Joseph S. "Joe" Koury was the most prolific developer in Greensboro's history. During his 50 year career Koury built more than 8,000 homes in 14 residential neighborhoods, seven shopping malls and strip centers, eight major office buildings, hotels and the famous Joseph S. Koury Convention Center. He was a man of unparalleled vision who worked tirelessly without fanfare to see his visions become reality.

Four Seasons Town Centre on High Point Road is one of these visions. In the late 50's, Koury foresaw the growth of suburbia and started accumulating the land he would need to develop the large regional mall that would be close to where people lived. He waited until the time was right and built a center that changed the way Greensboro shopped. When the mall opened in 1974 it spawned an entire commercial area of retail, restaurants and services in the city's southwest that few could have imagined.

Today the Joseph S. Koury Convention Center, on the corner of High Point and Pinecroft Roads off I-40 just northwest of the mall, is another of Koury's visions that created a new reality for the entire Piedmont Triad. In the 80's he added a tower and first-class meeting space to his roadside Holiday Inn, giving Greensboro a convention center large enough to attract regional meetings and conventions. As companies and associations discovered Greensboro because of the Convention Center, the community-wide economic impact of their business soared. The Convention Center also put Greensboro "on the map" largely through Koury's investment in advertising to the meetings and conventions trade. Today the complex of convention center and hotel now flies the Sheraton flag and is still considered the largest one between Washington, D.C. and Atlanta, bringing thousands of delegates to the Triad every year.

The crown jewel of Koury's accomplishments is Grandover Conference Center and Resort which rivals the most exclusive golf resorts in the country. Grandover has two championship golf courses, an elegant spa, million dollar homes, corporate headquarters such as LADD furniture and the Atlantic Coast Conference as well as the luxury hotel and conference center. The resort creates a new exciting image of Greensboro for I-85 travelers.

Personally, Koury was a true pioneer who believed in his vision and applied the highest standards of quality to the facilities he developed and the spirit in which he built them. He anticipated market demand, even created it, and forged ahead with courage. Joseph S. Koury was a true entrepreneurial champion.