Wedding venue in Blue Ridge, GA for couples in Concord, NC

CONCORD, N.C. — A home renovator is on a mission to save historic homes in Cabarrus County, which has now put him in the national spotlight.

Channel 9 has reported on Adam Miller before when he split an old house outside of downtown Concord into pieces and moved it to a new property to save it from being torn down.

TikTok home renovator moves historic Concord home in pieces to save it

“I just love old houses,” Miller said.

Miller and his wife take old or historic homes that are on track to be demolished and breathe new life into them.

“You imagine somebody just comes in and tears down your childhood home,” he said. “And it’s where you had Christmases and birthdays. If there’s a shred of survivability in them, then we’re going to try to save them.”

Miller’s work is popular on TikTok, and his account @oldhouseadam has nearly 2 million followers.

Now, Miller will be featured on an episode of Magnolia Network’s “In with the Old.”

“The crazy thing is, as we were just, you know, making videos for fun on the internet one day, and now we’re on a TV show,” Miller said.

In the episode, Miller saves his childhood best friend’s home where they played. They cut the home into pieces, moved it to a new property, and turned it into a forever home in one year. Miller said his friend couldn’t be happier that a new family will get to enjoy his old home.

Miller hopes the episode will spread awareness of his mission and inspire others to do the same.

“We were just completely random people that, you know, loved our town, and we wanted to save some of the history,” Miller said. “And we have a town full of people that feel the same way. And if we can do it, I think other people can go out and save some of these homes.”

The episode of “In with the Old” airs Friday.

VIDEO: TikTok home renovator moves historic Concord home in pieces to save it

The family says she has second and third degree burns covering 20% of her body.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - A 9-month-old baby is in the ICU after her mother says she was severely burned at a Concord daycare center.

According to the mother and her attorney, the incident happened at Concord Children’s Academy on Wednesday, February 28th.

9-month-old Addison Starnes was airlifted to Wake Forest Baptist Hospital, where she’s being treated for second and third-degree burns.

The child’s mother says she works as a teacher in another classroom at the same daycare.

She was not willing to do an on-camera interview at this time. Her attorney sent a statement to WBTV saying:

On February 28th, 2024, Addison Starnes was receiving childcare at Concord Children’s Academy. We believe that Addison was in a high chair waiting to receive her bottle, when a bottle warmer was over turned, causing the water in the warmer to spill and severely burn Addison. Addison was airlifted to Wake Forest Baptist and is currently receiving treatment. Addison’s family would appreciate your thoughts and prayers.

Communications between dispatchers and EMS confirm the incident.

WBTV’s Caroline Hicks called Concord Children’s Academy for comment, but the receptionist hung up on her.

She also stopped by the center in person, but no one answered the door.

Later, CCA released the following statement through social media:

Many people have contacted Concord Children’s Academy regarding a medical emergency that occurred in an infant classroom on February 28. A previous member of our CCA family was burned with water from a bottle warmer. School administrators took swift action to report this event and institute key safety measures to prevent any reoccurrence. CCA continues to fully cooperate with authorities regarding this accident. These authorities will decide which details regarding the accident should be made public. Therefore, CCA will make no further public statements. We ask for the members of our CCA family and community to keep this beloved family in your thoughts and prayers. We are fully committed to the health and safety of our students and ensuring this cannot happen again. We are reviewing all of the health and safety procedures across all age groups to ensure a safe learning environment for all the students.

According to NCDHHS records, four unannounced visits to Concord Children’s Academy since 2021 resulted in violations.

In October 2023, records show that all staff did not successfully complete first aid and CPR training. This was corrected within a few weeks.

WBTV obtained the message that was sent to parents the morning it happened, saying “a child did need to be transported for emergency care. The child is being treated and will be ok.”

Meanwhile, according to her mother, Addison is scheduled for two surgeries for skin grafting.. and has a long road to recovery ahead.

