By Rosanny Crumpton
The next time you’re looking for food that will excite your taste palate, try one or more of these notable and, in some cases, new eating spots.
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Black-Owned Restaurants to Watch in Charlotte
Hippin Hops Brewery CEO, Clarence Boston
While Hippin’ Hops doesn’t focus on sour beers, they are excited to bring some of their sours and new flavors to town along with their specialty craft beers. The brewery opens occasionally and offers free beer, Boston said. “We don’t promote it on social media. We sit a sign outside that reads ‘Free Beer Today.’” Charlotteans can look forward to a soft opening before the Grand Opening. Boston said they’ve offered free beer at their other locations sometimes and the community joins in the excitement.
Clarence Boston, CEO of Hippin’ Hops Brewery, is one of the less than one percent of Black-owned brewers in the U.S. Boston has three Hippin’ Hops Brewery locations in Atlanta, and his fourth is coming to Charlotte in August 2022. While it was difficult for Boston to find real estate in Charlotte, he ultimately found the right space in NoDa. Each of his breweries offers a unique culinary experience. Boston said: “Our vibe and the service we provide is what attributes to our success.” With encouragement from his friends in Charlotte and being a North Carolina native, “it was only right to bring Hippin’ Hops to Charlotte.” Boston’s inspiration to brew beer came from his grandmother, a winemaker. He jokes that making wine was not his forte, so he experimented with his first beer kit at 22, and the rest is history. Boston said he’s looking forward to being one of three Black-owned breweries in North Carolina and one of two in Charlotte.
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Photo by Peter Taylor
Hippin’ Hops Brewery
Interior of PARA restaurant
PARA
Yashira “Yoshi” Mejia is the bar manager at Charlotte’s PARA. This South End innovative restaurant and bar offers globally influenced small plates and whimsical cocktails. The eclectic atmosphere and R&B sounds round out the pleasant PARA experience.
Mejia proudly represents women and Afro-Latinas as a manager and leader in the industry. She’s passionate about her role as she explains the continuous work and studying that goes into being a mixologist. Her cocktail creations are the product of ongoing dedication and invention, from the PARA Old Fashioned that is smoked table-side to the thoughtful tropical cocktail, Tropic Like It’s Hot, which she calls “a vacation in a cup.” Interested in non-alcoholic options? Ask for one of Mejia's creations made with alcohol alternatives. “I’m proud to be put in a position to lead … I’ve chosen to lead with compassion,” Mejia said. Working behind the bar and in the service industry, one literally pours out [drinks], but she also considers the teamwork it takes to “pour back in,” she added. She encourages members of the PARA team to make sure self-care remains important in each of their lives. This helps create an overall pleasurable experience for everyone.
Cuzzo’s Cuisine
Known for their “world famous lobster mac and cheese,” Cuzzo’s is also popular for its shrimp and grits, chicken and red velvet waffles, and several other lowcountry style delicacies. When Chef Andarrio Johnson graduated from Johnson & Wales University, he dreamed of opening a food truck. “It took me 14 years to put it together. I kept pushing and pushing and never quit until I got it,”
