10 Things You Need To Know About Your City

“Forward High Point,” a redevelopment corporation formed with the purpose of transforming downtown High Point into an extraordinary and vibrant destination to live, work, study and play. The revitalization efforts, led by HPU’s own President Nido Qubein, are centered on the city’s newly finished baseball stadium, Truist Ballpark, home to the High Point Rockers! The stadium is attracting new energy to downtown High Point. Adjacent to Truist Point is Congdon Yards, which is spearheaded by Business High Point-Chamber of Commerce and is THE destination to work, gather, innovate and celebrate. Stock + Grain Assembly, located in “The Outfields” just beyond second base, will soon open to offer a variety of restaurants, adding to the culinary options downtown. Connecting HPU to downtown is the Nido and Mariana Qubein Children’s Museum. Future projects include condos and Congdon Events Center. For detailed information on all the new attractions, check out Visit High Point’s blog. Already, the city enjoys a vibrant Main Street area with shops, restaurants and gathering places within the downtown area. These amenities, combined with the twice-yearly bustling High Point market and the new baseball stadium, are attracting new people who want to live in High Point’s hub of excitement.

High Point boasts more than 100 furniture stores and outlets in the area, including the world's largest, Furnitureland South, featuring an impressive 85-foot-tall highboy. The city is also home to the bi-annual High Point Furniture Market, the largest wholesale home furnishings trade show in the world. Twice a year, market attracts 75,000 vendors and visitors from more than 100 countries to High Point. More than 2,000 exhibitors unveil new product in 11.5 million square feet of showroom space in 180 buildings throughout the city. It’s a global meeting of furniture professionals that’s been happening since 1909. It also presents a specific advantage to HPU students who gain experience at the showrooms twice per year. Students across the board – not just interior design and visual merchandising design majors – appreciate the hands-on experience and unparalleled networking opportunities it offers. And it all happens in their backyard. More recently, the home furnishings brand has attracted a more year-round experience in High Point through HPxD, offering a hub of design and creativity open to the trade, design enthusiasts and the community.

High Point has a few nicknames – including the “Silicon Valley of Furniture,” “North Carolina’s International City” and the “Home Furnishings Capital of the World.”™ Many of its international ties are due to market’s worldwide attraction. However, more than 70 international companies call High Point home year-round, making the city a globally-connected community for businesses. Some of the national and global companies in the local area include Bank of America, Ralph Lauren Corporation, Truist, Krispy Kreme, Proctor and Gamble, Mack Trucks, Honda Aircraft Company, PwC, Old Dominion Freight Lines, Daimler Truck’s Thomas Built Buses and more.

Once home to the legendary saxophonist John Coltrane, High Point hosts the annual John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival, attracting visitors from all over the world. The High Point Arts Council organizes numerous theatre and music events while Theatre Art Galleries (TAG) and Gallery on Main, provide visual art exhibitions year-round to ensure the arts are accessible to everyone in the High Point area.

Trying to cut it as a food critic? Or just interested in satisfying your taste buds? High Point has everything you need to fuel your Instagram feed. From barbecue to Italian to burgers and more, High Point offers a variety of unique eats around the city. With Korean, seafood and Thai options, 98 Asian Bistro is a local favorite. Just down the road, you’ll find Blue Zucchini, a small sandwich cafe that serves up big time local flavor with a long list of salads, sandwiches, burgers, soups and pastries. Looking to treat yourself? Small Batch is your go-to. Order burgers topped mile-high with an endless list of toppings and finish off the meal with one of their many tempting cake-topped milkshakes. As for finding your coffee fix, DeBeen Espresso is the place. With art-covered walls and an eclectic setup that welcomes regulars, DeBeen provides a calming atmosphere that pairs well with your favorite cold brew, hot tea, espresso, smoothie and much more. And that barely scratches the surface. Other local and student favorites include Blue Rock Pizza, Barberitos, Penny Path Cafe, Sammy G’s Tavern, Magnolia Blue, Carolina’s Diner, Chop House Grille and more. Check out the High Point Food Mob Facebook page for local favorites and recommendations.

Whether it’s stocking up on local fresh produce and handmade crafts at the High Point Farmers Market, or running to see the newest movie at the Palladium Cinemas, there’s no shortage of things to do in High Point. Uptowne High Point has everything you need for your shopping fix. From the perfect gift find to clothing and accessories, or just perusing the bookshelves at Sunrise Books, High Point has what you need. There are tons of small businesses that thrive in High Point, including HPU Passport Partners like Simon Jewelers, Chipotle and “Our City. Our University.” partners like Giannos, Bistro 1605, JH Adams Inn, FosterHobbs Coffee and more.

In downtown High Point, inventive and creative minds collide in a facility entirely dedicated to innovation, entrepreneurship and community. Spearheaded by Business High Point—Chamber of Commerce, Congdon Yards offers High Point an unparalleled place to work, gather, innovate and celebrate. Two historic downtown buildings were fully renovated to create the space, which includes private offices and coworking space, public indoor-outdoor gathering area The Commons, Lil’s Coffee Bar, premier event venue The Loft and The Generator, a state-of-the-art woodworking shop that gives furniture designers and manufacturers access to industrial-grade equipment.

High Point's central location in North Carolina provides close proximity to three major airports in Greensboro (PTI), Charlotte (CLT) and Raleigh (RDU), connecting you to the rest of the world. And whether you want to take a trip to the mountains or the beach or anywhere in between, it’s an easy drive because of the city’s central location in the state.

Grab your bike, skates, running shoes, dog or friend and explore the natural side of High Point. High Point’s Greenway Trail System provides more than nine miles of trails on an open 10-foot wide paved road. There are also 11 miles of natural trails that lead hikers through hardwood and pine forests and lakeside habitats. There’s no shortage of parks in the city. Oak Hollow Park complex, which includes the 800-acre Oak Hollow Lake, is open from sunrise to sunset and offers a long list of lake activities including canoeing, fishing, kayaking and more. There’s also City Lake Park, a favorite destination for picnicking, and the recently added Hedgecock Dog Park, providing the perfect place for furry friends to enjoy the outdoors and specialty dog fountains. Be sure to download the Piedmont Discovery App to enjoy all parks within the High Point – Greensboro area.

Looking to give back? High Point offers a wide range of opportunities to serve. Each year, our students engage in service and community projects at a large list of local organizations including Open Door Ministries, Family Services of the Piedmont, Greater High Point Food Alliance, American Red Cross, Carl Chavis YMCA, High Point Civitan Club and more. These organizations provide an outlet for HPU students to positively apply their skills and passions resulting in 110,000 hours of service annually!