WBTV contacted the state health department, a spokesperson said:

The NCDHHS Division of Child Development and Early Education is aware of the concerns and is considering next steps; we cannot comment on investigations or possible investigations.

A family member started a GoFundMe to raise money for medical costs.

Copyright 2024 WBTV. All rights reserved.

CONCORD, N.C. — After the holidays, the city says downtown construction will move up Union Street. Leaders say they understand why businesses are frustrated but they are committed to making sure they make it through.

RELATED COVERAGE:

“The overriding question was, ‘What are you willing to give up from cars and give to people?’” said Steve Osborne, the planning director.

After asking businesses and residents that question in 2019, Concord leaders decided on the downtown streetscape project. It will reduce the road and expand the sidewalks to 22 feet wide.

“It just creates a more welcoming place for the community to come and enjoy our downtown,” said Paige Grochoske, the manager for Downtown Development.

It will give more room for businesses and pedestrians and improve landscaping and infrastructure.

“More space for pedestrians. More space for outdoor dining cafes. We’ve got some great streetlights that are coming in, as well as updating the critical infrastructure throughout the street, including water sewer, storm drain, and some of the electrical support for those poles,” said Kaylee Caton, the design manager.

Concord leaders say they understand this hasn’t been easy for downtown businesses and residents. As Channel 9 reported last week, many are reporting slumping sales and the Cabarrus Creamery is temporarily closing as a result.

“It’s our goal to continue to bring people downtown to support these businesses,” Grochoske said.

The city is posting construction updates online and working with groups to offer things, such as Google and social media support to businesses. The city is also offering a matching grant for facade and signage improvements and says business and building property owners can apply.

Contractually, the construction has a substantial completion date of July 2, 2024. However, the city expects some landscaping to be completed in Fall 2024. The contractor may file requests for extensions for reasons beyond its control. The city says examples include weather events and natural disasters, epidemics, or design issues with unknown existing utilities, which result in work stoppages.

Any request for extensions must be approved by the city.

The contract includes liquidated damages of $250 per day past the contract’s substantial completion date.

Press + Porter owner Emily Cordero says she will be watching this closely.

“I’m glad it’s on record,” she said. “They still have to go two more blocks and six months seems like it’ll be here before we know it. So I’ll really be surprised that that July date sticks.”

City leaders give Concord City Council monthly updates on the project and its meetings.

Click here for the most recent construction updates.

VIDEO: Business owners blindsided as part of Union Street to close in Concord through summer

A popular Dublin-based retail store is making its North Carolina debut just in time for the holiday shopping season.

Primark, known for its budget-friendly prices, will open at 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 16, near entrance 3 and Dick’s Sporting Goods at Concord Mills.

The 30,000-square-foot store is stocked with apparel for women, men and children, plus homeware and beauty supplies. Women’s jeans are priced $16 to $22 and dresses $11 to 25, while men’s jeans are $18 to $28 and men’s shirts are $14 to $28, according to Primark’s website.

The store will mark the opening with a weekend with a DJ, giveaways and food trucks.

“We’ve had 12 openings in 12 months, said Primark’s U.S. President Kevin Tulip. He spoke with The Charlotte Observer in an exclusive interview at the store on Wednesday.

Here’s are 12 things to know about Primark before heading to Concord Mills:

Primark is pronounced “pry-mark,” with a long “i,” Tulip said, despite debate even among European shoppers. Some of them say it as “e” as “pree-mark.”

Primark was originally called Penneys in Ireland. It was rebranded Primark in the U.K. because JCPenney owns the trademark there. “If you go to Ireland now you still see the name Penneys,” Tulip said.

Primark isn’t an off-price retailer or a department store.

“The biggest difference is our product. Our product is this season’s style, up-to-date on trends and price point unique in the retail sector,” Tulip said.

Don’t expect to see discounts and bargains. “All of the work has already been done to get that price for our customers,” Tulip said.

Founded in Ireland in 1969, the first Primark store in the U.S. opened in 2015 in Boston. Including Concord, Primark has 24 stores in the U.S., mostly in the Northeast, with plans to open 60 stores by the end of 2026.

