News

Incendiary Brewing Company will open a satellite taproom at Revolution Mill

A new brewery is coming to Greensboro later in 2024. 

Incendiary Brewing Company announced it will open a satellite taproom within Greensboro's Revolution Mill. 

The brewery first opened in Winston-Salem in 2018. Then, in 2023, it opened a taproom in Raleigh. 

Incendiary Brewing Company said the new space on Revolution Mill's campus will open up to a large courtyard common area. There will be live music, community events, and beer releases. It's not clear what part of the campus the brewery will occupy. 

Learn more on WFMY >

How to get boxed fresh produce and snacks with pickup at the Farmers’ Market

Screen Shot 2020-05-01 at 8.47.41 AM.png

Foster Caviness is a food distributor that usually delivers to restaurants and the like, but now they are reaching out to you.  

With their produce box campaign, they are boxing fresh fruits, veggies, and snacks in pre-packaged boxes that you order online and pick up at the Piedmont Triad Farmer's Market. It is a "no contact" delivery, meaning you pull up and tell them your order number and they put the box directly in your trunk. And you're done! 

You do have to pre-order online. You cannot purchase on-site. But the choices are fresh from local farms in North Carolina. The boxes contain fruit, veggies or a "stay healthy" box which contains a variety of items from milk and eggs to kid-friendly snack packs.

See the video on WFMY 2 >

'We're here to stay.' -- Inside Kontoor Brands' global headquarters in Greensboro

On the Kontoor Brands campus in downtown Greensboro, you'll see constant motion. Most every day of the week, a photoshoot is taking place. During WFMY News 2's recent visit, male models wore shorts and short-sleeved shirts that will debut in the summer.

At the design center at Revolution Mill, employees are preparing for next year.

"I just finished spring 2021 so we're about to start on fall 2021," said Betty Madden, Lee's Vice President of Design.

The staple of Lee and Wrangler designers is the five-pocket jean but their creations go far beyond that.

"We also make jackets, shirts, t-shirts, graphics, non-denim bottoms..." said Madden.

Those creations will be shipped across the globe.

"You can find Wrangler in Belgium, France, Germany, Poland, South America, everywhere," said Vivian Rivetti, the Vice President of Design for Wrangler.

You'll also find Kontoor employees worldwide. It employs 15,000 people with headquarters in Belgium and Hong Kong. Its global headquarters is in Greensboro, North Carolina also known as Jeansboro.

"This was a denim town so we're here and thriving in this community and making sure we are keeping denim alive in Greensboro. It's really fun," said Tom Waldron, Wrangler's Executive Vice President and Global Brand President.

Kontoor was formed when VF moved its headquarters and 85 executive jobs from Greensboro to Colorado. Wrangler and Lee spun off to create Kontoor. Waldron admits the announcement was a surprise.

 "It was shocking for all of us when it came out."

Kontoor has replaced those VF jobs and then some. It's hired more than 200 workers in the Triad including Lee's Executive Vice President and Global Brand President Chris Waldeck.

"I can tell you the city has been absolutely fantastic. The people of Greensboro have really embraced the employees that have moved over," said Waldeck. 

Designers Rivetti and Madden are also new residents of the Triad.

"Being down here in Greensboro is the most creative environment I've ever been in... I love being in this environment," said Rivetti.

"I think it's a quaint, sophisticated, interesting city with such a cool history especially for denim and textiles," said Madden.

Kontoor is less than a year old and has already grown. It opened the Lee and Wrangler Hometown Studio, a retail store in downtown Greensboro. Its new photo studio is used to create high-resolution images of their clothing to be featured online. The company also opened offices at Revolution Mill which is home to the company's global merchandising, design, product development, and innovation teams.

"Just walking in the door is inspiring every day to me," said Madden.

In all, about 1,500 people work for Kontoor in the Triad. Here's the breakdown: 800 at world headquarters at on North Elm Street in downtown Greensboro; 150 at Revolution Mill; 200 at a service support center on South Elm Eugene Street; and 350 workers at a distribution center in Mocksville.

"When people move in from outside whether it be from New York City, we bring a lot of talent in. They get here and they don't want to leave," said Waldron.

Kontoor may be a new company but their brands are steeped in history. Lee is 130 years old and Wrangler is over 70 years old. You probably recognize their fashions and the famous people who wore them. Actor James Dean wore Lee jeans in 'Rebel Without a Cause.' Actor Bob Denver wore Wranglers on 'Gilligan's Island.'

