community & campus connections

Friends of LR

Lenoir-Rhyne University campuses in Hickory, Asheville and Columbia offer local businesses the option to participate in the Friends of LR discount program.

Originally created in collaboration with the University City Commission – a board aimed at strengthening the relationship between Hickory’s institutions of higher learning and their home city – the program allows LR to connect with the city through commerce. We invite businesses to express support for LR through discounts and special offers to the campus community, and we encourage LR students, faculty and staff to patronize participating businesses.

Currently, more than 50 businesses provide LR discounts, with new members joining every week. Any business is invited to participate in the program by offering a discount to LR students, faculty and staff. Businesses are also welcome to extend their discounts to LR alumni and families.

A shop window features an LR supporter flag.
Be Recognized for Your Participation

All Friends of LR receive a flag, pennant and “We Support LR” sticker to display in your business. LR and University City Commission thank you for your local support and the many ways you add value to the community.

Register a Business

If you would like to offer a discount to LR students, faculty and staff, you can simply place the “We Support LR” sticker in your business window. We also request you complete a registration form so we can maintain a current list of discount offerings. 

By uploading a digital version of your business logo, we will advertise your business on a rotating basis on on-campus televisions and in university publications.

Register Your Business

Participating Businesses & Discounts

  • Hickory Campus

    Dining and Grocery 

    Arby's
    10% off for students, faculty and staff
    Discount only applies on regular price items, not happy hour or with another coupon or discount

    Bootleggers Whiskey Bar & Grill 
    10% discount for food and non-alcoholic beverages for students, faculty and staff

    Café Gouda
    10% off all the time
    20% Monday - Friday 3-5pm

    Corner Bakery 
    15% off total

    Cranford Brothers Barbecue
    15% off food and non-alcoholic drinks for LR students, faculty and staff

    Dive Bar
    25% off food and non-alcoholic drinks for all LR students, alumni, faculty and staff

    East Coast Wings & Grill
    10% off food and non-alcoholic drinks
    10% off catering orders

    Emerson's Coffee
    10% off for LR students, faculty and staff

    Granny's Country Kitchen
    15% off food and non-alcoholic drinks for LR students, faculty and staff

    Hatch
    10% discount for students, faculty and staff 

    Hickory Healthy Hub 
    Free tea with the purchase of a smoothie

    Large Slice Pizza
    Slice of pizza and 20oz drink with LR ID

    Las Isabelas
    Student discount with LR ID

    Liazzo's Catering
    20% off for students, faculty and staff

    Let Them Eat Cake by Flavia
    15% off every Friday for students, faculty and staff

    Lowes Foods 
    10% discount Sundays on all grocery purchases at the Lowes Foods in Viewmont

    Main Chick Jammin' Biscuits
    15% off food and non-alcoholic drinks for LR students, faculty and staff

    O'Charley's 
    20% discount for students, faculty and staff

    Pelican's SnoBalls Hickory
    Free size upgrade (kiddie to regular) with LR ID

    Plant Based Boss
    Discount for students, faculty, staff and alumni

    Salsarita's Fresh Mexican Grill 
    $1 off nachos on Saturday and Sunday

    Tastebuds Popcorn Hickory
    10% off for students, faculty and staff

    Taste Full Beans Coffeehouse
    10% discount for students, faculty and staff (excludes merchandise and art)

    Zaxby's (Springs Road & LR Blvd. locations)
    10% off all in store purchases at the Springs Road & LR Blvd. locations for students, faculty and staff

    Health, Wellness and Beauty 

    Art + Science A Salon
    20% off for faculty, staff and students, or a free deep conditioning treatment for first time clients.
    Free consultations.

    BEATS Fitness
    Enjoy high-energy indoor cycling classes, core-strengthening Pilates, muscle-toning Barre, and Full-Body workouts at Hickory's premiere boutique fitness studio, 12 minutes from L-R, for $50/month.

    Beautiaura
    Free waxing or threading of eyebrows and upper lips
    20% off all other services for students, faculty and staff

    C7 Fitness Studio
    School professional special rate of $55/month and student special rate of $45 (unlimited/no contracts). An additional 10% off for LR students, faculty and alumni with code LR23

    Custom Therapy Massage
    30% off for all students, faculty and staff

    Emerald Health DPC and Aesthetics
    10% off on all aesthetic services and skin care products for all students, faculty and staff

    Everyone Yoga
    Students pay $5 per class Power yoga is offered for $40 for 10 classes

    Harmony Health & Wellness
    10% off regular-priced services for students, faculty and staff. Not applicable with any other discounts.

    Hello Sugar Hickory
    Free bikini wax for students, faculty, staff and alumni

    Natis Nail Spa
    $5 off total price on Thursdays

    New Directions Chiropractic
    50% off for students and 25% off for faculty and staff.

