News

Downtown shop owner honored as Main Street Champion

Downtown manager Jamie Carpenter and the city council pose with Caroline Gunther.

By Lightning Reports, Published: May 7, 2025

The N.C. Department of Commerce and N.C. Main Street & Rural Planning Center has honored Caroline Gunther as a 2024 North Carolina Main Street Champion by for her enduring leadership and transformative impact on downtown Hendersonville, the city announced.

Owner of Wag! A Unique Pet Boutique, Gunther was recognized during a special ceremony March 13 in Mooresville during the annual North Carolina Main Street Conference, the nation’s largest statewide downtown revitalization gathering. She was one of 47 individuals and organizations across the state to receive the honor this year.

“Main Street Champions are dynamic leaders who drive progress within their communities,” N.C. Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley said. “These visionary individuals identify opportunities for growth and development that transform the fabric of local economies and neighborhoods.”

“For nearly two decades, Caroline has been a steadfast champion for Downtown Hendersonville,” said Jamie Carpenter, Hendersonville's downtown manager. “Her leadership, vision, and dedication have helped shape a vibrant, resilient downtown community.”

As chair of the Downtown Advisory Board and its committees, Gunther led efforts on major initiatives, including an $8.5 million parking investment, the launch of the Hendersonville Farmers Market, a $3.5 million Seventh Avenue streetscape project and numerous policy updates designed to enhance the district’s vitality.

The City Council honored Gunther at its May 1 meeting.

"Place attachment is the emotional bond and sense of belonging that individuals feel towards a particular location,” she said. “It is like you cry over it, it is deep seeded in your gut and your heart, and the joy of that is something I wish everyone could have.”

Now in its 45th year, the North Carolina Main Street program aims to strengthen communities across the state using the time-tested Main Street America approach to downtown revitalization.