49 minute read
Beer
Southern Tier’s Pumking
Sycamore Brewing’s Pumpkin Latte Blonde
NoDa Brewing’s Gordgeous BEER
Pumpkinheads Unite!
A smashing survey of seasonal brews, including longtime favorites and newbies
BY ANDY SMITH
YOU AND I likely disagree on what is “seasonally appropriate.” I have an agnostic palate: I enjoy piña coladas in December and gobble steaming beef stew in May. To my friends’ and co-workers’ disgust, I’ve been drinking pumpkin beers since late July.
Yes, most of the beers below hit shelves over the summer—because of “seasonal creep,” retailers’ long lead-in time for transitory and holiday products to maximize sales. To seasonal sticklers, people like me are the problem. But it’s like the Halloween section at Target: You’re welcome to keep walking until you feel it’s time to get spooky.
Out of respect for my beloved autumnal allegiants, I saved this pumpkin beer guide for October. Let’s squash this seasonal squabble and enjoy a round:
NODA BREWING’S
GORDGEOUS
THE RECIPE: In every batch of NoDa Brewing’s pumpkin ale, brewers use 50 pounds of pumpkin and 42 pounds of brown sugar. The spice blend includes cloves, whole ginger root, allspice, and cardamom. THE BONA FIDES: Gordgeous isn’t loved just locally. It won a gold medal in the Great American Beer Festival in 2018 and 2020.
SYCAMORE BREWING’S
PUMPKIN LATTE BLONDE
THE RECIPE: Pumpkin Latte Blonde is Sycamore’s answer to the ever-popular Starbucks PSL (Pumpkin Spice Latte). Houseroasted co ee, real vanilla, and spices blend atop a blonde ale base. APT DESCRIPTOR: Sycamore’s 2020 tagline for this beer still makes me giggle: “Did you know that if you say ‘pumpkin latte blonde’ 3X in a row, a girl in yoga pants will appear to tell you what she loves most about fall?”
ARMORED COW BREWING CO.’S
THE OUTLANDER
THE RECIPE: This relative newcomer is gluten free. It’s packed with pumpkin puree, nutmeg, ginger, ground cinnamon, and a “kiss of Madagascar vanilla extract.” The brewery canned it for the rst time this season. ALSO GF: Armored Cow has multiple glutenfree beers. Among them are Miss Rosie, a crisp blonde ale; and the pale ale Serenity Now, with notes of citrus and orange creamsicle. SOUTHERN TIER’S
PUMKING
THE RECIPE: This is an OG among pumpkin beers. The imperial ale, at 8.6% ABV, has a medium-light body with vanilla, allspice, and cinnamon. Southern Tier makes variants that include a canned Nitro version, a cold-brew coffee Pumking, and an imperial stout called Warlock. WHISKEY FAN? Pumking inspired sister company Southern Tier Distilling to create a pumpkin whiskey with the same name, which has “unmistakable aromas of pie spice, buttery cream, pie crust, and culminates with a richness that avored whiskey drinkers expect.”
CATAWBA BREWING CO.’S KING DON PUMPKIN ALE
THE RECIPE: This recipe has roots at Boone’s Cottonwood Brewery, where head brewer Don Richardson rst made the spiced pumpkin ale in 1997. He gave that recipe to Catawba. The contents: ve di erent barley varieties, pumpkin, and spices that include cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, allspice, and ginger. NEW PUMPKID ON THE BLOCK: Catawba’s new Evening Joe Pumpkin Spice Latte debuted in September. Brewers insert a “pumpkin spice latte swirl” into Evening Joe, Catawba’s signature co ee blonde ale.
SOME EXIST IN PLAIN SIGHT: inside a shopping plaza o of a busy thoroughfare or nestled between uptown towers. Others operate on Charlotte’s rural edges, sites not yet claimed for billion-dollar projects. Over the past year, we’ve searched for businesses and landmarks that hide in the city’s shadows; many have humble ocks of dedicated patrons they’ve nurtured for decades. Twenty- ve of them—speakeasies, general Twenty- ve of them—speakeasies, general stores, murals, sneaker shops—make up stores, murals, sneaker shops—make up Charlotte magazine’s rst-ever Great Fall magazine’s rst-ever Great Fall Scavenger Hunt. They demonstrate that our seemingly sedate city is dotted with surprises. You just have to know where to look.
Get a Tea Bomb at Frosted By Melissa
Stop by the Uptown Farmers Market on a Saturday morning and discover just how beautiful a cup of tea can be. Melissa’s sugar-encased tea bombs dissolve in hot water to release food-grade owers, a premium teabag, and edible glitter. Get a lavender-lotus or jasmine-rose bomb to go, or enjoy the tea hot or iced as you shop for local produce and baked goods. @frostedbymelissa
Find One of @paper.paste's Jack Pumpkinhead Pasteups
An enigmatic artist, known monikers being Paper & Paste or Oz, has been putting up wheatpaste prints of L. Frank Baum characters for the past decade. He most o en depicts Jack Pumpkinhead, the Land of Oz character appearing on the Land of Oz character appearing on buildings in NoDa, uptown, and Plaza buildings in NoDa, uptown, and Plaza
Midwood. We haven’t seen a new one in a while, so we checked in via Instagram. Oz con rmed that he’s been on hiatus, but he looks forward to putting up new work forward to putting up new work this fall—thankfully for us, just in this fall—thankfully for us, just in time for our rst-ever scavenger hunt. @paper.paste
Experience a Stuf’d Wa e Cone via Kupkake Kouture
Mobile bakeries with no-contact delivery were the answer to our sugar cravings during the pandemic. Many advertised seasonal specials, gi boxes, and cookie kits on their social media pages to grow their business. With more than 1,000 followers, Kupkake Kouture has a modest followers, Kupkake Kouture has a modest but loyal following, thanks to owner and but loyal following, thanks to owner and head baker Shannon King (who also has head baker Shannon King (who also has a day job at a tech company). Place an a day job at a tech company). Place an order for Dessert Eggrolls, Apple Kobbler, order for Dessert Eggrolls, Apple Kobbler, Cheesekake Stuf’d Apples, Strawberry Cheesekake Stuf’d Apples, Strawberry Kakesicles, Banana Pudding Kups, or her Kakesicles, Banana Pudding Kups, or her signature treat, the Stuf’d Wa e Cone. signature treat, the Stuf’d Wa e Cone. This cupcake-ice cream cone hybrid is This cupcake-ice cream cone hybrid is an edible masterpiece. She’ll meet an edible masterpiece. She’ll meet you to do the hando or deliver you to do the hando or deliver the goods right to your door. Each the goods right to your door. Each order comes wrapped in a bow with order comes wrapped in a bow with a thank-you note from “Lady Kouture.” a thank-you note from “Lady Kouture.” Find her@kupkakekoutureclt, and catch Find her her if you can. her if you can.
