Support The Hickory Nut's New Beginning in Chimney Rock NC

Greetings to all

Friends, family, and anyone else who takes the time to read this. My name is Marietta Melendez. I have worked for -The Hickory Nut- for over two years now in Chimney Rock NC, as a greenhouse grower assistant and sales associate. In this time, it feels as if my life finally began. I could see a path for a future I very much wanted, with both my fiancée and our family. With that being said, this all changed on September 27th 2024, as many of you know from personal experience, and or any media platform. Hurricane Helene completely devastated and washed away my work family’s business and home of 27 years. This was a family owned business where the owners, Max Gonzalez and Shari and Robert Cummings, were 100% hands on every single day of the week. It was their love, pride and joy. A place where they were reminded daily, by returning patrons, how fantastic the store was and how much they looked forward to coming each year they visited Lake Lure. I can’t even tell you how many times I heard the words, “I love your store.” Too many to count, and then some. This place had true charisma. If you have ever been inside the store, you can certainly remember a favorite memory. Whether it’s the greeting of the melody of traditional ballads or folksongs, or reading the quirky signs that welcomed you inside, finding some beautiful locally grown herbs, or maybe even finding the perfect garden gnome for your garden. Mine was all the times of feeling the sense of pride in my workplace. I was a part of something significant, and special to so so many individuals and families. How many of us can actually say they love where they work? Well I did, and I still do. My bosses devoted everything to this place. All of their time, energy, blood, sweat and tears for the last 27 years.

Without further ado, the retail location for the Hickory Nut in Chimney Rock, NC is no more. My bosses are forced to relocate to a new location to build a new home and to figure out how to restructure the business, so that their legacy will live on.

All donations will go directly towards the reconstruction of the business and a new home for The Hickory Nut. Anything helps. God bless you.