Featured Spotlight Familiar Marion barbecue restaurant moves into Harvest Drive-In, grand opening Monday Mike Conley Jan 22, 2026 Jan 22, 2026 Updated Jan 23, 2026 0 × Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Smoke A ‘Lil Smoke is now located in the former Harvest Drive-In building in Marion.kAm%96 32C364F6 C6DE2FC2?E 96=5 2 D@7E @A6?:?8 @? E96 H66<6?5 @7 y2?] `f] %96 8C2?5 @A6?:?8 :D D4965F=65 7@C |@?52J[ y2?] ae[ 3FE E92E 4@F=5 492?86 56A6?5:?8 @? E96 H:?E6C H62E96C E92E :D 7@C642DE65]k^Am Smoke A ‘Lil Smoke is opening in the former Harvest Drive-In building. MIKE CONLEY, MCDOWELL NEWS kAmx? s646>36C a_ad[ $>@<6 p ‘{:= $>@<6[ 2 5@H?E@H? |2C:@? C6DE2FC2?E =@42E65 @? t2DE w6?56CD@? $EC66E[ 2??@F?465 E92E :E H@F=5 >@G6 :?E@ E96 7@C>6C w2CG6DE sC:G6\x? 3F:=5:?8 2E ge` }] |2:? $E] k^AmkAmu@C >@?E9D[ E96 @=5 w2CG6DE sC:G6\x?[ H9:49 92D 366? 2 |2C:@? =2?5>2C< D:?46 `hea[ H6?E E9C@F89 6IE6?D:G6 C6?@G2E:@? H@C< 3@E9 :?D:56 2?5 @FE] xE ?@H 92D 2 ?6H =@@< 7@C :ED ?6H E6?2?E]k^Am People are also reading… Update: Old Fort man killed in motorcycle crash on I-40 identified 1 person killed in motorcycle crash on I-40 eastbound near Old Fort Walt Bagwell named Marion’s Main Street Champion. "His contributions make a meaningful difference." McDowell County Schools alum went from Battle of Books to biomedical engineering This new spot in Marion is offering locally grown food and beer, run by farmers and a brewer McDowell County Sheriff’s Office searching for missing classic car This WNC family lost their home in Hurricane Helene. 19 months later, they're getting a new one. McDowell high school victim testified before former guidance counselor pleads guilty to sex crimes Morganton man charged with raping child; placed under $1 million bond City of Marion issues water shortage advisory due to drought 5 questions answered about the trial of former McDowell High counselor Jessica Finley Ingles board fight: Proxy advisors back Sackler-linked firm for board Trump safe after being rushed from White House correspondents dinner; shooter in custody U.S. Department of Agriculture declares 2026 drought a disaster for western NC McDowell Tech update in Old Fort highlights gains, facility updates kAm$>@<6 p ‘{:= $>@<6’D =@8@ ?@H 8C246D E96 7C@?E @7 E96 3F:=5:?8]k^Am Smoke A ‘Lil Smoke restaurant, which was previously located on East Henderson Street, can now be found at 861 N. Main St. in Marion. MIKE CONLEY, MCDOWELL NEWS kAm$>@<6 p ‘{:= $>@<6 :D @H?65 3J y@9? !9:AAD[ 9:D >@E96C s@??2 |F6==6C[ 2?5 r@??@C s2G:D]k^AmkAm!9:AAD D2:5 96 2?5 9:D 76==@H @H?6CD 2C6 6I4:E65 23@FE E96 ?6H =@42E:@?[ H9:49 @776CD >@C6 C@@> 7@C 5:?:?8 2?5 A2C<:?8] xE :D 2=D@ 46?EC2==J =@42E65 @? |2C:@?’D 7:G6 =2?6]k^AmkAm“x H@F=5[ 7:CDE @7 2==[ =:<6 E@ E92?< 6G6CJ@?6 7@C 4@>:?8 @FE 2?5 DFAA@CE:?8 FD[” !9:AAD D2:5]k^Am kAmw6 D2:5 E96 D@7E @A6?:?8 6I466565 E96:C 6IA64E2E:@?D]k^Am Customers eat at Smoke A 'Lil Smoke's soft opening. MIKE CONLEY, MCDOWELL NEWS kAm“%96C6 H6C6 H2J >@C6 A6@A=6 E92E H2?E65 E@ 4@>6 ;@:? FD 7@C E92E E92? 6IA64E65 D@ x 42? @?=J 9@A6 E92E :D 2 D:8? 