A life-long resident of North Carolina, photographer Mike Lassiter grew up against a backdrop of family-owned soda shops, movie theaters and hardware stores. In 2000 he set out on a singular mission; to capture and archive these iconic places before they disappeared forever. Along the way he met hundreds of fascinating people, many of them the last to run businesses that had been a way of life for generations. Endorsed by UNC President Emeritus William Friday, the book captures the heritage of North Carolinas Main Street from both a historical and a human perspective. Over 500 photographs and Lee Grants accompanying essays offer a close-up look at gathering places and crossroads in each of North Carolinas 100 counties.