Oct 6, 2021 - Food and Drink

Now open: 20 cool openings in Charlotte from this summer

Symphony Webber

Spread from Calle Sol; Photo: Emma Way/Axios

Our Now Open series is proudly presented by Charlotte Center City Partners. New businesses are part of what makes Charlotte great but don’t forget to take some time to say hello again to the people and places that made us fall in love with our city in the first place. Check out UptownCharlotte.com + SouthEndCLT.org to find even more spots to explore.

The summer had no shortage of openings.

Supply chain delays might have caused businesses to open later than anticipated, but our team here at Axios definitely had our hands full keeping up with all that was new around Charlotte.

Here are 20 cool openings in Charlotte this July, August and September.

FOOD + DRINK

800 Degree Woodfired Kitchen & Bar One

An upscale pizza restaurant and scotch-focused bar under one roof.

What to order: Go with the Double Pepperoni pizza.

Location: 6815 Phillips Place Ct.

Trolley Barn Fermentory & Food Hall

800 Degree Woodfired Kitchen — Photo: Symphony Webber/Axios.

Latest brewery and restaurant concept from Legion Brewing.

What to order: The Duck Fat Chicken Wings are a must-try.

Location: 2104 South Blvd.

Jinya Ramen

trolley barn atherton interior — Photo: Emma Way/Axios.

LA-based ramen restaurant that opened in the Ally Charlotte Center tower.

What to order: The Premium Tonkotsu Red ramen is a crowd favorite.

Location: 601 South Tryon St.

Read more: JINYA Ramen Bar now open in Uptown

JW Marriott Restaurants & Bar

Two new restaurants and a rooftop bar are coming to the new JW Marriott.

What to order: Head to Aura Rooftop Bar and order the Electress cocktail.

Location: 600 South College St.

Emmy Squared Pizza (Plaza Midwood)

New York-based pizza joint that specializes in Detroit-style pizza.

What to order: 100% The Colony Pizza, the combination of honey and jalapeño will blow your mind.

Location: 1508 Central Ave.

Coming soon: Emmy Squared has a second South End location in the works.

Mizu

Emmy Squared Pizza — Emmy Squared’s “Colony” pizza. Photo: Symphony Webber/Axios.

Seafood restaurant opening atop SouthPark’s new Hyatt Centric hotel.

What to order: Go with an order of Spicy Gyu Buns for the table.

Location: 3100 Apex Drive (9th floor)

Novelty House Rooftop & Havana Smoke

Two concepts coming to the Binaco Tower.

What to order: NH’s signature cocktail is called “Higher Love.” If you’re lounging in Havana Smoke, the “Vedado” (Smoked Old Fashioned) is an experience from the moment your order it to the moment it arrives in your hand.

Location: 123 East Fifth St.

Velvet Taco (Park Road)

novelty house rooftop — “Higher Love” cocktail from Novelty House. Photo: Symphony Webber/Axios.

cigar lounge novelty house rooftop featured — “Vedado” cocktail from Havana Smoke. Photo: Symphony Webber/Axios.

Funky fast-casual restaurant chain.

What to order: Go with the beer-battered cauliflower taco.

Location: 1601 East Woodlawn Rd., Ste. B

Chick-fil-A (Woodlawn)

Velvet Taco Park Road — Photo: Symphony Webber/Axios.

After a seven-month renovation, the East Woodlawn Chick-Fil-A, infamous for creating backups along Woodlawn, is now open.

What to order: A good ol’ chicken sandwich with a side of waffle fries.

Location: 1540 East Woodlawn Rd.

Calle Sol

Chick fil a rendering, east Woodlawn chick fil a, drive-thru only — The renovated restaurant will have outdoor seating. Michael Graff/Axios

Latin café and cevicheria in Plaza Midwood.

What to order: The chaufa fried rice

Location: 1205 Thomas Ave.

Rumaway Cove

A pop-up bar concept from The Royal Tot serving tiki-inspired cocktails at Refuge in Plaza Midwood.

What to order: The Mai Tai, it’s made with aged Jamaican rums, house-made Orgeat, dry curaçao, Demerara syrup and fresh lime.

Location: 1101 Central Ave.

Rocket Pizza

Rumaway Cove, Royal Tot — Photo: Symphony Webber/Axios

Fast-casual pizza joint within walking distance of Bank of America Stadium.

What to order: Try the meat lovers pizza or the BBQ chicken pizza.

Location: 1213 West Morehead St.

Snow Your Roll

Food truck serving shaved ice and egg rolls.

What to order: You can’t go wrong with any of the shaved ice options. As far as rolls go, the short rib Philly and imperial seafood rolls are the top two must-try items.

Location: Follow their Instagram for their latest locations.

Bun Appetit!

Snow Your Roll Food Truck — Photo: Symphony Webber/Axios.

A small-batch bakery that specializes in big buns — cinnamon buns, that is.

What to order: Go with the vanilla bean glazed bun.

Location: 2753 Rozzelles Ferry Rd.

Marble Slab Creamery

Toucan Louie's, Bun Appetit, Jay Byrd and Maria Caceres, cinnamon buns, Charlotte, bakery — Vanilla bean glazed bun. Photo: Paige Hopkins/Axios.

A build-your-own ice cream parlor located in the former Nova’s Bakery space.

What to order: Build an ice cream cookie sandwich.

Location: 1509 Central Ave.

RETAIL

Marble Slab Plaza Midwood — Photo: Emma Way/Axios.

Charlotte Collective (South End)

After opening its Plaza Midwood location two years ago, Charlotte Collective opened a South End location.

Offerings: The popular shop houses more than a dozen small local businesses, offering anything from plants to clothes.

Location: 110 West Blvd., Ste. B

Ladies of Lineage

charlotte collective south end display — Photo: Brianna Crane/Axios

2,800-square-foot showroom in Phillips Place.

Offerings: An exclusive selection of designer bridal gowns.

Location: 6809 Phillips Place Ct., Suite B

Street Commerce

ladies of lineage phillips place entrance — Photo: Bri Crane/Axios.

Luxury consignment shop that creates less waste and has designer goods at a more accessible price point.

Offerings: Designer clothing and accessories. That includes everything from Chanel bags to Gucci shoes to lesser-known designer jeans and clothing. All items are new or gently used and marked down 30-60% from the retail price.

Location: 325 East 9th St.