Order a Breakfast Platter at Circle G
OK, the skyline emblazoned on Circle G’s Styrofoam cups is outdated by a few decades. But that’s part of its charm: At 66 years old, the joint and its scrumptious breakfast bites are older than most of uptown. Towers rise and fall in Charlotte, but Circle G’s Ribeye Steak and Eggs endure generations of change. Likewise, the slogan on that same cup is evergreen: “Country Cookin’ in the City!” 4818 Rozzelles Ferry Road, 704-399-2931
Dive Into Bootlegging History at Seven Jars Distillery
Frank Ratcli e was a bootlegger during Prohibition who later ran a nightclub, the Friendly City Club (later renamed the Flamingo Club), on West Sixth Street uptown, now the site of Discovery Place. Ratcli e died in 1977, but he always said North Carolina one day would allow small-business owners to distill and sell their own liquor. The day came, and Seven Jars (named a er spirit- lled vessels he’d buried under a family-owned golf course) opened in 2014 in a plain-Jane business park 6 miles northwest of uptown. The four owners are all family—a son, daughter, son-in-law, and grandson of Ratcli e and his wife, Velma, who died in 2013—and they use the distillery as a vehicle to tell the family story, usually in a small presentation room they’ve set up near where they make Seven Jars whiskey, wine, beer, vodka, and rum. 6148 Brookshire Blvd., Ste. A, 704-919-0278
Find the Secret Illuminations on Camp North End’s Dorothy Counts Mural Camp North End’s Dorothy Counts Mural Look Down at Uptown’s New Roo op Mural
Camp North End has a trove of public art from local and international talent, including Fayetteville-born, Atlanta-based painter Fabian Williams. At the site’s Boileryard, you'll nd Williams’ portrait of a woman who might look familiar to Charlotte history bu s. (Hint: Look at her earring.)
Still not sure? OK, that’s Dorothy Counts-Scoggins, known for her famous walk to Harding High School in the mid’50s, captured in one of the civil rights era’s most enduring photographs. The portrait is stunning enough, but Williams also photographs. The portrait is stunning enough, but Williams also used UV paint to create a secret set of hieroglyphics seen only used UV paint to create a secret set of hieroglyphics seen only with black lights. They translate to his name, alongside hers. with black lights. They translate to his name, alongside hers. 300 Camp Road, 980-337-4600
Sneak Away to The Cotton Room
Uptown’s Brevard Court is known for boisterous watch parties as soccer fans pack its pubs on fall weekends. A quiet, cozier spot is closer than you think: There’s a speakeasy-style joint above closer than you think: There’s a speakeasy-style joint above Belfast Mill called The Cotton Room. Much of the space, Belfast Mill called The Cotton Room. Much of the space, from its wooden oors and ra ers to its brick walls, is original to the century-old structure. One tidbit to drop over a drink: The Cotton Room’s name comes from the courtyard’s former life as an open-air cotton market. 144 Brevard Court, Ste. B, 704-333-7160 Last year, Vijay Bhojwani of Binaco Real Estate reached out to artist Alex Duncan, aka DUNC, with an unusual challenge: Paint a 5,360-square-foot canvas that won’t be seen by a majority of passersby.
Binaco owns a few shorter buildings near its in-progress Binaco Tower in near its in-progress Binaco Tower in uptown, and Bhojwani wanted uptown, and Bhojwani wanted DUNC to create a mural on one DUNC to create a mural on one of those roo ops for the viewing of those roo ops for the viewing pleasure of tower residents. The pleasure of tower residents. The result is a collage-like ode to the result is a collage-like ode to the city, with elements of di erent city, with elements of di erent artistic styles and techniques. Like artistic styles and techniques. Like
DUNC’s other work, its symbology is DUNC’s other work, its symbology is intended to be deciphered over time. An intended to be deciphered over time. An example: the way the bird, moon, sun and example: the way the bird, moon, sun and numeral 4 form one of Charlotte’s area numeral 4 form one of Charlotte’s area codes when you focus on that corner of the mural. Binaco Tower residents will certainly have more revelations as they observe it over the years. And don’t worry if you’re not a Binaco resident: Other buildings with a clear view of the mural include Hearst Tower, Bank of America Corporate Center, and The Ivey’s Hotel, among others. 123 E. 5th St.
Grab One O the Wall at Charlotte Cigar Culture
Just what is that tiny brick building at the corner of Tryon and Morehead streets? You’ll know before you enter. A wave of cigar smoke embraces visitors on the entrance walkway, marked by a statue of a medieval knight. Don’t let the guardian fool you, though: Charlotte Cigar Culture’s atmosphere is friendly and far more cozy than a suit of armor, as sta ers like Joel Wortman patiently explain the contents of the boxes that line the club’s walls. A tip: Many of the cigars can be purchased in singles, so create your own sampler pack if you’re new to stogies. The joint’s drink menu and cushy parlors invite customers to stay a while and crack open one of those singles. 105 E. Morehead St., 704-371-4000
Try the ‘Queen City’ at Room 1812
To get inside this speakeasy, you'll rst need to make a new friend. The bar Room 1812 is under the restaurant, and to get the password, you’ll have to nd its private Instagram account and be accepted as a follower. The drinks here are cleverly marked by when they were created, with an abundance of vintage options. Queen City is their Manhattan cocktail, developed in the 1870s as a blend of whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters. 1812 South Blvd., 980-237-0391
Snag a Club Sub at Niko’s Grill
Forget hu ng and pu ng through the concourse to grab a pre ight meal. Grabbing a lunch sub from Niko’s Grill is the play. Easily found on the way to Charlotte Douglas International Airport, the counter-service restaurant is typically full of TSA o cers, airport sta , and other locals in the know. 4948 Airport Center Parkway, 704-394-6520
Say the Password to Unlock BackStage to Unlock BackStage Lounge
Charlotte is home to a few speakeasies now, but the one behind the restaurant SouthBound remains the most delightful to enter. First, look at BackStage’s latest Instagram post and nd the password in the caption. Then enter the Modern Classics Grooming Lounge and head to the mural lled hallway behind it. This passageway leads to a phone booth, which you’ll pick up and answer a sta er who asks, “Password?”
