Moon's Grill - High Point, NC

Moon's Grill is a small diner that has been in business for approximately 40 years, though previously under different names. Jamie G. and Erica B. recently took over management of the grill, and it is one of my favorite stops when in the Triad.

Echos of the theme song from the old sitcom, Cheers, ring in my head every time I walk through the doors. Seemingly for every person who enters a cheery greeting is shouted out from both the grill and behind the register, along with some inquiry as to "Where were you yesterday?" or "How is that project you are working on at the factory?" Moon's Grill is evidence that there really are still places in America, despite our increasing social polarization and alienation, where "everybody knows your name."

The decor of the grill is both happy and homemade, with candles on tables bearing positive-thinking slogans and Biblical art and verses on the walls. In the corner sits an old-fashioned quarter machine, and it is a rarity when someone is not camped out in front of it attempting to get a five- or ten-dollar bill to drop. Moon's is one of those places where it is permissible to stop in and read the paper for a while, and coffee is available, and fresh, all day.




"We have a mix of customers here," said Jamie G., one of two owners and regular employees (between Jamie and Erica there is 39 years of restaurant experience!). "Some are so unusual we call them 'Moon's Loons.' We could start our own psychiatrists office here in the back. We have a really interesting - but good-hearted - group."

Moon's is placed squarely in the old industrial section of High Point, NC, at 506 Prospect Street. The clientele is largely working class, with occasional large orders flowing in from an entire office or work area. However, there is a sprinkling of retirees who come in for conversation and coffee, firefighters, and even professionals, along with people who wander in from the surrounding neighborhoods.

The food itself is both delicious and filling, as one would expect in a grill that serves the industrial worker. One specialty is called the "Moon Burger," a two-patty burger with chili, slaw, and just about any other fixins that you might like. I was once told, "we can even put a hot dog on it for ya." The chili cheese wedges are a great side that can be ordered alongside the main dish. Corn dogs can be had for slightly more than a dollar, and there are five combo meals available (as of this writing) for $3.75, for the value-conscious.

However, Moons also branches out beyond the traditional American cuisine menu of the typical diner and adds three salads to the menu (I recommend the Crispy Chicken Salad) as well as homemade cookies and brownies on occasion.

Moon's Grill is at 506 Prospect Street in High Point, North Carolina, 27260. You can contact them by phone (and even phone in an order for pickup) at 336.885.7550. The grill is open Monday through Friday from 5:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The next time you are in the triad, program the address into your Garmin and visit one of the remaining friendly, filling, value-oriented diners that once was typical across the entire country. And tell them that The Carolinian sent you.

Downtown Thomasville, NC

My wife grew up in Thomasville, North Carolina, and we were recently there on a brief sightseeing tour. Below are just a couple of sights in the downtown area - I will be posting more on Thomasville a little later. The City of Thomasville calls itself North Carolina's "Seat of Hospitality."

Above is the statue of John Warwick Thomas, the founder of Thomasville. Thomas was a businessman and politician, born June 27, 1800 in Caswell County. He married Mary Lambeth of Davidson County who was from an area known as Cedar Lodge.

Thomas was elected as a Whig representative to the North Carolina General Assembly in 1830, representing Davidson County. One of his primary interests was infrastructure and transportation, and he worked hard to bring plank roads and railroads to the area. In 1842, he was first elected to the North Carolina State Senate. In 1856 Thomas introduced a bill in Raleigh for the incorporation of Thomasville, which was ratified on January 8, 1857.

Thomas' home was directly across the street from the statue. The place is memorialized with a historical marker. The statue is viewable between Salem Street, Trade Street, and Main Street in Thomasville.




At the intersection of Salem Street and Main Street, Thomasville is the home of "The World's Largest Chair," a 30-foot reproduction of a classic Duncan Phyfe design erected as a symbol of Thomasville's heritage as a furniture manufacturer. Thomasville's largest non-governmental business interest has been Thomasville Furniture Industries. Thomasville Furniture has been in business for more than 100 years. Its original name was Thomasville Chair Company.

The original chair was actually constructed of wood and leather, in accordance with the specifications for the actual Duncan Phyfe model, in 1922. The original chair was constructed by the Thomasville Furniture company and stood about 13 1/2 feet tall. The original chair was scrapped in 1936 and a new chair, the current chair, was constructed of more durable concrete. The second chair was built through a partnership between the fledgling Thomasville Chamber of Commerce and the Thomasville Chair plant beginning in 1948.

The cornerstone was laid for the new chair in 1951 and includes a timebox including, among other things, a Bible, several photos, a city directory, and a letter from then-mayor Harry B. Finch.

During a campaign stop in 1960, Senator Lyndon Johnson (campaigning for the vice presidency) once climbed on the chair and delivered a speech to a crowd gathered in the square below (a picture of this event is hung in the visitor's center). The chair has been a gathering point for governors, mayors, beauty queens, and evangelists ever since.




Less than a block away from The World's Largest Chair, just along the railroad track, lies North Carolina's oldest remaining railroad depot. Listed in the National Register of Historical Places, the Thomasville Depot was originally built in 1870. The restoration of the depot was completed in 1977, in conjunction with the wave of patriotism and historical interest that accompanied the nation's bicentennial. Today it serves as a visitor's center for the downtown area. A section of the visitor's center in the depot has been decorated with pieces from Basset Furniture. Accessible from the depot are several walking trails that will guide the visitor through sites such as the downtown's historic churches and its historic commerce.





Downtown Thomasville also hosts the headquarters of the Baptist Children's Homes of North Carolina, established in 1885. A museum is on the premises. Winding Creek Golf Course is reputed to be one of the finest public golf courses in the state, and has hosted the Golf Channel's Drive, Chip, and Putt competition. A little further away, but still within the City of Thomasville, is Finch Field, the home of the Thomasville Hi-Toms baseball club.


Also downtown is this small monument erected by the Thomasville Lions Club. The Chamber of Commerce is almost directly across the street from this monument (which is, itself, alongside The World's Largest Chair), and closeby is also a Rotary monument containing a series of plaques which recommends guiding one's communication by the familiar formula of: "Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?"

All of the photos on this page were taken within a one-block radius of The World's Largest Chair, at the intersection of Salem Street and Main Street in Thomasville, North Carolina.