EMS14 - The Falls Landing

Originally Penders and the Brevard Pharmacy

History

The history of 18 East Main Street in Brevard, North Carolina, is a fascinating patchwork of businesses, owners, and transformations that mirrors the town’s growth over the past century. Early ownership of the building is mostly unknown. Several sources, including the 1991 architectural survey (for the purpose of establishing the Historical District), have indicated that the structure was probably constructed around 1930.  After viewing an early photo of the building showing Penders as the probable first occupant of the original left storefront (EMS14a), it was noted that the cars on the street were most likely made between 1926 and 1929. A note with the photograph of Penders dates it as circa 1927. A close examination of the store windows next to Penders in the photo reveal that it was the Brevard Pharmacy. In the August 26, 1926 edition of the Brevard News, it was announced that the Brevard Pharmacy was moving into "the new Pickelsimer building on East Main street."  Putting these bits of data together, it would seem that Penders and Brevard Pharmacy shared the building about the time it was opened, making them the first occupants of the building in 1926.  This leads to a conclusion that the building was completed that same year.

On the original plat of the Town of Brevard, this property was on (or extremely close) to lot 9.  In 1924, this lot was the only vacant property between Broad Street and the alley to the left of EMS15 (mid-block between Broad and Gaston).  In many deed surveys, this alley was known as South Alley.  As the alley "continues" across East Main street on the north side, it is referred to as East Alley.  

Along this portion of East Main Street, addresses have changed several times, resulting in additional research to locate which businesses were in which buildings.  Prior to a yet-unknown year, addresses on the south side of the street were odd, but today (2025) they are even.  Some street addresses were dropped entirely when buildings moved from hosting two storefronts to one.

Prior to 1926, the building to the right of this one (EMS13) was a frame building that housed various stores as early as 1911.  It appears that these two structures (the subject of this article, EMS14, and the structure to its right, EMS13) were originally constructed at the same time as one building.  It was likely built by J.B. Pickelsimer. In later years, they were deeded separately and each was eventually converted into a single store - sometime after 1952.

The 1991 architectural survey for the purpose of evaluating downtown buildings for inclusion as "contributing" buildings described EMS13 and EMS14 as one building, noting that it was "divided into two separate businesses".  It's a one-story building with no basement and "vinyl siding on the upper facade".  The report also noted that it was remodeled in 1958 and remains in that condition today.

Many businesses, especially restaurants, have operated in this building since its construction.  As we discuss them, remember that the original left-side storefront is referred to as EMS14a and the right-side EMS14b.  Today, they are all one establishment (Falls Landing) and the a/b designation is not necessary.  Like every other business in the historic district, postal addresses have changed over the years.  For most of its existence, the primary addresses here were 21 and 23 East Main Street. Sometime between 2005 and 2010, addresses on East Main Street actually "flipped"; odd addresses on the south side went to the north side and vice versa.  This is unlike the other streets in the historic district, which had address changes but didn't swap odd and even addresses.

1926:  Construction was completed by J.B. Pickelsimer. Penders occupied EMS14a and Brevard Pharmacy was in EMS14b.

1936:  In November, Miss Lorene Payne selected the name "Buy-Rite Grocery" out of 150 submissions after she advertised in the Transylvania Times offering a prize for the best name of her new Main Street store.

1938:  On August 4th, the first ad appeared for the new Buy-Rite Grocery at 23 East Main street (EMS14a).

1945:  The Sanborn Map for this year indicates that a restaurant was in EMS14a, obviously meaning that Buy-Rite had closed by then. It also showed a store in EMS14b.  The store was the Reid-Melton Furniture Company, and an article in the February 8, 1945 issue of the Transylvania Times said that Reid-Melton had replaced McBride's 5&10 store at 21 East Main.  This information is contradictory, however, because an advertisement in the June 6, 1946 issue of the Times indicated that McBrides didn't move from its Broad Street location to East Main street until 1946. 

1946: On September 20th, Western Auto opened at 21 East Main (EMS14a).  An article on the 19th in the TImes said that it would be in the previous "stand vacated by Reid-Melton Co. on East Main".  

1952: Scattered throughout past newspapers are advertisements for a restaurant called The Busy Bee.  The first mention of it was in July 1918 in the Brevard news, when an article mentioned that the Cafe had "voluntarily closed its doors" for four days because of "violations of food regulations."  It's location back then (1918) isn't known, but there are several indications that it ended up in this building.  As early as September 1949, there were mentions that the Rotary Club was meeting in the club room of the restaurant.  They had placed ads targeting college students, and had mentioned in some ads that it was "Formerly The Cafeteria".  On September 22, 1949, a Times article mentioned that Rotarians had met in the "downstairs dining room of the Busy Bee cafe."  Without a doubt, this indicates that the building housing the restaurant had two floors - but this building only has one floor.  Therefore, it was somewhere else before June 1, 1950, when an announcement was made in the Times that the Busy Bee Cafe was going to be renamed to The Coffee Shop and that it was "Located on East Main street."  Ads for the Coffee Shop didn't show an address, but the 1952 telephone directory listed the Shop as being at 23 East Main street - EMS14a. Given all of this, it's remotely possible, that the Busy Bee was in this building, but its successor - The Coffee Shop - was surely here in 1952.

