Dawn Evans Built Editions Bookstore into a Kannapolis Community Hub | EP 69

Dawn Evans, owner of Editions Bookstore & Coffee Shop, joins K-Town Connection to share how she helped build a real community hub in downtown Kannapolis starting in 2017 — before the full revitalization boom.

From volunteering with Kannapolis Arts and the downtown group, to opening a bookstore and coffee shop on Main Street, expanding into yarn, surviving COVID with a drive-thru, and hosting book crawls, author events, and thousands of visitors, Dawn talks about what it takes to create a welcoming space that locals and out-of-towners keep coming back to.

Stop by Editions Bookstore & Coffee Shop in downtown Kannapolis for books, coffee, local authors, yarn, and a genuine community gathering spot. Tell them the cousins at K-Town Connection sent you.

Filmed at the historic Dayvault’s Dyno Tune-Up & Brake Service Garage in Kannapolis.

📍 Dayvault’s Garage – Kannapolis, NC
🎙️ Hosted by Chris Hughes & David Steele (filling in for Ryan Dayvault)

Chapters:
00:00 Cold Open / Hilbish Ford
00:35 Rain Banter, Missing Hosts & Baby Updates
03:53 Welcome to EP 69 – Chris Hughes & David Steele
05:00 Meet Dawn Evans of Editions Bookstore & Coffee Shop
05:39 Opening Editions in Downtown Kannapolis in 2017
07:24 Taking a Chance on Main Street Before the Revitalization Boom
08:41 Drive-Thru, COVID Survival & Nine Years Later
12:47 From Used Books to New Books, Gifts & Local Art
13:18 Building the Yarn Shop by Hand
15:18 Bucky Covington, Local Energy & Foot Traffic
20:24 Book Crawls Drawing Thousands from Across the Region
22:11 Why Dawn Chose Kannapolis After Houston
29:38 Favorite Books & Author Stories
31:13 Sponsored Authors, Onyx Storm Event & Big Releases
34:41 Editions as a True Downtown Kannapolis Anchor
35:40 Knit Nights, Partnerships & Community Space
37:25 Closing Thanks with Dawn Evans
38:51 Carolina Pickleball Club + Outro

Like, subscribe, and keep supporting the people and places that make Kannapolis home.

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Hardee’s Biscuits Got Him Inside the Mills: Chad Mitchell’s Untold Story | Ep 75

In Episode 75 of the K-Town Connection, lifelong Kannapolis photographer and artist Chad Mitchell opens his archive of more than 25,000 photographs that document the demolition of Cannon Mills — the place that built this town. As the massive mill complex disappeared, Chad decided someone had to record what was being lost. What began as a personal mission became one of the most important visual records of Kannapolis history ever created. He takes us inside the abandoned buildings, shares how he gained access (Hardee’s biscuits helped), and reveals the stories behind some of his most powerful images — including the fall of the iconic water tower, a once-in-a-lifetime balloon ride over the complex, and the unforgettable photograph of his late father standing in the partially demolished mill, looking out at the rubble of the place where he had worked for decades. Chad also looks back at an incredible creative career that includes photographing Appalachian State football during its national championship years, serving as team photographer for Kannapolis professional baseball, working with NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program, and creating artwork connected to Dale Earnhardt. His guiding philosophy has always been simple: Tell as much of the story as possible in one shutter click. Today, as a new generation grows up in a Kannapolis that looks nothing like the mill town their parents and grandparents knew, these photographs have become even more valuable. They don’t just preserve buildings — they preserve the people, the work, the memories, and the identity of a community that was forever changed. This episode is exactly what the K-Town Connection is about: preserving Kannapolis history by telling the stories of the people who lived it. 📸 Browse and purchase Chad’s photography and artwork: ChadMitchell.com 📍 Filmed at Historic Dayvault’s Dyno Tune-Up & Brake Service Garage in Kannapolis, North Carolina 🎙️ Hosted by the #RoughTalkCousins Chris Hughes & Ryan Dayvault, along with Chuck “Dr. Dave” Irvin and David Steele Chapters 0:00 – Intro & Local Updates 5:32 – Welcome to Episode 75 5:52 – Introducing Chad Mitchell 7:02 – Growing Up in Kannapolis 12:00 – How Chad Began Documenting the Mills 14:00 – Getting Access with Hardee’s Biscuits 17:18 – Inside the Abandoned Mill Buildings 19:24 – Over 25,000 Photographs 25:10 – The Darkest Place in the Mill 27:20 – “Lifeline” – The Railroad Light Painting 37:15 – Where to See & Buy the Photos 38:21 – Kiln-Dried Maple Floors & the Sign 39:49 – Baseball Photography Years 43:45 – The Dale Earnhardt Artwork 46:06 – The “Quality Work Means Job Security” Sign 53:45 – The Balloon Ride Over Cannon Mills 56:15 – The Photograph of Chad’s Father 59:48 – Closing Thoughts & Thank You

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