What is Area 15 and who are the 14 business inside?
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Area 15, located in the Optimist Park neighborhood, just outside of Uptown, is a hidden gem among the industrial buildings and mill homes that you’ve probably driven by hundreds of times.
It’s situated on N. Davidson Street, across from Birdsong Brewing and is filled with diverse small businesses bringing life and culture to this small, yet quickly growing neighborhood.
Owned and operated by two local men with a passion for community, Area 15 is a bootstrap-run building that is ever-changing due to it’s purpose: a small business incubator. Businesses are constantly moving in and out, as they outgrow their space or change, making for an interesting place to meet new people doing big things in the Charlotte community.
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If your interest is peaked and you’re ready for an adventure, take an afternoon and visit Area 15 and the businesses that call this spot home.
Dragon Moonshine Co. – This production facility creates craft distilled rum, whiskey, moonshine, and more. Their first product, rum, is available across Charlotte bars and in ABC Stores.
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The Green Bunny – Healthy meal prep options that can be pre-ordered or picked up to-go during specific hours. I highly suggest the crab cakes.
Elsa Fine – women’s clothing shop and retail services studio
Trips for Kids Bike ReCyclery – Home of the Trips for Kids Earn-A-Bike program and where you can bring old bikes to be refurbished and sold.
Heroic Fitness – a structured, transformation program gym helping people lose twenty pounds in six weeks.
Covet Cuteness Boutique – An accessories boutique on the backside of Area 15, offering jewelry, handbags, scarves, hats and more.
Butteroni’s Emporium and Fairy Forest – A one-stop shop for locally made goods and art from artists and makers across Charlotte. The backroom features a fairy garden where you can host a birthday party or spend the day making miniature fairy forests.
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Art by Abel – Abel has housed his studio here longer than most. He’s a talented airbrush artist who is regularly commissioned for murals, food trucks, individual pieces and the like.
Soule Jukebox – A music production studio featuring services that span the realm of any artist.
Area 15 has three new businesses moving in in the next month, which will find their place in the community and eventually move on to a new space or office (take for instance, Not Just Coffee, who got their start in the building).
These businesses include a stylist, therapist, and a tea room for birthday parties. The diversity and quick movement can make it tough to keep up with what’s happening, but that kind of the beauty. Whenever you go, you’re always experiencing something new.