4 Reasons to Relocate to Greensboro, North Carolina

Where else but Greensboro, North Carolina are you going to find a museum that lets you touch the art? A bookstore that hosts community dance parties? Or a shop called Rocks & Locks that specializes in selling—yep, you guessed it—rocks and locks? Folks do things differently here. If you’re in the market for a city with spunk, consider relocating to this old textile town that is just now hitting its stride.

Greensboro has seen an unprecedented amount of development in recent years, with its empty factories and warehouses being converted into some of the most exciting new restaurants, art spaces, and real estate properties in the region. But if you’re not entirely sold on Greensboro, don’t worry. Our list of four reasons why outlined below, are here to help you two get better acquainted.

1. Its thriving downtown

Elm Street is the hub of activity in Greensboro. The newly designed LeBauer Park, situated on North Elm, offers luxurious green spaces, brand new fast-casual eateries, a funky, postmodern playground for the kids, as well as plenty of comfy lawn chairs for you to stretch out on, relax, and soak up some sun.

Restaurants and breweries abound on Elm Street’s Southside. Grab a burger at Natty Greene’s, then wander down a few blocks to Gibb's Hundred Brewing Company for a pint of their latest hoppy concoction. On the retail front, there are more than enough stationery shops, thrift stores, and galleries on South Elm to satisfy your shopping cravings—but be sure to check out the offbeat stylings available at Vintage Archives first.

Oh, and for the dessert-obsessed among you—Cheesecakes by Alex is an absolute must!

2. The city’s strong commitment to the arts

Like its neighbor, Winston-Salem, Greensboro has become an unlikely champion for the arts over the years, so much so that creatives around the country and the globe have begun flocking to it to make their mark on the town. Elsewhere, the Greensboro Project Space (GPS), and the Weatherspoon Museum are a few of the organizations enriching the city with their thrilling public art programs.

3. The diverse, engaged community

Folks in Greensboro aren’t shy about speaking their mind. There’s a strong argument to be made that this is the most civically engaged group of people in North Carolina, which makes sense when you consider the city’s pivotal role in the Civil Rights Movement (the lunch counter sit-in protests began here at a department store on South Elm, where the International Museum of Civil Rights now stands).

The University of North Carolina at Greensboro injects new energy and vitality into the community every August, with the arrival of students from all walks of life, who hail from regions all across the globe. Youthful, international, and progressive, Greensboro is the perfect town for community-minded, engaged folks seeking to make a difference in the place that they call home.

4. Access to all the other Triad towns

Need a change of scenery? Hop in the car and zip on over to the Piedmont Triad International Airport, just a short ride from downtown Greensboro, then get on a flight to just about anywhere your little heart desires. Operating on a budget? Explore the rest of North Carolina’s Triad area, which includes Durham, Chapel Hill, and Winston-Salem—another art-centric town that’s all the rage.

There are all kinds of shenanigans you can get into in the Triad. Nearby Duke, Chapel Hill, and Wake Forest Universities host loads of interesting events and lure hundreds of compelling speakers to their campuses every year, and each of their nearby towns has a distinctive set of offerings for you to enjoy.