As you enter, you’ll notice how the vibe is nothing like that of its sister concept, SouthBound. The neon lights, decor, and rock-star portraits make the spot feel like Hard Rock Café’s younger, self-aware cousin. Aside from the robust cocktail program, a favorite feature is the naming system for the private booths. Each is marked with the name of a Charlotte venue no longer open, like The Pterodactyl Club and The Double Door Inn. (Well, except for Amos’ Southend, which has its own booth but returned to the scene a er BackStage opened.) 2433 South Blvd., 704-705-8447
Eat the City’s Best Birria Tacos at Best Birria Tacos at Maria’s Restaurant Maria’s Restaurant
Longtime Charlotteans rst knew Maria's Mexican Restaurant as one of several El Cancun locations. In 2008, Maria Sorto, a veteran of local Mexican restaurants, purchased that brand’s South Boulevard location and added a few dishes from her native El Salvador to the mix. More recently, the fan favorite is her quesabirria, a quesadilla-taco hybrid that soared in popularity over the past year thanks to TikTok. Quesabirria combines melted cheese, birria (tender beef stew slow-cooked for eight hours), and a beef broth for dipping. Sorto, always innovating the menu, o ers birria variations that include a burrito, ramen, loaded french fries, and pizza (!). 5234 South Blvd., 704-525-5075
Find the Business Park Overtaken By Murals
The Talking Walls festival typically adds new paint to neighborhoods around uptown. It switched things up in 2020: Over a single weekend last October, a new roster of artists transformed a business park called ThExchange, o Tyvola Road. The murals, from Killamari, Kathryn Crawford, George F. Baker III, Irisol Gonzalez, Kalin Devone, Kat Sánchez Stand eld, Cheeks, and Mario Daniel, are some of the biggest and loudest public artworks in the city. Finding it just takes a bit of work. 5200 77 Center Drive
Grab a Stack at The Book Rack
Used bookstores in Charlotte are tragically scarce (R.I.P., The Last Word), but sometimes you need an inexpensive book now. Explore new, used, and unexpected titles at The Book Rack, a xture in Pineville for 26 years. And if you can’t wait to launch into your newest novel, cozy up a couple of doors down at Musashi to enjoy your story with a side of sushi. 10110 Johnston Road, Ste. 5, 704-544-8006
Down Some Jambalaya at Cajun Yard Dog
Louisiana-themed restaurants outside the Pelican State are a dicey bet; some haven’t grasped that Cajun and Creole cuisines involve more than blackening random food in a skillet and dousing the result in Tabasco. This humble, beloved joint in The Arboretum Shopping Center gets it right with rich roux, crisp fried chicken, NOLAroux, crisp fried chicken, NOLAworthy red beans and rice, and worthy red beans and rice, and a jambalaya that’d be right at home on the bayou. We opted for the chicken and seafood version, with shrimp, andouille, version, with shrimp, andouille, craw sh, shallots sprinkled on top, and a crescent of mussels, still in their shells, arranged along the edge of the plate. 8036 Providence Road, Ste. 900, 704-752-1750
Sell Your Soul for a PBR at Bart's Mart
From the outside, Bart’s Mart doesn’t look like a repository of souls. But step inside this bar and bottle shop, which opened in the Eastway Crossing shopping center during the pandemic, and look up: Certi cates taped to the ceiling reveal that plenty of patrons have bartered their eternal souls for a dra PBR (a $3 value). Then look around some more. The decor—gra ti and broken skate decks—makes for a hip hangout, and the bar, lounge area, and indoor and outdoor tables provide plenty of space to enjoy the wines and beers on o er. The shop’s friendly service, thoughtful skateboard parking, and mission to support local farm animal rescues should convince you that these souls are in good hands. 3042 Eastway Drive, 980-406-3635
Find Elizabeth’s Flower-Covered Home
Until last May, this boxy, beige two-story home in Elizabeth was easy to miss behind the overgrown trees and shrubs on its narrow lot. The homeowners hired local artist Rosalia Torres-Weiner, whose bold murals have appeared at Camp North End, Eastway, and other neighborhoods, to paint the exterior with a burst of colorful owers. Along with artists Felicia Sutton and Edith Covarrubias, TorresWeiner transformed the 1910 home into a community work of art. If you look closely, you’ll see a black-and-white hummingbird, a recurring symbol in Torres-Weiner’s work, which represents “the wise voices” of our ancestors who guide us. The mural, titled “Nicole’s Garden,” is now part of Elizabeth’s ArtWalk tour, and you can’t miss it when you stroll down Eighth Street.
Pick Up, Oh, Anything at Davis General Store
No one item could convey the range of products this business sells in its foursquare brick building. It’s a general store, a er all, retail for farm and railroad workers when it opened in the Cro community in 1908 and much the same in the age of light rail and Apple Pay. Look here: Pitchforks and weed cutters hang from the ceiling. There: bottles of Blenheim Ginger Ale, $10 for a six-pack. Over here: bags of cottonseed meal. Around the corner: 25-ounce bottles of Amish Harvest brand Herbal Tonic (“Sipping Vinegar Blend”). Its formal name is the S.W. & C.S. Davis General Store; Silas Davis, 77, S.W.’s grandson and C.S.’s great-nephew, runs the place, ringing up customers on a century-old cash register that, like so much here, still works. “Hey,” Silas yells to a customer foraging for treasure, “you ndin’ anything you can’t do without?” 8940 Old Statesville Road, 704-596-2022
the traditional time for North Carolinians to ock to sh camps for inexpensive fried seafood suppers. The lunchtime “everyday special” at Harbor Inn is a platter piled high with baby shrimp, fried tilapia, hush puppies, a stu ed clam, salad or slaw, and a side—all for $9.50.