    OsteoStrong
    Special monthly membership rate of $79/month with free enrollment for students, faculty and staff

    Pampered Nails Hair Skin
    20% off student hair services and hair products

    Phoenix Physical Training
    $5 discount per session on personal fitness training services

    Serenity Salt Spa
    20% off for students and 10% off for faculty and staff

    Solutions of Hickory, PA
    Solutions offers psychological counseling and psychological evaluations to identify attention disorders and learning differences. Please call for complimentary 10 min consultation and a $50.00 credit to your account for LR students, alumni, faculty and families.

    Studio Sublime
    20% off any salon service

    WAXmd
    Ongoing 10% discount for students, faculty and staff receive a free eyebrow

    Vitality Anti-Aging Center
    10% discount on regularly priced services or products for all students, faculty and staff

    1-800-Pet Meds
    15% discount for students, faculty and staff when using the Pet Meds discount page

    Retail 

    Adrienne's
    10% off for students, faculty and staff

    Ashley HomeStore
    20% discount for students, faculty and staff with an additional 5% off for opening up an Ashley account

    Carolina Crafted
    10% off your entire purchase for students, faculty and staff

    Carolina Pedal Works
    10% discounts to all students, faculty and staff

    Carolina West Wireless
    15% discount for students, faculty and staff 
    Discount applies to monthly service charge (certain restrictions apply)

    CleanWave Laundry Hickory
    Students and faculty who download and load money to the Speed Queen app earn reward dollars for future use.
    Receive a 10% discount with a minimum of 10 lbs. of wash, dry, fold service.

    Guitar Center 
    One free lesson and 10% off checklist for students, faculty and staff

    Habitat for Humanity ReStore Catawba Valley
    20% off for all students, faculty and staff

    Hickory Foot Solutions
    10% off discount for LR students, faculty and staff

    Hospice Resale Shop
    20% discount to students and staff with LR ID

    Java Dirt and Pearl
    Discounts for students, faculty and staff with LR ID at DIY terrarium workshop serving specialty coffee and boba tea.

    Merle Harmon's Fan Fair
    We offer 10% off all items in the store for students, faculty and PEF members. Throughout the year, we will run other special discounts, such as 20% off. Learn more by following our Facebook page at Fan Fair Hickory.

    Outdoor Supply Company
    10% discount for all students, faculty and staff (excludes Yeti and other select products)

    OZ's Jewelers
    10% off any new purchase for faculty, staff and students

    Redfox Gaming
    5% off for all students

    Sam's Xpress Car Wash
    $5 off the unlimited club plan for staff and faculty

    Take 5 Oil Change
    25% off for all students, faculty and staff

    The Natural Dog
    10% discount for students, faculty and staff with ID

    Thistle Dew Nicely
    15% discount for students, faculty and staff

    U-Haul  
    First month of storage free with truck/trailer rental and 10% off one way rentals for students, faculty and staff

    Unique World Gifts
    10% off purchases for all students, faculty and staff (excludes food and beverage items and clearance merchandise)

    The Untamed Daisy Soap Co. 
    10% of all purchases for students, faculty and staff

    Services

    Campbell and Associates
    Free professional consultation for students, faculty and staff and a reduced rate on expert legal services

    Master Financial Coach - Trey Bridgeman
    75% off financial services for students; contact Trey to set up a meeting at 828.244.1354 or tbridgemancoaching@gmail.com

    Mosquito Authority
    10% off select services for students, faculty, staff and alumni

    Pest Authority
    10% off pest control services for students, faculty, staff and alumni

    Roof Maxx of Hickory
    10% Discount on Roof Maxx treatment for students, faculty, staff and alumni

    20% Discount on Roof Maxx treatment for LR-owned properties

    T-Mobile
    15% off phone plans (up to 5 lines) for faculty and staff

    Unit Safe Storage
    Visit our website for rates and offers.

    Education

    Children's Academy #1
    5% off tuition

    Hickory Day School
    Waived application fee (typically $100) for all children of students, faculty and staff

    St. Stephens Lutheran School
    25% off tuition for K-8th grade

    University Christian High School
    50% off tuition for faculty and staff

    Entertainment and Recreation

    CrossFit Hickory
    Membership discount for students, faculty and staff

    Sky Zone Hickory
    $4 off ticket price for students on College Night (Thursdays from 6-9 pm)
    Sky Zone allows fundraisers and will donate 20% of revenues from flight tickets sold back to the hosting student organization.

    Foot Candle Film Society
    $3 admission on Thursday nights

    Hickory Community Theatre
    $10 tickets for LR students

    Hickory Crawdads
    Two free tickets every Thursday with school ID. (Additional tickets are $5)
    Every other day, student, faculty and staff can purchase up to four tickets at a discounted rate of $5.

    Hickory Football Club
    $10 tickets for students, faculty and staff with promo code LRUHFC

    Hickory Foundation YMCA
    $25 per month membership fee for students

    Hickory Museum of Art
    $10 membership discount. Membership includes offers for free admission at nearly 200 museums throughout the Southeast. 

