High Point is known as the furniture capital of the world – not the restaurant capital – but a slew of new restaurant announcements and openings on North Main Street in High Point may have city leaders rethinking that title.

High Point’s North Main Street isn’t quite the Vegas strip yet, but new dining options have been popping up like crazy along the street and now High Point residents may think twice about their past practices of heading to Greensboro or Winston-Salem when they want to eat out.

High Point Economic Development Corp. President Loren Hill said he’s very excited about the restaurants, coffee shops and breweries along North Main as well as those in other parts of High Point.

“There have been a considerable number of retail projects going on,” Hill said.

Sweet Old Bill’s is one very well received spot that just opened on North Main. Its hamburgers and other offerings have proven quite popular – especially with High Point Mayor Jay Wagner.

“The mayor told me that, six of the first seven days it was open, he was there,” Hill said.

When Wagner was asked about that, he said, “It’s within walking distance of my house and my office – it’s part of my lifestyle now.”

But Sweet Old Bill’s is just the tip of the city’s North Main Street iceberg.

Brewer’s Kettle, a brewery and restaurant, expanded and moved to a new location on North Main, where it has increased the variety of beers it offers.

There’s also Blue Magnolia – a $1-million 8,000-square-foot restaurant project on North Main.  It’s owned by the same parent company that owns the already established Blue Water Grille and Blue Rock Pizza in High Point.

For coffee lovers, 83 Custom Coffee opened on North Main Street this year, while another favorite establishment that’s been getting a lot of very good word of mouth is Wicked Taco, which opened recently at 2005 N. Main St. near the city’s Publix grocery store.  Wicked Taco serves a wide variety of tacos filled with everything from seafood to roasted vegetables and it serves other items as well, including breakfast foods.

Sweet Josephine’s Gourmet Bakery recently expanded its services, and University Blend – a bakery, dessert and coffee cafe – is opening in a renovated Wendy’s on the street.

There’s also a new Starbucks under construction on North Main and there’s a new Country Barbeque.

Greensboro Chamber of Commerce President Brent Christensen said Hill “does a good job of sampling all the restaurants” that open up in High Point.

It’s a tough job, but somebody has to do it.

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