New Marshall bar owner Mallory McCoy wants Mal's to bring community together in communion

MARSHALL - As Madison County continues to welcome in new residents, a first-time bar owner hopes her establishment can serve as a community hub to bring people of all walks of life together and share drinks.

Mal's, located in the old "Pop Story building" News-Record site at 121 S. Main St. next to Sweet Monkey, will hold its grand opening Aug. 20, according to its owner, Mallory McCoy.

In typical Marshall fashion, McCoy, who grew up in Normal, Illinois, and moved to Western North Carolina in 2009, is something of a Renaissance woman.

McCoy, a Marshall resident, works as an emergency nurse, is an ordained minister and previously operated a landscaping company before opening the Marshall bar of her namesake.

"It's a little bit of logistical gymnastics to live in Marshall and support yourself in Marshall," McCoy said.

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McCoy said she and her business partners, Thomas Jablonski and Matthew Lucas, began working on converting the building in March.

"It turned out fancier than I was expecting, but in a way that I am really digging," McCoy said. "I'm originally from central Illinois and miss those old VFW bars. So, that I think is accidentally in me, and the bar kind of turned out more than I was even really intending. It's got a little 'man cave' vibe, but it's run by a lady."

McCoy, 35, said the establishment will celebrate its opening Aug. 20.

"It's good - the town is excited. I'm excited," McCoy said. "It feels like this all this came together well. Everyone is so excited. It feels like it's a community effort."

According to McCoy, Every Angle Construction has assisted with the business' construction, while Engine House Design crafted the store sign that was installed Aug. 9.

"It's overwhelming how awesome the Mad Co Brewing folks have been, and Hollie (West, the owner of) Sweet Monkey, and businesses that either have done something similar or do now," McCoy said. "Everyone has been really supportive and awesome. It's made me more excited and feeling like this just needed to happen."

The business' neighbor, Hollie West at Sweet Monkey, has been especially helpful to McCoy, serving as something of a mentor for her during the opening process.

"I heard a rumor that something was going in here, and then I ran into Mallory in Hot Springs," West said. "I'm trying to help her as friendly as I can and give her advice and guidance. If she had any questions, I wanted her to know I did this already. I'm your neighbor.

"We're bringing the Red Light District back to life down here. We're at the red light," West said, referring to the traffic light to gain access to Jerry Plemmons Way and Bridge Street.

Community hangout

McCoy said she hopes the bar will turn into a community hub for locals - newcomers and natives alike - to gather and make lasting memories with each other.

"Really, I just want it to be a place where people want to hang out after work," the Mal's owner said. "Marshall is going through such a shift in who is coming in, and (is experiencing) a little bit of growing pains. I just want it to be a place where all of them can come. Hopefully, this is a place where people actually want to hang and stay here and make memories, and all that good stuff."

In referencing those "growing pains," McCoy said she understands the longstanding Marshall residents who may hold resentment for the changes coming to the county.

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"I can only imagine the people whose families grew up here and whose Madison County lineage goes generations back, to see all the growth, and I know the people who have moved here in the past 10 years," McCoy said. "It is now harder and harder to find a place to own here. So I get that. But at the end of the day, I think it would just be nice if we all had a beer, you know?"

McCoy said she feels the abundance of viewpoints among county residents presents new opportunities to have residents from different backgrounds reach common ground.

"I know 'older Marshall' may not like that there's a bar in Marshall in general," McCoy said. "It's easy for me to say 'That's silly,' because I'm part of the 'New Marshall' and I have to be understanding of my place in the equation. I think that was a push to include the Story print building in this building, but that's not my history. That's not my story to tell. So I think it's OK to acknowledge I am 'New Marshall.'"

Ultimately, McCoy feels the new bar will help to bring the town together in communion and libations, and she is hopeful that it will serve that role for residents.

"People really want this to be the local spot," McCoy said. "I'd like that, too. I really would like for that to be so, and I hope that we can all make that possible."

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Marshall bar Mal's to host grand opening this month, owner talks goals