Satisfy Your Fish Camp Friday Cravings at Harbor Inn Seafood
You’d expect this Doriccolumned structure with a broad front porch and seasidekitsch decor (life preserver and sailboat wall art, seagulls painted on a sky-blue ceiling) to face the Atlantic in a place like Nags Head, not hide in one corner of a business park in University City. But Harbor Inn, which opened in 2004, consistently attracts regulars—especially on Friday nights, the traditional time for North Carolinians to ock to sh camps for inexpensive fried seafood suppers. The lunchtime “everyday special” at Harbor Inn is a platter piled high with baby shrimp, fried tilapia, hush puppies, a stu ed clam, salad or slaw, and a side—all for $9.50. 8805 University East Drive, 704-494-8901
Shop at a Hip and Hidden Shoe Store: Hidden Shoe Store: Neckbreakerz
Sneakers have always been popular—they were exempted from World War II rubber rations a er widespread protest—but Michael Jordan’s historic 1984 Nike endorsement kicked o a modern obsession with athletic shoes. Find a gallery of streetwise styles at Neckbreakerz, which resells pristine sneakers along with apparel from brands like Supreme and The Hundreds. Most sneakerheads keep their investments in the box, safe from scu s, but if you wear yours, beware: People will whip their heads around so fast to check out your fresh kicks, they just might break their necks. 5301 E. Independence Blvd., 980-498-6574
Grab a Slice at Why Not Pizza ’Cause Why Not
Here’s a tasty take: Some of the best New York-style pizza in Charlotte is found in a shopping plaza on W.T. Harris Boulevard. Why Not Pizza slings gloriously large slices that require a few napkins for grease blotting. The best part of Why Not Pizza’s name? It answers that eternal question: “What should we do for dinner tonight?” 7008 E. W.T. Harris Blvd., 704-536-0891
Pull Over for Pub Grub at Big Al’s
Big Al's Pub & Grubberia is where fried pickles count as a vegetable and Tuesday night regulars drink $2.50 Bud Lights at the bar. The self-proclaimed “local gathering place with a ridiculous menu” sits behind the Rite Aid at the corner of Harrisburg and Albemarle roads. Pull over for a heaping basket of wings and a plate of tater tot nachos, or settle in with a meatball sub, barbecue chicken pizza, or mammoth burger with a side of deep-fried mac and cheese. Football and NASCAR paraphernalia clutters the walls, and metal plaques say things like, “Alcohol: Because no good story has ever started with a salad.” Don’t forget to visit the toy soldier claw machine before you go. 9306 Albemarle Road, 704-567-2333 9306 Albemarle Road, 704-567-2333
Score Some Buns at Honey Buns Cafeteria at Honey Buns Cafeteria
The Chinese buns (baos) at Honey Buns Cafeteria have no social media presence and don’t get much buzz among local food writers and bloggers, yet they sell out all. the. time. The in crowd knows: Hit the counter inside the Super G Mart before noon (they open at 10:30 a.m.) to score a Styrofoam box full of warm, airy, tennis ball-sized buns. They come with sweet and savory llings like Korean pork, BBQ pork, red bean, taro, and custard; eat them with a fork and knife if you like, or just use your hands. Each bun costs between $1 and $3, so it’s hard to spend more than $20 if you order a few of each avor. 7323 E. Independence Blvd., 704-904-4021
Track Down the Horse Trailer-Turned-Espresso Bar: Wildroots Co ee
Here’s a business that’s always on the move but worth chasing down. Wildroots Co ee, formerly called Coordinates Co ee, started popping up around Charlotte in 2019. Initially, the buzz focused on its Instagrammable presentation: The mobile espresso bar inhabits a converted horse trailer, and drinks can be served in pouches adorned with messages like “VOTE” and “It Takes a Village.” Most importantly, the drinks—like the popular lavender vanilla latte—are as high-quality as the look. In August, owner Jasmine Koch told us she’s working on the lineup of fall avors, so we’ll keep our eyes on their social media channels to see where these wild roots spread next. @wildrootsco ee
Kannapolis Resurrected
The once-‘dead’ mill town has come back to life with a revitalization strategy similar to Durham’s. Is it a new antidote to Charlotte’s skyrocketing real estate prices?
By JEN TOTA McGIVNEY
Photographs by TRAVIS DOVE
Apartments are springing up in Kannapolis, where residents can enjoy the features of a revitalized downtown.
Atrium Health Ballpark, home of the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers, opened last year next to the N.C. Research Campus (background). On days when the team isn’t playing, the stadium is open as a public park, with a walking track and splash pad.
IMAGINE THE COST TO LIVE in a Charlotte neighborhood where you could walk to a grocery store, a brewery, a park, a movie theater, even an Amtrak station—all within a few blocks.
Hard to imagine. That place doesn’t exist here.
Know where it does? Downtown Kannapolis. And for Charlotteans, the costs there are hard to imagine. There, in the new Vida mixed-use district, apartment rents begin at $955, $500 less than the average studio apartment in Charlotte. Nearby homes list for less than $200,000, about half of Charlotte’s average home price.
For nearly two decades, this town went quiet a er its mill closed. But now, the downtown’s ambitious revitalization compels a question that would’ve seemed laughable ve years ago but seems reasonable today: Could Kannapolis exert a gravitational pull strong enough to make it one of Charlotte’s a ordable alternatives?
IT’S A THURSDAY EVENING IN JUNE—no holiday, no special occasion—but each corner of tiny downtown Kannapolis hosts a crowd. A steady stream of fans enters Atrium Health Ballpark to watch the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers defeat the Carolina Mudcats on Thirsty Thursday. Several hundred people pack Veterans Park with camp chairs and picnic blankets for a free concert by the Tim Clark Band. The scent of buttered popcorn stretches a block beyond the newly renovated Gem Theatre, where families watch the premiere of Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway. Every table is lled in front of Old Armor Beer Company on West Avenue.
