Comments on: What is the Outer Banks look?

By: Andy Lawrenson

Andy Lawrenson — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 11:15:24 +0000

Tubbs wraps up its first tourist season today at the Tanger Outlet Mall. To my knowledge only one councilman from Nags Head stopped by to look at my set up. He enjoyed two chili dogs while there.

Nags Head Town Council expressed worry that NH would be overrun with vendors. Didn’t happen. They said restaurant owners would be mad. Each day I clean my equipment and use the kitchen at the South Beach Grille and spend 10 minutes talking business with a very prominent OBX restaurant owner. He likes the idea of the vendors. One council woman expressed fear of looking like a circus. Not once did I see a clown, and elephant or dancing pony on the deck of Tanger this summer.

Tubbs employed 3 people this summer, payed taxes, payed rent. I think Tubbs had a successful summer. Looking forward to next year!

By: David F Henderson

David F Henderson — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 10:43:30 +0000

http://www.gopetition.com/petition/38587/signatures.html
Here is a link for an online petition to help us try to stop this atrocity.

By: Cynthia

Cynthia — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 12:16:41 +0000

We need about twenty more WINGS/SUNSATIONS…after all, there can never be too many places to buy hand-painted hermit crabs or plastic coconut sippy cups…with 75% off bargains year round.

By: Lynda

Lynda — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 11:43:37 +0000

My husband and I have been coming to the Banks since the 80′s, finally being able to move here about 10 years ago.
We still love the Outer Banks, but the attitude has changed from laid back, enjoy nature, step back in time, to hustle bustle, plan around the summer traffic and dealing with the myriad of town government regulations and control. What type of atmosphere do we portray to not only to the tourists but our permanent residents when the signs are all negative, “click it or ticket”, “no thru streets”, ” no fireworks of any kind”, “you need a permit for that”? When do we ever say to anyone “thanks for coming, see you next year?” We’d love to see a farmer’s market, with open air seafood stalls and a place that our local artists could exhibit. Such a place would not only sustain our locals, it would be different and it would offer a sense of what the Outer Banks is, it’s people, it’s bounty of fresh seafood and the natural flow and rhythm of the beach. It would be the “look” of the Outer Banks and when visitors left they would have experienced something they couldn’t get anywhere else. As someone said earlier, the Outer Banks is in danger of losing its soul. We have the power to keep that from happening if we choose to.

By: Tammi

Tammi — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 20:41:43 +0000

My family has visited the Outer Banks since my parents honeymooned there in 1970 and we have seen countless changes since then. I don’t understand how kiosks threaten the OBX look any more than 15 “Wings” stores or the other multiple location “junk” stores down the bypass do. Some of the changes for the Outer Banks have been good, but lately some things like how many super size cottages are being built are bad. We still love the Outer Banks and still will be there but I really think the town commissioner needs to worry about bigger things than the kiosks which I think are a good idea.

By: Allen

Allen — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 03:12:35 +0000

What is and always has been wrong with The Outer Banks is and will probably remain, those few we seem to elect to office.

If we do not embrace tourism, then we become a sand pit no one cares about. Without the tourist and their dollars we as residents would be country bumpkins and our red necks would not be from the sun !

Let’s make this a FUN place to live, raise and family and grow. Does anyone remember what it was like her before there was a hospital ? I do and it was not appealing !

By: Lauri Keck

Lauri Keck — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 01:30:13 +0000

I came on vacation the first time in 1979 and fell in love with the relaxed nature of the place…being able to spend real time on the beach, watching the fishing boats going out by Oregon Inlet campground and seeing the dolphins jumping as they followed along. Spending days fishing and getting to know people in the campgrounds or in the little stores and galleries around. I love the artists that have come here to enjoy and create from the natural inspiration. Nothing was hidden back then … but as we lose places like the Coast Guard Station in KDH, Newmans, George’s Junction, Quags, Carolinian and the latest to join that loss is WINKS. We lose the Outer Banks Soul and over regulation allows too many mcmansions that serve no true purpose. I don’t want to go on vacation with 40 of my closest relatives, and have heard from many when I managed gift shops here that they won’t ever do it again. You want to see something great, visit Manteo on Saturday morning at Creef Park and see the farmers market there for 4 hours shopping time. The community comes to life in a wonderful family, society way. They get to share their lives and look forward to each Saturday. I think the one in Kitty Hawk is a great idea, but feel the word Flea will be detrimental to it making it. I as a local artist will not go there and spend 40.00 for one day to set up next to people selling their yard sale junk. People who attend Fleas think there are deals to be made.

So what will work …. small businesses being able to rent at a monthly rent they can make a living on and put winter money away…and good customer service to all who visit the Outer Banks. They are here for our benefit, as well as their own.

By: Ray J

Ray J — Fri, 28 May 2010 00:02:28 +0000

Some business owners in Nags Head would like to make changes on their property, but it’s not worth the hassle trying to deal with the town. It seems like a select few can always get around rules, but for most, it’s the same saying,” We want your property to have the old Nags Head style look.” Well as a little kid back in the 60′s, I don’t remember shops having dozen of colored flags in front of them, like all the Wings do. I was told by a town employee that it gives Nags Head a beachie look, even though the flags and floats don’t comply with the code. It’s something that’s not discussed. I feel it’s time for Nags Head officials to re-think some of their decisions on the small local business. I’d personally like to see more small business in Nags Head and less big box stores like Wings on every corner. Not to bust on Wings, but how many stores do you really need on one island???

By: Duke Geraghty

Duke Geraghty — Thu, 27 May 2010 02:40:39 +0000

I see a few common threads here, but some further info is needed to explain the exodus of small businesses. The small Mom and Pop hotels on the oceanfront were not able to be remodeled or renovated more than 50% of their value. Restrictive ordinances on height, setbacks and parking put in place handcuffed the owners. When the opportunity came along to sell these, owners took the cash. The same goes for many of the small businesses in Dare. Spend some time on Hatteras Island and tell me you do not miss a K Mart or Walmart. As for the large beach souvenir stores, if no one shopped there the owner would stop building them. Evidently someone is going because they keep building more. When towns do not grow they die. Controlling that growth and finding the right balance is the hard part. What I keep hearing now is do not raise taxes, but the truth is that due to the lack of constructing new homes and the real estate bubble, the towns and county sorely miss that revenue. Like it or not, development pays the bills. Too limited space to finish the thoughts.

By: Selena K

Selena K — Wed, 26 May 2010 16:47:37 +0000

To J.C: What you call that thing sitting at Sea Holly Place is the same thing you can call the Landings at Sugar Creek or Croatan Surf Club or First Fight Retreat–DOOMED!!!

Or you could also call it pathetic.