They are brands with a rich past and a company committed to the future in the Triad.

"This is a natural place for us to be. We're proud to be here. We're here to stay to build a great corporation together with the city," said Waldeck.

See the rest on WFMY >

'A Huge Deal For Us': Greensboro's Revolution Mill Adds Popular Downtown Bar

GREENSBORO, N.C. — When The Bearded Goat lit up its "open" sign Friday night, the bar became the latest addition to an ambitious development converting a 120-year-old textile mill into a modern destination to live, work, and play.

Greensboro's Revolution Mill has packed a lot into what used to be an aging flannel mill, the first in the U.S. South. The property is large enough to need a "campus map" to help people find their way around the 150-unit apartment complex, cafe, pizzeria, restaurant, workspaces for 109 companies, and more on site.

"All of the sudden, this little kind of campus community has come alive," said Nick Piornack, General Manager of Revolution Mill, whose job includes managing leasing, construction, and third-party relationships.

Beneath towering smokestacks built in 1898, family and friends gathered at the Bearded Goat on Friday night for a soft opening. 

The grand opening for the general public at the Bearded Goat bar at Revolution Mill is Saturday, June 29 at 6 p.m.

"We're very casual. Our motto is, 'Come as you are.' Come as who you are. It doesn't matter how much money you have in your pocket. If you want to spend two bucks or if you want to spend 100 bucks. And we've just really lived by that motto," said Seth Mapes, owners of the Bearded Goat.

The Bearded Goat is expanding to Revolution Mill from its original location in Downtown Greensboro, which opened in October 2016. Revolution Mill first approached Mapes about the prospect of growing to the revamped textile mill about a year and a half ago, said Mapes.

"When we first opened up downtown, I had, I think, three employees for the first couple months. Right now, with Revolution Mill opening, we have roughly between 20 and 28 people working for us with security, bar-backs, bartenders, everything like that," said Mapes.

As for the larger Revolution Mill project, the Bearded Goat is one of the last additions in phase one of development, said Piornack. Architects for the project aim to preserve the historic textile mill atmosphere. 

See the rest on WFMY >

Revolutionizing History At Revolution Mill In Greensboro

In 1898 the Cone brothers opened the South's first flannel mill in northeast Greensboro. In 1982 the mill closed but in 2017 new business is opening.

Self Help Ventures Fund bought the 45-acre property in 2012 and began the $100 million redevelopment. WFMY News 2's Maddie Gardner stopped by the historic mill to check out what's new. 

Cugino Forno Pizzeria opened March 9th. They chose Revolution Mill because they wanted to combine the American history of the mill with the Italian history of the pizzeria. Their wood fire ovens can bake a pie to perfection in 90 seconds and they say they use only the freshest imported ingredients. 

A Greensboro favorite, Natty Greene's is opening a third location at the mill. Owner Kayne Fisher said the new spot will be, "a butcher, a baker and a beer maker," but we'll have to stay tuned to see what that means. Fisher says Revolution Mill is the perfect spot for Natty Greene's because of the Greensboro history that lives there. 

Urban Grinders, a Greensboro art and coffee house, will open their second location in the mill in April. Owners Jeff and Marcus say they can't wait to be at the historic property.

The mill also features 142 loft apartments. One and two bedroom spaces are available to rent. The lofts are in the oldest building at Revolution Mill and many of the original features are highlighted in the floor plans. The tenants are also able to enjoy a fitness and yoga studio, a theater room, demonstration kitchen, dog park and community grills.

See video coverage of Revolution Mill on WFMY2 >> 

History Comes To Life At New Revolution Mill Apartments

An old factory transformed into modern, stylish apartments. 

Greensboro's history in the textile industry is undeniable when you step into the newly transformed Revolution Mill Apartments

Exposed brick walls, original hardwood floors, and high ceilings and windows are all evidence of the area's evolution. 

Revolution Mill was first known as the Proximity Cotton Mill. The factory was built in the late 1800's and was a leading manufacturer of denim through the 1900's. 

The mill eventually closed in 1982 due to decreasing popularity in flannels. 

Revolution Studios purchased the old mill in the early 2000's and has since been transforming the campus into offices, event space, restaurants, and now apartments. 

The first generation of tenants moved into the new apartments in February. 

See the WFMY article here >>