All of this happens within a third of a mile.
If you came here ve years ago, downtown would be quiet—“dead,” according to many who lived here. If you came here two years ago, the entire downtown would’ve been fenced o and shuttered. Yet even this June evening is a shadow of the town’s former glory, when, three times a day, shi changes at the mill crowded so many people into downtown, you could barely maneuver through it.
But now, downtown Kannapolis is coming back to life.
The revitalization project comes at a crucial time. As surging real estate prices force more people out of walkable neighborhoods in Charlotte—and in New York and California and Illinois, for that matter—they seek livable, affordable downtowns elsewhere. As remote work severs daily commutes, revived Carolina mill towns like Kannapolis hope to lure new residents. It’s a place that compels a visitor to check Zillow and wonder, “Could I?”
“When people used to talk about Kannapolis, they used to turn their nose up and not have much interest in living here, in hanging out,” says Meredith Little, who grew up in nearby Mount Pleasant and once shared that opinion. “And right now, everyone wants to come to Kannapolis. People are wanting to buy in Kannapolis.”
Little laughs as she speaks, as surprised as anyone at the transformation of the city—especially now that she’s a business owner there. Last fall, she and her two sisters opened 3 jem’s boutique, a trendy women’s clothing and accessory shop, in downtown. Kannapolis has proved Little wrong, but her doubled pro ts soothe the sting.
“These downtowns (like Kannapolis) are small, but they were industrial powerhouses in their day, and so you have that urban fabric you can build on,” says Chuck McShane, director of market analytics for the Carolinas at CoStar Group and a contributor to this magazine. “Places like Kannapolis, places like Salisbury, and places like Albemarle—places that were just outside the commuting distance from major urban centers—I think there’s going to be a big interest in those places going forward. Places like Kannapolis have a big opportunity to position themselves.”
Meredith Little was initially skeptical about Kannapolis’ comeback. But she and her two sisters opened 3 jem’s boutique downtown last fall. STOP ME IF YOU’VE HEARD THIS BEFORE. A North Carolina town nds early 20th-century prosperity in textiles—then, when industry moves overseas, faces crises of economy and identity. To survive into the 21st century, it embarks on public-private partnerships that lure new industries and build attractions to entice residents to settle down and visitors to spend up. Old mills house mixed-use developments. Up goes a minor-league ballpark that anchors a district of new shops and restaurants. Rebranding begins.
North Carolinians have heard this story plenty. It’s Charlotte’s story, and Gastonia’s, and Durham’s, and High Point’s.
It’s Kannapolis’, too. But here, the story introduces a new angle. The thing that hastened its downfall—downtown Kannapolis’ ownership by one person—propels its resurgence. Single ownership of a city means interconnected fortunes of those within it. Good times are very good; bad times are disastrous. But this time, the sole owner is using that angle to the city’s advantage: Renovate an entire downtown all at once, set a strategic course, then end single ownership forever.
This used to be a company town. James William Cannon, founder of Cannon Mills, owned the entire town of Kannapolis, starting in 1905. Workers rented houses Cannon owned. They borrowed books at the town library, exercised at the YMCA, took their kids to schools, and prayed at churches—all owned by Cannon. He owned the police, roads, and water and sewage systems. Kannapolis had no mayor or council. Just Cannon, and then his son, Charles, who took over in 1921. It was the country’s largest unincorporated town.
Look at it generously, and the Cannons’ goal was to create a town that met the personal and professional needs of healthy, happy employees. Look at it cynically, and the intention seems like tight workforce control. As older residents recall the Cannon days of cheap rent, wellmaintained homes, and a thriving neighborhood, there’s argument for the former. As Charles Cannon twice called the National Guard to quell unionization e orts, there’s argument for the latter, too.
“It worked both ways. (The Cannon family) built the hospital, they built the schools, they did a lot of good … but then again, you were sort of owned by them, too,” says Carla Clay, 74, who grew up in Kannapolis. “The uptown jail was about as big as Mayberry’s. There was really no crime. If you worked in the mill and you lived in a mill house, and if you got in trouble, they would make you leave the house and you would lose your job.”
For decades, Cannon Mills seemed too big to fail. In the early 20th century, it was the world’s largest producer of sheets and towels. But it did fail, and when it did, the fates of the mill, city, and residents intertwined.
In 1982, David Murdock—a billionaire from California— bought the struggling Cannon Mills along with all of Kannapolis. Kannapolis incorporated as a city two years later. In 2003, the mill shut down, and 4,340 workers lost their jobs in one day. Downtown storefronts went dark as Murdock focused on a new venture: the $1.5 billion North Carolina Research Campus, housed in large universitystyle buildings that tower where the mill once stood.
The research in these buildings revolves around a single concept: People can live longer if they eat the right plants, and enough of them. There, scientists have devised shelf-stable fruit compounds that can nourish people in developing countries or amid natural disasters, as well as astronauts and soldiers on extended missions; they’re learning to make crops resistant to pests and disease with genetics, not pesticides. Murdock began his quest to extend life span through vegetables and fruits when his wife, Gabriele, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1983. Even though he didn’t nd an answer before she died two years later at age 43, his mission continues in these buildings.
But the campus has had recruiting problems. “We were told we couldn’t get anybody to come because the downtown is dead,” says Kannapolis Mayor Darrell Hinnant. He and the city manager approached Murdock with a plan. “We said, ‘Well, you know, something has to happen with downtown, so if you’re not going to do anything, why don’t you sell it to us, and let us do something with it?”
In 2015, the City of Kannapolis bought 46 acres of downtown. Now, it’s selling downtown buildings and lots, one by one. For the rst time, downtown Kannapolis doesn’t have a single owner. But between buying the downtown and selling it, the City of Kannapolis needed a vision to guide what would happen next.