No other stores have been announced yet in the Carolinas. “But we’re constantly exploring,” Tulip said.

Primark has stores in downtowns, regional malls and outlet centers. Concord Mills “had a number of things that really ticked our box,” Tulip said.

The mills’ mall format is similar to Primark, which opened in August at another Simon-owned mall, Arundel Mills in Maryland.

It was also appealing for the store size, and position in the mall near the entrance and parking lot entrance.

You can’t shop Primark online.

“Online for us would mean that the prices would need to increase,” Tulip said. “We believe that everything is about the in-store experience.”

But Primark customers can check what’s available in store.

Primark localizes merchandise.

A difference for Primark versus other retailers is local management can stock according to trends in each store.

“It’s the same global product but the merchandise is always a little bit different,” Tulip said. “We want it to feel local.”

That could include apparel with local sports teams, for instance.

Licensed products sold in the store include Disney, Marvel and DC.

“You’ll see quite a bit of Disney products, but it’s our product. We do all of the design and the production,” Tulip said. “So it’s a completely unique product to Primark.”

The front of the store is the “trends” area, Tulip said, based on local customers.

Rita Ora Collection is the focus for opening day with dayware and the recently launched party-ware. Some items have already sold out in Boston stores, Tulip said. Expect prices such as $14 for a blouse to $33 for a sparkly blazer.

There are four service checkout stations and 12 self-checkout stations.

Primark’s paper bags are made from the company’s cardboard boxes.

Note: The holiday bags can be reused to wrap gifts.

The fitting rooms are designed based on customer feedback.

To the left is all gender fitting rooms to be used by men, boys and families, with women only to the right.

The rooms also have locked doors instead of curtains.

Primark also no longer has a limit on the number of items that can be taken in to try on. “As a physical-only retailer, it’s incredibly important that we’re constantly talking to customers and constantly improving,” Tulip said.

The children area layout shows designated age groups up to age 15 for boys and girls.

Some of the sizing is a little bit different than U.S. retailers, “so we’ve used quite a bit of signage to help navigate for anyone who’s new to Primark,” Tulip said.

Studies of brands missed when people move from Ireland found Penneys is missed, even more so than Guinness beer, Tulip said.

“We are one of the top-known brands across any sector in Ireland,” Tulip said. “There’s just a lot of lifelong fans.”

This story was originally published November 16, 2023, 5:45 AM.

A North Carolina dog led rescuers to other animals in need of help — then came a touching adoption.

Hero the dog got a new home after she ran away from “horrific” conditions. Her harrowing escape helped rescuers find about 40 other animals and bring them to safety, according to the Humane Society of Concord & Greater Cabarrus County.

“We’ve given her a name that’s worthy of her and a last name of Salvare, which means to save and protect,” the Charlotte-area animal shelter wrote Jan. 10 in a Facebook post.

Hero — a basset hound believed to be at least 10 years old — got her second chance after she was found in a “poor” condition, with protruding bones and dirty fur. She also had a bladder infection, heartworms and nails so long that she had trouble walking, officials said.

“Despite Hero’s sad back story, she’s proof that dogs are resilient creatures that only show love that is unconditional,” the shelter wrote.

As of Jan. 10, the shelter hoped to find a new owner for Hero, described as a “friendly” dog that greets people “with the softness of a sweet old lady.” Officials believed she would do best in a quiet home as she continued her recovery.

“She’s an incredibly sweet and easy going girl that just wants to spend her time cuddled up on her blankets or in the company of someone,” the shelter wrote.

Then on Jan. 11, the humane society shared the heartwarming update that Hero was adopted.

At least three other dogs rescued from the “horrific” situation in late 2023 were in need of homes. People interested in adopting them are asked to call 704-784-7387, according to social media posts.

The humane society, located roughly 25 miles northeast of Charlotte, didn’t immediately share additional details with McClatchy News on Jan. 12.