Featured Spotlight Marion ice cream shop, Old Fort restaurant earn top honors in statewide contest Mike Conley Jan 5, 2026 Jan 5, 2026 Updated Feb 12, 2026 0 Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Two McDowell County eating establishments have been honored by voters from across North Carolina.kAmpCE6D2?2 x46 rC62> :? 5@H?E@H? |2C:@? 92D 366? 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E96D6 42E68@C:6D]k^Am People are also reading… Highway patrol: Juvenile killed in McDowell County wreck while driving electric bike One person critically injured in Sunday crash involving bicycle in McDowell County Marion man charged with death by distribution in 22-year-old's 2025 overdose death ‘No kings’ rally in downtown Marion draws more than 275 people, organizers say Marion woman charged with starting wildfire in northern McDowell County McDowell County Emergency Services Director Will Kehler to retire McDowell County women's powerlifter inducted into North Carolina hall of fame McDowell County man charged with abuse of child, adults with special needs Firefighters battle blaze off Armstrong Creek Road in northern McDowell County No Kings protests will happen in area for a 3rd time this Saturday. See when and where Multiple departments responding to wildfire in Buck Creek section of McDowell County Marion, McDowell leaders seek public’s input on future of Drexel Heritage site Fire in Buck Creek section of McDowell still 175 acres Monday morning, 0% contained NC high school senior accepted to 90+ colleges, received $5.3 million in scholarship offers Old Fort mayor suddenly resigns from office, mayor pro tem appointed acting mayor Artesana Ice Cream in downtown Marion has been voted by the readers of NC Tripping’s as the “Favorite Ice Cream Shop in North Carolina.” SUBMITTED PHOTO kAm(96? E96 G@E:?8 H2D @G6C @? |@?52J[ s64] `d[ pCE6D2?2 :? |2C:@? 6>6C865 2D E96 >@DE =@G65 :46 4C62> D9@A 7@C 2== @7 }@CE9 r2C@=:?2]k^AmkAm“(@H] %@ @FC H@?56C7F= A2EC@?D[ 2?5 E@ E9@D6 H9@ :?:E:2==J ?@>:?2E65 FD[ E92?< J@F D@ >F49 7@C 42DE:?8 J@FC G@E6D 7@C FD :? }r %C:AA:?8VD a_ad q6DE @7 }@CE9 r2C@=:?2P” pCE6D2?2 D2:5 @? u2463@@<] “pD 2 D>2==[ D:?8F=2C[ CFC2= D9@A[ H6 5:5 ?@E 6IA64E E@ H:?] (6 2C6 D@ 9F>3=65[ 6I4:E65[ 2?5 36J@?5 8C2E67F= E@ 92G6 C646:G65 E9:D 5:DE:?4E:@?PPk^Am kAm“|2<:?8 @FC 4FDE@>6CD D>:=6 :D ECF=J E96 C62D@? H6 H2<6 FA 6G6CJ 52J 2?5 8@ E@ H@C<] ~FC D:?46C6DE E92?<D E@ 6249 A6CD@? H9@ 42DE E96:C G@E6 @7 DFAA@CE]”k^Am kAmp>:6 |J6CD[ @H?6C @7 pCE6D2?2[ D2:5 D96 5:5?’E 6IA64E 96C :46 4C62> 3FD:?6DD E@ H:? :? E96 4@?E6DE]k^Am Ice cream from Artesana in Marion. SUBMITTED PHOTO kAm“(6 H6C6 BF:E6 DFCAC:D65 E@ H:?[” D96 D2:5] “(6 H6C6 FA 282:?DE D9@AD H:E9 >F=E:A=6 =@42E:@?D 2?5 :? =2C86C 4:E:6D]”k^AmkAm%96 CF??6C\FA :? E96 72G@C:E6 :46 4C62> 4@?E6DE H2D q@@>32=2EE:’D :? r2C@=:?2 q6249[ w2>ADE625 2?5 (:=>:?8E@?]k^Am kAm%96 s2G:D r@F?ECJ $E@C6 U2>Aj r27é :? ~=5 u@CE 42>6 :? D64@?5 A=246 7@C E96 36DE 3C62<72DE A=246 :? }@CE9 r2C@=:?2]k^AmkAmqC62<72DEE:>6 :? (:?DE@?\$2=6>[ r=6>>@?D[ r@?4@C5 2?5 $2=:D3FCJ H@? E96 E@A 9@?@C :? E9:D 42E68@CJ] k^Am kAm“x 42?VE E6== J@F H92E :E >62?D E@ <?@H E92E H6VG6 C624965 D@ >2?J A6@A=6 A@D:E:G6=J 7C@> @FC E:?J =:EE=6 <:E496?[” C625 2 u2463@@< A@DE 7C@> s2G:D r@F?ECJ $E@C6] “~FC 72>:=J 2?5 E96 3@JD C62==J H2?E E@ E92?< J@F 2== 7@C J@FC G@E6D 2?5 J@FC 4@?E:?F65 DFAA@CE] xE >62?D D@ >F49PP %92?< J@F 7C@> E96 3@EE@> @7 @FC 962CED]”k^Am The Davis Country Store & Café in Old Fort was voted as the second-best breakfast restaurant in North Carolina. MIKE CONLEY, MCDOWELL NEWS kAmp>J s2G:D[ @H?6C @7 E96 ~=5 u@CE C6DE2FC2?E 2?5 DE@C6[ D2:5 D96 2?5 96C 72>:=J H6C6 DFCAC:D65 E@ 36 ?@>:?2E65 7@C E9:D C64@8?:E:@?]k^AmkAm“x 5:5?’E 6G6? <?@H :E H2D 4@>:?8 FA[” D96 D2:5] “%96 72>:=J 2?5 E96 3@JD 96C6 2C6 23D@=FE6=J D9@4<65 2?5 9@?@C65 E92E D@ >2?J A6@A=6 H@F=5 E9:?< D@ H6== @7 FD E@ ?@>:?2E6 FD 2?5 G@E6 7@C FD]”k^Am Amy Davis, owner of Davis Country Store & Cafe, said she and her family were surprised to be nominated for the best breakfast. MIKE CONLEY, MCDOWELL NEWS 0 Comments Love 0 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 Most Popular The story behind new McDowell County ice cream business The Scream The couple plans to operate their ice cream trailer on weekends in and around Old Fort, as well as at local festivals and community events. Th… Los Compadres owners bringing street food, festive vibe to new restaurant in downtown Newton “It’s elegant and modern but with a traditional feel, a kiss of Mexico City,” Donna Zamora said.
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
The story behind new McDowell County ice cream business The Scream The couple plans to operate their ice cream trailer on weekends in and around Old Fort, as well as at local festivals and community events. Th…
Los Compadres owners bringing street food, festive vibe to new restaurant in downtown Newton “It’s elegant and modern but with a traditional feel, a kiss of Mexico City,” Donna Zamora said.