7@C E9:?8D E@ 4@>6[” 96 D2:5] “tG6CJ@?6 92D =@G65 :E D@ 72C]”k^AmkAm%96 4@=@C7F= :?E6C:@C 92D >FC2=D 3J |@C82?E@? 2CE:DE |2CD92== !J=6[ H9@ 2=D@ 564@C2E65 E96 t2DE w6?56CD@? $EC66E =@42E:@?] !J=6’D 2CEH@C< 762EFC6D G2C:@FD =2?5>2C<D :? H6DE6C? }@CE9 r2C@=:?2 DF49 2D 5@H?E@H? |2C:@?[ 5@H?E@H? |@C82?E@?[ E96 q=F6 #:586 !2C<H2J[ E96 q:=E>@C6 w@FD6 2?5 {2<6 y2>6D]k^Am kAm%96 >6?F :D E96 D2>6 2D E96 AC6G:@FD =@42E:@?[ :?4=F5:?8 AF==65 A@C<[ AF==65 49:4<6?[ D2FD286[ 3@=@8?2[ 3667 3C:D<6E 2?5 49:4<6? E6?56CD] %96C6 2C6 2=D@ H:?8D @? E96 >6?F H:E9 DH66E[ DA:4J[ >FDE2C5[ E6C:J2<:[ 3=F636CCJ @C A6249 9232?6C@ D2F46] %96 D:56D :?4=F56 >242C@?: 2?5 4966D6[ 32<65 362?D[ D=2H[ 9FD9 AFAA:6D 2?5 7C:65 @<C2]k^Am kAm!9:AAD D2:5 96 2?5 9:D A2CE?6CD A=2? E@ 255 >@C6 :E6>D E@ E96 >6?F 6G6?EF2==J] !9:AAD D2:5 E96 C6DE2FC2?E 92D 5:D4FDD65 255:?8 2 D>@<65 AC:>6 C:3 E@ E96 >6?F]k^Am The colorful murals at Smoke A 'Lil Smoke's new location were painted by Morganton artist Marshall Pyle. MIKE CONLEY, MCDOWELL NEWS kAm%96 C6DE2FC2?E 92D ?@E 2??@F?465 :ED C68F=2C 9@FCD 2D @7 %F6D52J]k^Am kAm“pD 72C 2D 9@FCD 2C6 4@?46C?65[ H6 2C6 E@J:?8 2C@F?5 H:E9 E96 :562 @7 5@:?8 D6G6? 52JD 2 H66< 7C@> `` 2]>] E@ g A]>][” !9:AAD D2:5] “(6 >2J 255 2 3C62< :? 36EH66? E@ <:?5 @7 C68C@FA 2?5 C6DE@4< 3FE 5@?’E 92G6 2?JE9:?8 D6E :? DE@?6 2E E96 G6CJ >@>6?E]”k^Am kAm%96 8C2?5 @A6?:?8 4@F=5 492?86 56A6?5:?8 @? E96 H:?E6C H62E96C]k^Am A plate of beef brisket at Smoke A ‘Lil Smoke. MIKE CONLEY, MCDOWELL NEWS kAm!9:AAD D2:5 E96 ?6IE DE6A “:D E@ C68C@FA 2?5 563C:67 H:E9 E96 DE277 E9:D H66< 2?5 86E 6G6CJE9:?8 4=62?65 FA[ 5@ 2 EC2:?:?8 D9:7E @C EH@[ E:89E6? FA D@>6 DEF77 H:E9 >2:?E6?2?46 2?5 E96? 86E C625J 7@C E96 ]]] 8C2?5 @A6?:?8]”k^Am kAm%96 @FED:56 @7 E96 @=5 w2CG6DE sC:G6\x? DE:== 92D E96 4@G6C65 D64E:@? H96C6 4FDE@>6CD FD65 E@ 5C:G6 FA[ @C56C 7@@5 2?5 62E :? E96:C 42CD] %9:D D64E:@? >2J 364@>6 2? @FE5@@C D62E:?8 2C62]k^Am Smoke A ‘Lil Smoke held a soft opening for invited customers as a trial run at its new location. MIKE CONLEY, MCDOWELL NEWS kAm“~FED:56 D62E:?8 H:== 36 2G2:=23=6[” D2:5 !9:AAD] “(6 H:== DE2CE H@C<:?8 @? E92E 255:E:@? D@@? H:E9 E96 9@A6D @7 :E 36:?8 C625J 7@C DAC:?8 2?5 DF>>6C D62E:?8]”k^AmkAmu@C >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@?[ G:D:E E96 u2463@@< A286 k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH]72463@@<]4@>^D>@<62=:=D>@<6Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmHHH]72463@@<]4@>^D>@<62=:=D>@<6k^2m]k^Am A plate of beef brisket and sides at Smoke A ‘Lil Smoke. MIKE CONLEY MCDOWELL NEWS Potato skins at Smoke A ‘Lil Smoke in Marion. MIKE CONLEY, MCDOWELL NEWS 0 Comments Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Satisfy your cravings With our weekly newsletter packed with the latest in everything food. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Mike Conley Staff Writer Author email Follow Mike Conley Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Related to this story Soft opening at Smoke A 'Lil Smoke restaurant in Marion
Mike Conley Staff Writer Author email Follow Mike Conley Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today
