20 most-anticipated restaurant and bar concepts coming to Charlotte in 2017

Here’s a list of what we know is coming to our city…

Oak Steakhouse

Concept: Steakhouse

Location: In the SunTrust building near the Whole Foods in SouthPark.

Timing: Spring 2017

Fun Fact: Shares ownership with O-Ku – the new hot sushi spot in South End’s Atherton Mill.

Quote: “Having eaten in Charlotte for years I believe SouthPark is the right neighborhood.We look forward to bringing our flagship to Charlotte next year.” – Steve Palmer, managing partner of The Indigo Road Restaurant Group

Agenda Story: Award winning Oak Steakhouse coming to SouthPark in early spring

Dot Dot Dot

Concept: Speakeasy

Location: Backlot of Park Road Shopping Center about 75 yards from ROCKSALT in Myers Park.

Timing: Targeting March 2017

Fun Facts: 75 seats and 1920s/1930s feel – tin ceilings, pleated banquettes and large wall of liquor.

Quote: “We’ll have the best bourbon and scotch collection in Charlotte.” – Owner Conrad Hunter.

Agenda Story: Foxcroft Wine Co. owner to open speakeasy in Park Road Road Shopping Center and Speakeasy coming to Myers Park. Stefan Huebner to be face of the new concept

Hyde Brewing

Concept: A culinary cafe (with a Sunflour Bakery vibe), coffee bar, fermentation lab and craft brewery.

Location: Across the street from Triple C Brewing in South End.

Timing: TBD

Fun Fact: Cool patio out back (against the Rail Trail) that’ll become a go-to for sipping a coffee from their coffee shop or sipping a beer from their brewery.

Agenda Story: Details emerge on Hyde Brewing – a unique combo of coffee, craft beer and food coming to South End

Porter’s House

Concept: Steakhouse

Location: Waverly

Timing: Targeting February 2017.

Fun Fact: The restaurant will offer a 32 oz porterhouse cut steak. 

Quote: “Culture is extremely important to me as well as family. We only grow restaurants when we have the internal talent that’s ready to grow. We wanted to do something different.” – Owner Jon Dressler.

Agenda Story: The couple behind Dressler’s and Dogwood is opening a new steakhouse named The Porter’s House

Urban Cookhouse

Concept: Earl’s Grocery-style order-at-the-counter-type restaurant.

Location: Next to Burton’s Grill on the Woodlawn side of Park Road Shopping Center in Myers Park.

Timing: No announcement yet, but the shell has been completed.

Popular dishes: Chicken Salad: housemade chicken salad served on wheat bread with lettuce and tomatoes; BALT: Applewood bacon, avocado, lettuce, and tomatoes with aioli on toasted white bread; and chipotle braised pork, served with “housemade pickles and aioli on two warm yeast rolls.” View full menu here.

Agenda Story: Here’s what to expect from Urban Cookhouse which is replacing Monkey Joe’s at Park Road Shopping Center

Potbelly

Concept: Popular sandwich shop

Location: Replacing the Salsarita’s on Tryon in Uptown

Timing: January 13

Fun Fact: The franchise deal allows for four locations in Charlotte, and they hope to open location No. 2 next year. The second location will likely be in SouthPark, and they’re hunting for locations now.

Quote: “A lot of Uptown will be represented in the shop,” –  franchisee Shak Patel.

Agenda Story: Potbelly is looking to start construction Uptown within weeks — and they’re already scouting a second location

Kimpton Rooftop Bar

Concept: Rooftop bar overlooking Romare Bearden Park

Location: Uptown

Timing: Fall 2017

Agenda Story: You’re going to love the Uptown views from the 217 room Kimpton Hotel and its rooftop bar

Catawba Brewing

Concept: Brewery and taproom

Location: The old Kellogg plan in Belmont near the restaurant Intermezzo.

Timing: Spring 2017

Fun Fact: Taproom will be 6,000 square feet.

Agenda Story: Catawba Brewing to open $1 million Charlotte location this spring

AC Hotel rooftop bar

Concept: Rooftop bar

Location: 22-story tower (320 feet) built on the existing exposed concrete structure, above Gold’s Gym & Skyview Dentistry in Uptown.

Timing: Late fall 2017

Fun Fact: There will also be a restaurant and AC Lounge on the fifth floor.

Agenda Story: Construction is underway at the EpiCentre hotel

Common Market

Concept: Urban market

Location: 235 West Tremont Avenue, just steps away from the popular Rail Trail, Sycamore Brewing and the soon-to-be-renovated Atherton Market in South End.

Timing: Winter 2017

Fun Fact: 3,000 square feet of indoor space, plus 4,000 square feet of an indoor/outdoor patio with a music stage and plenty of shade.

Agenda Story: Common Market is returning to South End, a half mile from its former location

Mac’s Sister Concept (next door to Mac’s)

Concept: Unknown

Location: Right next to Mac’s Speed Shop in South End on South Boulevard.

Fun Fact: The Mac’s Speed Shop partners bought the property in 2014 for $1.3 million, according to property records.

Agenda Story: The Mac’s people are behind that question mark sign on South Boulevard

5th Street Firehouse

Concept: Restaurant and bar

Location: The old firehouse on 5th Street in Uptown.

Backstory: Last year, a company headed by Carolina Panther Charles Johnson bought the old firehouse on 5th Street with plans to turn it into a restaurant.