    Nailed IT DIY Studio
    10% off any project or retail purchase for all students, faculty and staff

    Patriot Brew Thru and Axe Throwing 
    Wednesday College Special: $10 an hour per person axe throwing
    Weekly drink specials ($5 off axe throwing)
    Also offer discounted group rates for team building events, tailored to group needs

    Planet Fitness
    $22.99/month black card membership: no annual fee, no enrollment fee and no commitment fee with code: CORPFMBC 

    $10 /month classic card membership: $39 annual fee, no enrollment fee and no commitment fee with code: PFCORPFM10

    Southside Power & Fitness
    $24.99/month membership for students, faculty and staff or an annual flat rate of $240

    The Green Room Community Theatre
    Ticket prices reduced from $18 to $14 for students with LR ID

    The Hum
    50% off all tickets with LR Student ID

    Treetop Adventures Lake Hickory
    10% off for students, faculty and staff

    Warehouse18 
    15% discount on event fees for all students, faculty and staff (one discount per event)

    Western Piedmont Symphony
    Free concerts for students, faculty and staff

    Housing and Hotel

    Argyle Place Apartments
    $200 off first month's rent for faculty, staff, and graduate students

    Hawks Landing Luxury Apartments
    Half-off security deposits for all LR faculty and staff upon move-in. 

    Hickory Trace Village Apartments
    5% off for LR employees

    Holiday Inn Express
    Discounted room rates offered for any LR student, faculty or staff member. This discount is also available for anyone visiting the university. Mention LR at check-in to receive the discount. 

  • Asheville Campus

    Beverages & Dining

    Arby's    
    10% off for students, faculty, staff and alumni. Discount only applies on regular price items, not happy hour or with another coupon or discount.

    Baba Nahm    
    10% off meals for students, faculty and staff

    Ben & Jerry's    
    10% off all purchases for students, faculty, staff and alumni

    The Hop Ice Cream Cafe    
    10% off all ice cream and coffee orders for students, faculty and staff

    Kathmandu Kitchen    
    Free hot/cold chai with lunch buffet for students, faculty and staff. 20% off dinner for students, faculty, and staff.

    Local 604    
    10% off all beer and wine for students, faculty, and staff. *Above 21 only

    West End Bakery    
    10% off all purchases for students, faculty, and staff

    Retail 

    Affordable Bedding, Inc.    
    10% off entire purchase. See store for details.

    Frugal Backpacker    
    Extra 10% off entire purchase (including sales items) for students, faculty, and staff

    Instant Karma    
    10% off all purchases for students, faculty, and staff

    Reciprocity Resale Boutique    
    10% off total purchase for students, faculty, and staff

    The Regeneration Station 
    10% discount to students, faculty, staff and alumni at Asheville's best place to shop for secondhand furniture, unique antiques and everything in between.

    Spiritex    
    10% off for students, faculty, and staff

    Services

    Asheville Shutters and Blinds    
    10% off all window treatments for students, faculty, staff, and alumni

    Go Store It LLC
    20% off all storage units at any Go Store It location for staff, faculty, and students

    Junk Recyclers
    10% off purchases for students, faculty, staff and alumni at Asheville's oldest professional, environmentally friendly junk removal service

    Nesting Dolls Realty-Coldwell Banker King    
    $500 rebate to Real Estate buyers and sellers for LR students, faculty, and staff. Lender approval is required. Rebate is made from commissions actually received.

    Online Training Concepts
    15% discount to all faculty, staff, students and alumni. Contact us today for a free consultation.

    Health 

    Acupuncture Integrative Medicine
    20% discount for all services for full year from start date of acupuncture/acu-massage appointments.

    Carolina Holistic Health    
    10% off initial appointment for new clients for students, faculty, and staff

    Positive Transformations    
    10% off a therapy session for Lenoir-Rhyne students, faculty, and staff

    Still Point Wellness    
    10% off first visit for Lenoir-Rhyne students, faculty, and staff

    Weaverville Chiropractic    
    $99 initial visit and consultation (25% off regular price) and $50 for subsequent visits (17% discount) for students, faculty, staff, and alumni

    Entertainment and Recreation

    Lakeview Putt and Play, LLC    
    One adult round of mini golf for $7. Buy one session, get one free virtual reality game.

    Nantahala Outdoor Center
    Code EDU10 for 10% off guided rafting in Bryson City, NC

    Shaolin Kung Fu    
    25% off tuition for students, faculty, and staff

  • Columbia Campus

    Empire Barbell    
    20% off for faculty, staff and students

    Gamble Chiropractic Clinic
    10% off for faculty, staff and students

    Papa John's    
    10% discount for students on personal orders.
    30-50% off for faculty and staff on orders over 5. 
    *Students, faculty and staff must show valid LR ID*