Hold on to your hat- there is a lot going on this week in Gaston County! Alchemy Studios opening, Alchemy Coworking space underway, Stowe YMCA is now the McGill Family YMCA, a new Asian Market opens, Red Lobster Closes, the Belmont Sake is underway, and an new Montessori School is coming…and that’s not all!

Gaston County is alive!

Today's weather: Partly sunny and cooler, with a high 59.

Tonight: Partly cloudy with a low of 39.

Keanu Trujillo and partners had a grand opening at Alchemy Studios at Loray Mills last week along with the Gaston Business Association. Alchemy Studios is their first sister brand, existing to equip photographers and videographers with high quality production space. Their grand opening last Thursday and saw over 200 people attend with over half of them being photographers and videographers from all over the Charlotte area.

Trujillo has a lot going on- he is also expanding his coworking offerings with new space in Loray Mill. There will be private offices, desks, conference rooms, open work space and more. Get more info here.

There was a ribbon cutting at the YMCA in Belmont last Thursday. The occasion was the renaming of the Y to the McGill Family YMCA.

The McGill YMCA offers a little of everything-pickelball to swim lesson to homeschool programming, Check it out here.

Two local private schools have it going on. In a recent list compiled by the Charlotte Business Journal, both Gaston Christian and Gaston Day School are among the largest private schools in the Charlotte Metro area.

Would it surprise you to know that Gaston Christian is the 4th largest private school in the area? In the 2025-2026 school year they have 1318 students enrolled. They offer JK (junior kindergarten) through grade 12. Their faculty to student ration is 1:20. Tuition runs from $6,085-$12,850.

Gaston Day also made the list. They offer Pre K through grade 12, and they have an enrollment of 500. Their faculty to student ration is 1:10, and tuition is $9,145-$23,310.

Finish Line Christian Center in downtown Mount Holly has 2 properties for sale listed at$5,999,000. The properties are located at 108 North Main Street (pictured) and 111 East Charlotte Avenue. Their presence downtown has at times been controversial. We reached out to them regarding their future plans.There was no response by press time.

On April 15th, the City of Mount Holly and Gaston County will team up to host Get to Know Gaston at Tuckaseege Park. Get to Know Gaston blends entertainment with local government, giving residents the opportunity to get to know the organizations serving them in a fun and family-friendly atmosphere. Expect live music, "touch-a-truck," giveaways, food trucks, children's activities, and more! Attendees can learn about upcoming projects and initiatives that impact them at various booths and tents and receive stamps. If they receive 10 stamps, they will get a voucher for complimentary meals at on-site food trucks.

A new Asian American Market has opened in Belmont. Manoj Rai is the proprietor. He says he noticed that folks were going to Charlotte to buy Asian products.

Raj comes from a restaurant background; this is his first venture in the grocery business. They offer Thai, Vietnamese, Hispanic and other ethnic grocery items.

They are open 8-8 daily, and are located at 2105 Acme Road in Belmont.

No more cheddar biscuits for you! (unless you drive to Charlotte). Red Lobster at Eastridge Mall has closed.

If you follow business news at all, this is really not a surprise. The new owners of the chain sold the properties and now the restaurants have to lease back the properties where they are located. CEO Damola Adamolekum says the chain needs to get smaller as they look to cut costs. They are emerging from a 2024 bankruptcy.

Lisa and Lind Nguyen are busy ladies! Two Sake express locations, a new one being built, and a successful new restaurant in Charlotte called Yugen.

A new Montessori School will be opening in Mount Holly in September. The school will be housed at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd at 110 South Main Street.

Head of School Maddie Szucs was a Montessori child and is now a AMI Internationally Certified teacher. They plan to start with 10 open spots for admission. This will be the first and only Montessori School in Gaston County.

The Montessori method of education is a type of educational method that involves children’s natural interests and activities rather than formal teaching methods. A Montessori classroom places an emphasis on hands-on learning and developing real-world skills, such as problem solving and helping and teaching each other.

You can check out their website here. Their Facebook is here.

At Oak Ridge Dental Arts, we are dedicated to helping your family as we care for our own families. With years of experience and state-of-the-art dental technology, we help you achieve the healthy, beautiful smile you deserve. We ensure the best possible dental experience with friendly, personalized care in a comfortable environment. If you haven’t been to the dentist in the past six months, or you are interested in enhancing your smile, give us a call. With one visit you’ll see why so many families in your neighborhood trust Oak Ridge Dental Arts with all their dental needs.

Shelli's She Shed is a home decor boutique full of floral stems & arrangements and unique, vintage, antique, retro, farmhouse styles and the perfect gift items.

New Hours: Fri & Sat 10am-3pm
980-318-3816

106 W Dallas Rd., Stanley, NC 28164

Check us out!

HUD Administrator w/ City of Gastonia: $77k-$123k

Operations Manager w/ Trulight Aluminum & Glass Solutions, Dallas NC: $130k-$150k

Materials Manager / Eaton, Kings Mountain: $130k-$190k

If you have lost or found a pet in Gaston County-check out PawBoost! PawBoost is a Facebook page where folks post lost or found pets in the Gaston County area.

Check it out here.

Animal ID 60658014
Species Dog
Breed Pointer/Mix
Age 2 years 3 days
Gender Male
Size Medium
Color Black/White
Declawed No
Housetrained Unknown
Site GCACE
Location Dog Stray
Intake Date 3/19/2026
Stage New Arrival

Info

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