Fun fact: The company is called Randy Watson Holdings LLC. Johnson is on Twitter @randywattson. The property went for $1.6 million, according to land records.

Agenda Story: Here’s what the 5th Street firehouse restaurant will look like

b.good

Concept: The concept describes itself as “Real food fast: Kale & Grain Bowls, Seasonal Salads, All-Natural Burgers & Sandwiches, Smoothies and more.”

Location: 400 South Tryon in Uptown as part of that building’s parking garage revival project.

Timing: Fall 2017

Quote: “We couldn’t be more excited to continue the growth of our brand with our newest unit in Uptown. We have identified several key market entry points for our brand with Tryon being the first to market.” – b.good strategic advisor James Quackenbush.

Agenda Story: Fast-casual restaurant b.good set to make its mark on Uptown

Grabbagreen

Concept: Health-focused fast casual franchise

Location: First floor next to Blackfinn and Coaltranes at the Epicentre in Uptown.

Timing: Late January – they’re also opening a second location in Ballantyne in February.

Agenda Story: Grabbagreen opening at EpiCentre

Divine Barrel Brewery

Concept: Brewery and taproom

Location: Development named NoDa Street Market on North Davidson Street in NoDa.

Loft & Cellar

Concept: Tapas and Argentine steakhouse style restaurant from Nicolas Daniels (previously at The Wooden Vine). The Loft will have a Louisiana speakeasy feel. The Cellar will have a chef’s tasting table for private dinners and tastings. 

Location: Third Ward, Uptown

Food: Dishes to look out for: Mac & Cheese, Empanadas and Duck Brunswick Gyoza.

Beverages: Cocktails will be prohibition era style and there will be BUTTER BEER (Harry Potter fans rejoice).

Fun Fact: It’ll be three floors (massive space).

Other: Live music will be New Orleans style jazz and blues.

Timing: Late winter 2017

Dilworth Tasting Room

Concept: Wine bar and retail bottle shop from sommelier Jaffer Kovic. It’ll feature wines from around the world, local craft beers and a full menu. They will also be open early to serve coffee and pastries in the morning.

Location: Taking the spot formerly occupied by Dilworth Billiards.

Timing: Could be open as soon as Christmas 2016, but may easily be pushed back until January 2017.

Agenda Story: Dilworth Billiards space gutted to make way for Dilworth Tasting Room

Zeppelin

Concept: Zeppelin will have seasonal southern small plates and craft cocktails. Patio on Tremont.

Location: Sharing a building with Common Market in South End.

Bold Missy Brewery

Concept: Brewery and taproom

Location: 610 Anderson St, Charlotte in NoDa.

Timing: Early 2017

Hello Sailor

Concept: Lakeside restaurant and bar from the family behind Kindred.

Location: The space formerly occupied by Rusty Rudder in Cornelius.

Fun Fact: Likely will be tiki hut and tiki drinks!

Timing: Spring 2017

Good Road CiderWorks

Concept: Cidery and taproom

Location: 117 Southside Dr, near OMB in South End

Timing: January 2017

Bulgogi Box

Concept: Fast casual Korean. Full service dinner and lunch (on weekends) and table service (bussed tables, food brought out) for lunch during the week.

Food: Traditional Korean flavors with a hint of fusion. Bulgogi is a style of marinated beef and the boxes will consist of a variety of chosen sides. Lots of veggies, noodle soup and Bibim bowls (these are mixed rice bowls with a variety of ingredients).

Pricing: $8-$12 for lunch, $12-$16 for dinner

Alcohol: Beer, wine, cocktails

Location: Camden Gallery Apartments (1750 Camden Road), right next to Blue Hem in South End.

Timing: Spring 2017

Agenda Story: New Korean restaurant coming to Camden Gallery in South End

Queen Park Social

Concept: Social house – a one-stop-shop destination for all-day entertainment with a drinking focus. This place will have a centralized bar with a heavy focus on cocktails and beer. To complement the drinking, instead of just tables, there will be activities like shuffleboard and bowling.

Fun Fact: Outside there will be approximately 2,000 square feet of patio space along Yancey and another 2,000 square feet of covered patio space on the other side of the building.

Timing: Spring 2017

Agenda Story: Massive unnamed social house will take this entertainment district next level

12 Expansions

Amelie’s – Building permits are in and they’re starting construction on their new location in the Backlot of Park Road Shopping Center. Targeting an April grand opening [Agenda Story]

YAFO – Planning another store in Plaza Midwood [Agenda Story]

Toast – Coming to Uptown.

Sabor – Their 6th location is opening up at Morrsion Shopping Center in SouthPark, taking the space of Firehouse Subs [Agenda Story]

Midwood Smokehouse – Will open in the Backlot of Park Road Shopping Center around March [Agenda Story]

Not Just Coffee – Going into Dilworth Crossing Shopping Center on Park Road (the shopping center anchored by Food Lion). 

Deejai Thai – Will be located in the Noda Street Market along with Divine Brewing.

Inzio Pizza – Going into the same building as Not Just Coffee in Dilworth [Agenda Story]

Rhino Market – Opening their second location in Uptown near the Mellow Mushroom [Agenda Story]

JJ’s Red Hots – Opening an Uptown location [Agenda Story]

Heist – Expanding taproom.

Jimmy John’s – Sharing the same building as the new Viva Chicken on Park Road and opening in winter 2017.