Charlotte has two big grand openings happening this weekend. Here are the details

We live in a new era with new bars, restaurants, breweries and more opening seemingly every week and I couldn’t be more excited. Not only are we finally catching up to other cities in terms of the amount of places, but we are also getting quality, unique and creative openings to satisfy Charlotte’s ever changing tastes.

This weekend is no exception with a few great new places having their grand openings.

Not Just Coffee

First up is somewhere I couldn’t be more excited about: Not Just Coffee. If you’re a coffee drinker (I am not) then you likely know about this coffee shop from their 7th Street Public Market or Atherton Mill locations. You may ask, Jason, why are you so excited about a coffee shop if you don’t drink coffee? Well, I have a great answer for you.

Simply put, their new space at HQ Charlotte at Packard Place (3rd and Church) fits my ideal image of a modern and urban coffee shop. The space is clean, the decor is fantastic and the street front is just amazing. Coffee drinkers, small plate eaters and workers can sit up against the glass which helps to engage the street and really gives an urban feel to an otherwise dead street (thanks parking decks). The space really allows a proper entry to the beautiful Third Ward heading south on Church.

Beyond that their product is incredible too. I don’t drink coffee often, hardly at all as I previously said, but man oh man are their lattes out of this world. Their new space has great food too — who knew so many people cared about avocados and toast, yeesh.

Before I continue to ramble here are the details on their grand opening party this weekend:

• Saturday, June 25 starting at 5 p.m.
• Full coffee service until 7 p.m.
• Beer on the house until it runs out, but BYOB is welcome.
• Live music by Solis (@soundofsolis) and DJ tunes by Leo Solis
• Masa Casa onsite with their vegan tamale cart

I was told there may be some dancing too, so there’s that. Get out there and support my favorite coffee shop in town and show them that we are ready to be an active city beyond 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

FYI: Starting Monday they will begin their full triple 7s operating hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., 7 days a week

Next up we have a new brewery.

Blue Blaze Brewery

Located in west Charlotte (528 S Turner Ave), Blue Blaze is blazing a trail (God, I hate myself) in west Charlotte, being the area’s first brewery. Located in the soon to be renovated Savona Mill, the space is really fantastic and the patio will certainly be a great hang out (when its not a million degrees outside) for beer drinkers.

It’s to note that “the brewery and taproom is located at the end of the Stewart Creek Greenway, less than a mile from Uptown. Visitors can take a walk or bike ride along the Greenway right to Blue Blaze’s front door,” according to the official announcement.

Here are the details on the opening:

• Saturday, June 25 from noon to 10 p.m.
• Bike valet and check in (thanks, B-cycle!)
• 5 beers (Blue Blaze Altbier — 5.0% ABV, Amber Blaze Amber — 5.6% ABV, Double Blaze Black IPA — 6.1% ABV, Black Blaze Milk Stout — 5.0% ABV, Yellow Blaze Kölsch — 5.0% ABV)
• Live music
• Food trucks

Get out there and check both of these places out this weekend and stay tuned to the Agenda for more openings coming soon (*cough* Essex *cough*)