Kannapolis needed two things for a successful revitalization project. First, it needed residents to raise their own taxes to pay for big changes in their own downtown. No easy thing, especially in a small, conservative city rooted in its history. Next, the project needed to compel millennials and Gen Zers—families, recent grads, and entrepreneurs—to nd Kannapolis cool enough to move there and become its new taxpaying residents and business owners. No easy thing, especially in a small, conservative city rooted in its history.
Five years ago, this stretch of West Avenue (above and below) was lifeless. Now it’s the most prominent example of the city’s transformation.
A new linear park along West Avenue adjoins renovated storefronts (above) that independent businesses, like this bakery (right), have occupied.
Live music on the steps of First Presbyterian Church.
On Aug. 7, country singer Jo Dee Messina headlined a free concert at Village Park with fireworks.
Hinnant added a third goal: Make Kannapolis longtime residents proud. He wanted Mayor Darrell to stick by the people who had stuck Hinnant. by Kannapolis through Cannon, through Murdock, and now, through its reinvention. He wanted the new downtown to be a tribute to old days.
He had a model for this lo y plan: Durham. The City of Kannapolis hired the same group that ushered Durham from a ghost town that lost its textile and tobacco jobs to a downtown that tops lists of best places to live for both recent grads and retirees. The Development Finance Initiative at University of North Carolina School of Government (DFI) came to help Kannapolis replicate the model.
Although the law required only one public hearing to approve the city’s investment, Hinnant knew the public would need more time and information. The city held three public hearings and more than 20 community meetings about the tax hike that would fund the project. The mayor and council shared concept images from DFI. They promised that a three-block section would maintain its original exteriors and oak trees to ensure that Kannapolis still felt like Kannapolis. They pledged to avoid gentri cation by requiring nearby a ordable housing at below-market rates; they secured funding from the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency to improve older homes—by adding things like handicapped-accessible ramps, new hot water heaters, and new roofs—so cashstrapped residents could continue to live there.
“It’s important for us as a community to make sure that all this growth and reimagining doesn’t gentrify our community,” Hinnant says. “It would be tragic for us to have all this growth, and all of a sudden, a segment of our community has to move out because they can’t a ord to live in it. So part of my strategy and my commitment to the entire community is: This has to be good for everybody.”
The City Council approved the tax hike in June 2015.
The rst goal was achieved. Two more to go.
EVEN THOUGH THE MODEL resembles that of Durham, High Point, and others, Kannapolis had a distinct advantage: Buying an entire downtown meant the city could tear up roads all at once to improve infrastructure—water, sewer, ber cable—and renovate streetscapes without disturbing existing businesses. For nearly two years, chain-link fencing blocked all of downtown amid construction. Then, on Oct. 10, 2019, the fences came down.
“When we announced that we were going to take the fences down, there were 2,500 people anxious to go inside the fence to see what was happening,” Hinnant says. “And I’ll tell you, the biggest comment I heard was, ‘Wow, I couldn’t believe it was going to be this.’”
The biggest change was a new linear park that runs along West Avenue. Instagram-ready seating arrange-
—KANNAPOLIS MAYOR DARRELL HINNANT
ments—swings, Adirondack chairs, benches—o er places to gather amid pop music that plays from speakers hidden in the landscaping. On one side of the park are the original, renovated storefronts, now occupied by independent businesses: a co ee shop, ice cream shop, clothing boutiques, bakery. On the other side of the park is the new Cannon Ballers stadium, voted Ballpark Digest’s best Low-A minor league stadium, which has a playground, splash pad, and walking paths the community can use when games aren’t being held. Around the corner, the Gem Theatre—the circa-1936 movie theater—has a marquee that’s lit up once again.
Around the time of the downtown unveiling, Little, 32, and her two sisters were looking for a new location for their boutique. They were committed to nding a location that all three sisters would like—a nice idea in theory but, nearly three years into their search, one that seemed impossible in practice.
“We kept hearing about up-and-coming Kannapolis and that we needed to come out there and look. So we went, back when nothing was open but the brewery and stadium,” Little says. “We knew immediately. We looked at each other and said, ‘This is it. This is what we’ve been waiting for.’”
Their visit in 2020 was intended to be a scouting trip, but the three women decided on the location that day. “We literally said, ‘Sign us up right now. Don’t you dare give this away.’”
The Gem Theatre, which remains open as it undergoes its own renovations, has been a Kannapolis landmark since 1936.
Their 3 jem’s boutique opened in Kannapolis on Black Friday. Business has since doubled, foot tra c is “booming,” and they’re upfitting the basement to store more merchandise to meet customer demand. They still run their Salisbury boutique as well, but some of their regular customers in Salisbury now drive past that store to visit the Kannapolis shop, where they can also go to the movie theater, the popcorn store, the ballpark. Little says that they see groups of high school girlfriends and 30-something moms with small kids in tow coming not just to shop but to make a day of it.
Check o goal two: Make young people dig downtown Kannapolis.
AS OF JUNE, the downtown revitalization project is 40% complete, with plans in place for most of the remainder. Soon, a hotel will rise beside the ballpark. The city’s also sold land to developers who will create high-end townhouses and condos— two projects expected to add more than $50 million in private investment.
“All of the sales that we have made so far have been sold to private companies, and they are investing their money into downtown,” Hinnant says. “And so the state loves that because that’s private investment bringing wealth and investment into our state and into our community.”
The city’s next challenge will be luring companies to set up locations in or near downtown, allowing o ce space to catch up with residential and retail. It seems a precarious balance without that element, as uptown is still a 30-mile trip down I-85, and tra c’s getting no easier. But the possibility of rail travel between the two down-
The Cannon family towns—as Charlotte relocates its Amtrak “did a lot of good” for station uptown over the next few years—Kannapolis, says Carla Clay (above), but it’s means that someone living in downtown taken Kannapolis nearly Kannapolis could enjoy a car-free commute two decades to recover to uptown Charlotte within 35 minutes. from the 2003 closing of Cannon Mills. Now, Clay marvels at the changes, Although it’s the most recent addition to the hub-and-spoke model of development like a storefront under in the Charlotte region, Kannapolis wasn’t renovation on West Avenue (below). the rst. And likely won’t be the last. “Now that the Charlotte region is growing outward, I think there are a lot of opportunities for those small-town downtowns to be really interesting places for new suburban dwellers,” says McShane, citing Rock Hill as another example. But what do older, longtime dwellers think of Kannapolis’ transformation? Talking with seniors downtown, the reaction to the changes was universally positive. Clay agrees; despite her wariness about the pace of changes to come, she believes that the improvements to downtown were as much a return to the old days as the start of new ones. Once again, she sees kids line up at the Gem, and she and her friends take walks around the city. Last spring, as Hinnant enjoyed one of the season’s rst Cannon Ballers games, he noticed a 92-year-old native Kannapolis resident with his friends. The mayor asked the man what he thought of the changes to his hometown, and nervously awaited his answer. “He told me, ‘I didn’t think I’d live long enough to see this,’” Hinnant says. “It brings tears to my eyes that he’s so happy.” Goal three. Check.