 1952: The 1952 Sanborn Map shows a restaurant (The Coffee Shop) in EMS14a and "Paints" in EMS14b.  It is not known what may have replaced Reid-Melton at that time.

1955: Gray's Barber Shop opened sometime this year at 21 East Main (EMS14b).  Gray had left Smith's Barber shop to open his own in this location.  

A surprising succession of restaurants opened and closed over the next several years.  All were listed in the telephone directories as being at 23 East Main street (EMS14a).  

1958-1959:  M & M Cafe.  An article in the April 5, 1945 Transylvania Times shows a restaurant by this name in Rosman.

1960-1962:  K & W Cafe. From the telephone directory.

1963:  Clark's Cafe. From the telephone directory.

1963:  Miller's Cafe.  First advertisement seen in the Times was on July 4, 1963. 

1964:  Miller's Cafe was bought by Mrs. Mark S. Martin and Garland Chapman.  They renamed it the Brevard Cafe.

1969:  Messer's Restaurant.  It was run by the same people who later opened Messer's Barber Shop and News Stand on East Main.  Then didn't have ads in the newspaper.

By 1971, Cato's broke the chain of restaurants and opened a clothing store, moving to EMS14a in April.  They were previously at 17 West Main street in WMS13.  Cato's stayed until June 1979.

1979: L & M Records had their grand opening sale on July 13th.  By all indications, they stayed here until early 1986. The last ad in the TImes was on January 27th.

1983:  Even though L & M Records was still in the building, the telephone directories from 1983 to 1986 also showed a store called Connie's.  They did alterations and sold clothing.  Perhaps they were in EMS14b, since L&M were at 23 East Main in EMS14a.

1986: The Brevard Bakery and Sandwich Shop opened at 23 East Main (EMS14a).  There was never an indication in the newspaper about why it closed, but the last mention of the business was that they planned to be open throught Twilight Tour on December 9, 1989.

1986:  On July 17, Clarence Beehler and his wife sold the building to Stuart W. Weldenbach and his wife. This was recorded in Deed Book 286, Page 506.  Deeds about this property prior to this date were difficult (and very time consuming!) to trace, but it may have previously been sold to the Beehlers (perhaps the deed is somewhere in old Deed Book 286 between pages 492 and 506, but not sure) by Pickelsimer.  The original land might have been sold to Pickelsimer by W.H. Duckworth.  I am not sure about these earlier deeds or people, but mention them here to potentially help future researchers.

1990:  Stuart W. Weidenbach and his wife sold the property to Robert A. Harrison.  The deed may be found in County records in Deed Book 334, Page 56.

1990:  The Shamrock Cafe opened at 23 East Main street in December. By this time, it had been converted to one storefront.

1992: The Shamrock Cafe may not have been there long, because an article about downtown businesses in the May 28, 1992 edition of the Transylvania Times mentioned that the site (assume 23 East Main) had "been vacant since the start of the year."  

1992:  On November 5, Robert A. Harrison sold the property to Michael P. Young and wife Julie M. Young.  This was recorded in Deed Book 357, Page 364.

1993: Falls Landing, a steak and seafood restaurant, opens on July 3.  When Mike bought the building, the Shamrock Cafe had vacated and the restaurant needed a lot of remodeling.  At the time, much of the kitchen was kept, but many other changes were made.  Joe Pace, husband of Fox N Berry owner (EMS11a) Christine) helped in the remodeling.

On July 3, 1993, Falls Landing, a steak and seafood restaurant, opened its doors after extensive remodeling. Owner Mike Young discovered a hidden gem during renovations—a plastered-over brick wall that turned out to be the original exterior wall of the neighboring Clary Hotel (EMS15). An old painted advertisement for Star Line Taxi was still visible on the bricks and, to this day, Falls Landing proudly showcases this piece of Brevard’s history. 

The Clary Hotel building (EMS15) existed before this one, and the space occupied by the Falls Landing building (EMS14) was probably nothing more than an alley until the building was constructed around 1926.  When Mike was remodeling the restaurant, he discovered a hidden gem - plastered-over brick high on the east wall above the drywall.  Thinking that an original brick wall may be behind the drywall, he removed the plaster. revealing what appears to be the original outer wall of the Clary building next door.  That it was the original outer wall is supported by an old advertisement for Star Line taxi service painted on the brick.  He left it untouched and Falls Landing customers can see the outer wall of the Clary Hotel today - including the painted taxi ad. 

The building has a very small basement under the portion of the restaurant close to Main Street.  

In its earlier days, Falls Landing offered specials for Monday Night Football, reserved Tuesday's as "Ladies Day" and usually had specials on shrimp, chicken wings, and import beers.

Falls Landing is still thriving in 2025, with business and building owner Michael Young running the show as he has done for more than 30 years.

Summary

The building at 18 East Main Street has a dynamic history reflecting the commercial evolution of downtown Brevard. Constructed in 1926, it has served as home to a diverse array of businesses, with restaurants being a particularly prominent type over the decades. The discovery and preservation of the original Clary Hotel wall within the current Falls Landing restaurant offer a unique glimpse into the town's past and contribute to the building's historical significance within the Brevard Historic District. Falls Landing, established in 1993, represents a stable and successful long-term occupant of this historically rich location.