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After greater than a decade promoting seafood at varied tailgate markets within the space, Roger Queen determined to open his personal storefront along with his spouse Debra three years in the past in Fairview. Now, they’ve expanded to Black Mountain.
The enterprise, often called Fairview Seafood Company, opened in Black Mountain in December.
“December is form of a tough time to open a enterprise like this,” Debra Queen stated. “But it’s rising rather well. We’re actually enthusiastic about it. We’re completely happy to be right here.”
While tailgate markets are seasonal and normally run from spring to fall, the Queens’ shops are open year-round.
Roger Queen stated they picked Black Mountain due to his connections from working the Black Mountain tailgate marketplace for seven years.
“It’s a superb, robust market and good folks, and I actually like working with them,” Roger Queen stated. “That’s the principle purpose we needed to keep right here, due to the folks we met. The city has a superb really feel to it. Everybody’s pleasant.”
He stated he’s retiring from the tailgate enterprise to concentrate on working their shops. Debra Queen stated whereas they had been completely happy to open their very own retailer, leaving the tailgate market was “bittersweet.”
“Leaving the Black Mountain market was somewhat bittersweet for Roger,” Debra Queen stated. “He’d been there for thus lengthy and he has a lot of pals that got here and depend on him to be there. We’re on a first-name foundation with lots of people.”
Roger Queen stated most of the prospects from the tailgate market have come to the brand new retailer, together with loads of newcomers as nicely. He stated he sees as many as 10 to 15 new prospects every week.
Debra Queen stated she posts on varied Facebook teams in each Fairview and Black Mountain, together with the Black Mountain Exchange group. She stated she is in a position to reply questions anybody could have about their merchandise there, and it brings in new prospects.
The Queens each stated they like speaking to their prospects and studying about them every week, and serving to them uncover new seafood.
Roger Queen stated they decide up their fresh seafood from Hendersonville every Thursday evening. The seafood is shipped from Wilmington and is all from the Atlantic Ocean. Nothing is frozen.
Once the Queens have their seafood for the week, they promote at each their Fairview and Black Mountain places Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Roger Queen stated by that point they’re normally bought out.
Debra Queen stated discovering a location in Black Mountain was not simple and took “blood, sweat and tears.” Roger Queen stated they had been solely ready to discover their present location as a result of they “prayed and prayed and knocked on doorways.”
Their Black Mountain constructing sits at 213 East State St. beside Black Mountain Coins and Hunters & Treasures.
“We’re excited to be right here,” Debra Queen stated. “This was not an extremely simple factor to do, however we received it performed.”
The Queens stated they’ve seen nothing however assist from the group since opening, and they’re wanting ahead to assembly new folks.
Roger Queen stated he takes delight in his product, and he believes they promote the freshest seafood in Western North Carolina.
“Everybody’s enthusiastic about us being right here,” Roger Queen stated. “We like having the ability to deliver a superb product to the group.”