JEN TOTA MCGIVNEY is a Charlotte writer who has written for SUCCESS Magazine, Our State, and Southern Living. Reach her at jennifer.mcgivney@gmail.com or on Twitter, @jen_mcgivney.
Time to get away for a while! The destinations on the following pages will provide the perfect escape.
SEA ISLAND: SO MANY REASONS TO VISIT THIS 5-STAR RETREAT
As a private beach resort, Sea Island’s beautiful setting is surrounded by ocean, river and marshes, providing the backdrop for an exceptional array of outdoor activities – and the ultimate getaway for travelers. The only resort in the world to receive four Forbes Five-Star awards for 13 consecutive years, Sea Island is an extraordinary destination for spending time with family and friends and for executive retreats and meetings (world leaders gathered here for a previous G8 Summit).
Located on the southeastern coast of Georgia, Sea Island features mild year-round temperatures, five miles of private beach, a Beach Club with three pools (there are seven in all at the resort), tennis center, Yacht Club, Shooting School, and children’s programs, as well as three championship golf courses, including Seaside and Plantation, home of the PGA TOUR’s RSM Classic. Sea Island offers over 90 outdoor activities including fishing, boating, sailing, paddle boarding and an abundance of nature-oriented experiences, such as dolphin boat tours, falconry, and up-close visits with owls and raptors. Including a new and highly popular bowling alley and pub, dining options range from Forbes FiveStar to casual, most of which offer outdoor seating.
Accommodation options include 265 rooms and suites at The Cloister, on Sea Island, and 43 rooms and suites and seven cottages at The Lodge, nestled between the Seaside and Plantation golf courses on St. Simons Island. In addition, over 140 cottages are available on Sea Island, ranging from two to eight bedrooms, many with pools, offering the flexibility of a private home while being close to amenities and the beach. The Inn, on nearby St. Simons Island, offers casual accommodations in a select-service setting.
In addition to captivating experiences, settings and facilities, Sea Island has been known for generations for providing genuine Southern hospitality to its guests. Sea Island’s Quarter Century Club, which honors team members who have worked in the company 25 years or more, consists of over 100 team members with multiple new inductees in 2022.
To learn more, visit Seaisland.com.
SEA ISLAND Plan your trip at seaisland.com or call 66-526-7442
ONE SWELL HOLIDAY
Welcome to the Crystal Coast, where you’ll discover flurries of holiday adventures across 5 miles of pristine North Carolina shoreline. This incredible beach destination is made up of several small towns, all offering their own ta e on Crystal Coast fun. rom sportfishing charters in Morehead City to delighting in sensational cuisine while overloo ing waterfront views in Beaufort, the possibilities for pure holiday oy are endless. verywhere you loo on The Crystal Coast, you’ll find a wealth of incredible vacation properties that will ma e this season extraspecial for you and your loved ones. hether it’s a charming beachside cottage with a fully furnished outdoor itchen or a luxurious sound-side hideaway with easy access to the ocean, our special seasonal offers will ma e your dream holiday a reality. Don’t let these fantastic deals pass you by. rom everyone on the Crystal Coast, have a very happy holiday season! THE CRYSTAL COAST See special deals on lodgings at bookthecoast.com
Crystal Coast Tourism_OCT.indd 1 ’tis the season
BUY ONE, GIVE ONE FREE
8/26/21 3:05 PM
LIMITED TIME OFFER!
Treat yourself to a one-year (12 issues) subscription and give another to a friend as a holiday gi … both for ONLY $19.95!
Redeem this limited time o er at charlottemagazine.com/subscribe
CCS is a greater Charlotte area private Christian school serving almost 1,100 students in Grades K-12. We offer an excellent education built on biblical truth, which e uips students to refl ect Christ to the world.
Students participate in a challenging college preparatory curriculum taught through the lens of a biblical worldview. We are a community in which academic excellence, artistic expression and athletic distinction are marked by intentional discipleship. We partner with Christian parents to nurture and challenge the potential of each student.
Quick Facts:
• STEM: Programming for all grades; Award-winning High School International Space Station Team • Athletics: 27 Middle/High School Athletic Teams, Collegiate Athletic
Signings, State Championships • Arts: Elementary, Middle and High School Musicals, Visual Art, Digital
Art, Theatre, Choir, Band & Dance • Missions: Students serve communities locally and internationally
Join us for an Admissions Open House or tour this Fall and discover Our Story! Visit carmelchristian.org and click on Start Here under Admissions. Now Accepting applications for the 2022-2023 school year.
Tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and His might and the wonders that He has done. Psalm 78:4
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Charlotte Latin School
Choosing the best school community for your children is a critical decision.
We all want a school with dedicated teachers who bring learning to life and stretch our children’s minds to achieve their full potential. At Latin, crafting an education that is individualized and personal is important to our faculty. We want our students to grow up with strong character and to be confident leaders. Leadership, honor, work ethic, friendship, teamwork, inclusivity, empathy, and compassion are taught not only in the classroom, but also on the athletic field, the stage, and in clubs and organizations.
Charlotte Latin is a community that is intentionally designed to capture every teachable moment as each year builds on the next, pedagogically and personally. Our 128 contiguous acres provide a setting with plenty of space for children to explore, while state-of-the art facilities like our new Inlustrate Orbem Building, world-class Horne Performing Arts Center, nationally-known ab ab, Bec Student Activities Center, eight athletic fields, an outdoor challenge course, and Lake Latin, provide space for children that enhances their educational setting.
