgian-French, British, and American traditions.”
Customers can buy wine by the glass “or walk up to the store fridge and pull a single bottle of beer to taste without having to buy the whole bottle or six pack,” Block said. “You can mix and match beer six packs and buy wine by the bottle. This allows more flexibility.”
The La Bouteille website is www.labouteille.net, phone 859-6473. Hours are Wednesday and Thursday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday noon to 4 p.m.
Shelly Block moved to the United States from India when she was 12. She went to the University of Florida (UF) and today is a “Registered Dietitian” with a Masters Degree. Fred Block has a degree in electrical engineering, also from UF. The couple met at college, got married and worked in New Orleans and Atlanta before moving to Campobello, S.C. four years ago.
Fred works for GE Energy in Greenville, managing logic controls for gas turbines. Shelly works for Radiant Research in Greer, performing clinical research trials Mondays and Tuesdays. The Blocks have two children, Annika, 7, and Rowan, 4, both in Campobello-Gramling School.
“We have always enjoyed learning about wine and beer,” Shelly said. “I was in a wine club over the last year in Greenville, and I really liked to learn about the different styles of wine. I am still learning.
Freds beer interests also went up another notch when I was pregnant with Annika. He started home brewing and actually won first place for his Ginger beer in an Atlanta local home brew contest. He has built an elaborate system of home brewing (not just stove top). You will find more about his brewing on his web page, www.bottletree.net. He plans to market his own beer sometime late this year and will have office headquarters in Tryon.”
“Both of us have to either go to Asheville or Greenville/Atlanta to buy any handcrafted beer or fine wines with a variety,” Block said. “The wines we offer are undiscovered wines and also many different wine varietals. The idea is for people to try different ones. So if someone likes a Cab Sauvignon, why not try a different varietal like Monastrell?
“We realized it would be cool to have a place right here in the upstate where people can find variety and we chose Tryon because we have loved Tryon since we moved here. Weve been up here almost every weekend. Also we love the historical, small town feel of Tryon and our specialty shop just seemed to fit in here.”
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Pinecastle Records
Owner Tom Riggs son, Cort, says his fathers health and the current business environment made the closing necessary.
Pinecastle Records was founded in 1990 in Orlando, Florida by Tom Riggs when he expanded his hobby of bluegrass into a full-time business, a business he moved to Columbus, N.C. about ten years ago. Riggs had professionally been involved in bluegrass music for over 30 years prior to starting Pinecastle Records.
Artists and distributors can still purchase Pinecastle products through the Music Shed, the retail/wholesale outlet the Riggses started 22 years ago. Music Shed continues to operate from its Columbus store, 322 E. Mills St. For information, call 828-894-2446.
“We will soon begin exploring how to best preserve the vast catalog Tom, the artists and talented staff of Pinecastle have amassed over the 20-year history of the label,” Cort Riggs said. “Tom will be settling into a skilled nursing facility, close to our family, and in the near future we hope to visit with our many old friends at shows and festivals.”
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Nissan of Forest City
“Weve taken over the management and operations of the store, but it will continue to stay in the same building and same location,” said the new owner Paul Deck.
The previous owner was contemplating closing after struggling through the economic downturn and Deck said he didnt want to see another dealership close. “I also think it is a really good opportunity and I think Nissan is a good product,” he said.
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Randy McGuinn
McGuinn is a 1988 Polk Central graduate and served as a communications computer systems operator in the United States Air Force. He was stationed in the Phillipines for awhile. McGuinn and his wife of 20 years, Gretchen, have three children.
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Carlyle General Stores Inc., at 503 W. Mills Street in Columbus, just northwest of the roundabout, was closing the business last Friday. The service station and convenience store carried Exxon gas and Hunts Brothers Pizza. The owners had no comment on the closing., a native of Sunny View, has been named a Certified Manager of Community Associations by the national association board. McGuinn is executive association manager with Hinson Management of Spartanburg. In his current position, McGuinn oversees the management of over 80 associations, providing technical and legal assistance to association boards of directors, collecting homeowners dues, and enforcing covenants and restrictions. was purchased by McCurry-Deck dealership of Forest City, a family owned and operated Cadillac, Buick, Pontiac and GMC Truck dealer serving the Carolinas for over 40 years. closed its office in Columbus on Feb. 1. , a wine and beer boutique, opened on Trade Street in Tryon last Thursday and held an open house tasting event Friday.