Charlotte Latin School has more than 1,500 students. Kindergarten, sixth grade, and ninth grade are the primary entrance points. 1145 Pineville-Matthews Road Matthews, NC 28105 704-849-9723, #2 carmelchristian.org
8/27/21 10:35 AM
Trinity Episcopal School
Creating scholars, nurturing spirituality and embracing diversity are the cornerstones of Trinity Episcopal School - the only K-8 independent school in Uptown Charlotte. Our talented, diverse, and dedicated educators engage each student in ways that develop creative problem solving, critical thinking, and collaborative skills. Using what are often called “the longest hallways in Charlotte,” Trinity has the distinct advantage of an extended campus that includes center city destinations such as ImaginOn, Discovery Place, and the Mint Museum. Our school community nurtures spirituality through the reason, acceptance, and service found within the Episcopal tradition. Service-learning partnerships at every grade level with local community organizations opens children’s eyes to the broader world, and develops service as a habit of the heart. We embrace the richness of diversity by encouraging students to be socially-conscious and civically-engaged ambassadors of grace, honor and respect for others. We instill honor through high expectations for responsibility, respect, kindness and integrity, all found in our Honor Code. The powerful combination of creating scholars, nurturing spirituality, and embracing diversity enables us to inspire, develop and send forth the future leaders of tomorrow.
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Charlotte Country Day School
Ready. For. Anything.
Ready to explore. Ready to create. Ready for whatever life has in store for me. Country Day Ready.
Charlotte Country Day School is preparing the world’s next generation of leaders, thinkers, and doers. From junior kindergarten to our rigorous Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses, our exceptional faculty incorporates the newest and most sophisticated technologies to teach an innovative and integrated curriculum.
Since 1941 our mission has been to introduce young learners to the world of ideas. Our students learn to explore a variety of interests and develop lifelong relationships, in an environment that embraces each individual child. ere, you’ll find a profound commitment to lifelong learning, hands-on experiences, individualized attention, and a caring, inclusive community. ou’ll find teachers, coaches, administrators, and advisors wor ing in close partnership. Most importantly, you’ll find a dynamic educational experience that cultivates our student’s intellectual, social, physical, emotional, and creative qualities.
Come experience how Country Day can help prepare your child to succeed in a world none of us can yet imagine. Call our team or visit our website for visit opportunities.
8/26/21 3:25 PM
Charlotte Preparatory School
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE & INNOVATION IN EDUCATION
At Charlotte Prep, our PreK-8th grade model and intentional size provide a community where children receive an outstanding education in a nurturing environment. Individual intellectual, physical, and emotional growth are genuinely valued.
Our Four Pillars: Respect, Courage, Integrity, and Perseverance, guide our daily routine. We develop self-confi dent leaders who model creative problem-solving skills and can lead others with kindness and confi dence.
Our curriculum and engaging learning philosophy invite students to stretch their minds, while our environment allows our students to harness the power of childhood.
A few Charlotte Prep facts:
• 40 of our students are from diverse bac grounds, 4 countries are represented • 4 of students ualifi ed for u eTip over the last decade • 8:1 student to faculty ratio • 0 high school pressures in our Pre-K-8th Grade environment We are #OnePrep, and we invite you to join us for a Virtual Information Session. Please contact us at admissions@charlotteprep.org.
Palisades Episcopal School
Celebrating 15 years of joyful learning!
Palisades Episcopal School (PES) is an accredited independent school honoring Christ and committed to providing a classical education challenging the mind, body and spirit. An Episcopal school that welcomes students and families from all faith perspectives, PES serves students from both North and South Carolina in Junior Kindergarten – 8th grade on a nine-acre campus in Southwest Mecklenburg County.
At P S, children find real oy in learning through hands-on opportunities for integrated study of scientific, cultural, historical, and literary investigations. ith mastery of s ills as the goal rather than ust memori ation of facts, PES students are provided time to think, discuss, process, and apply their knowledge, which in turn promotes intellectual curiosity and creates lifelong learners. Intimate class si es and low teacher-student ratios allow for differentiated instruction across every grade. Service integration helps students develop citi enship s ills and fosters values of integrity, courage, responsibility, compassion, and hard work. PES students graduate knowing how to connect their heads to their hearts and are academically prepared for high school and beyond.
Bus Service – Equestrian – Performing Arts – Athletics
13120 Grand Palisades Parkway Charlotte, NC 28278 704-583-1825 pescharlotte.org
Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools
Enrolling for PreK-12
Each day, we help our students develop a strong foundation of Catholic values through prayer, study, and outreach. Helping students see the value in a life of faith and service means they will carry these principles with them in their academic pursuits and throughout their lives. Our rigorous and challenging curriculum is taught by top-notch faculty who use cutting-edge technology to ensure students are prepared to meet a progressive future.
Each MACS school engages in grade-level and school-wide service learning projects throughout the year.
High school students travel on mission trips domestically and abroad to help serve needy communities and spread the good news.
Middle and elementary school students collect and donate necessities for needy families and charities throughout the year.
Charlotte Catholic | Holy Trinity | St. Gabriel | St. Patrick | St. Ann | Christ the King St. Matthew | St. Mark | Our Lady of Assumption 1123 S. Church Street Charlotte, NC 28203 704-370-3273 discovermacs.org
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FREE OUTDOOR EVENT!* SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2021
TPC PIPER GLEN, 4300 Piper Glen Dr.
(event will take place on the lawn adjacent to the clubhouse) 10 AM - 1 PM
Charlotte Parent will host its annual School Fair (in person!) on the clubhouse lawn of the beautiful TPC Piper Glen golf club in South Charlotte. Representatives from private, public and charter schools in the Charlotte/ South Charlotte area (extending from Uptown through Rock Hill) as well as area boarding schools will join the event. Schools grades range from Pre-K – Grade 12. Join us (it’s FREE) and speak directly with school representatives to get your questions answered. Entertainment and goodies will be provided for children to make it a fun family outing for the whole crew.
