Everything you need to know about Optimist Hall

What to expect: The $60 million redevelopment of an old mill includes 83,000 square feet of office space occupied by Duke Energy, a 22,000-square-foot food hall, and an additional 32,000 square feet of anchor restaurant and outdoor space.

• It seats about 650 people inside and outside, and it has ample courtyard, patio and lawn space.
• The layout is a giant U with the food hall in the left arm, larger anchor restaurants along the right arm, and a dog-friendly central courtyard in the middle.
• There is free WiFi and parking is free for the first hour and a half. After that, a visit will cost you $5 for an hour and a half to three hours and $18 for anything over three hours.
• It has a total of 25 tenants (not including Duke Energy).

Flashback: Optimist Hall's historic mill building, once one of the largest producers of gingham textile in the country, dates back to 1892 and features nods to the past in everything from the paint color to original flooring and fire doors.

• Reclaimed windows and new gingham screens create dividers between cozy seating nooks, and some of the tables are made with reclaimed heart pine.

Stop by: 1115 North Brevard St., a five-minute walk from Parkwood Station on the light rail.

• Hours: 7am-9pm Monday-Thursday, 7am-10pm on Friday, 8am- 10pm on Saturday, and 8am-9pm on Sunday. Hours vary for food stalls.

Editor's note: This story was last updated in December 2025 to reflect Optimist Hall’s current tenant list.

Now open:

• Bao and Broth – Ramen and bun shop from Larry Schreiber, the chef behind Good Food on Montford’s wildly popular steamed buns. It joins the lineup of powerhouse Charlotte restaurants under the Moffett Restaurant Group umbrella, including Good Food and Stagioni.
• Undercurrent Coffee – Todd and Erin Huber’s full-service coffee bar with a focus on sustainable sourcing. Its flagship cafe and coffee lab is in Plaza Midwood.
• Honeysuckle Gelato – Southern-inspired gourmet gelato served in scoops, shakes, and sandwiches.
• Pet Wants – Carmen Larreynaga's health food store for pets serving slow-cooked, small-batch dog and cat food.
• Zukku Sushi – Customizable sushi, sushi burritos and bowls.
• The Bar – Casual tap with a Southern front porch party vibe. It serves draft cocktails, beer, wine and nonalcoholic beverages.
• Papi Queso – Gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches from one of Charlotte's most beloved food trucks created by Brian Stockholm and Shelley Odom.
• The Dumpling Lady – Executive chef Qian Zhang's popular food truck put down roots for her authentic Sichuan cuisine, including handmade soup dumplings, noodles and dim sum.
• Village Juice Co. – Winston-Salem-based cold pressed juice company serving local, organic, plant-based food, from smoothie bowls to salads to grain bowls.
• Ava – Traditional Neapolitan pizza cooked in a wood-fired oven from a team that includes Michael Stewart and former Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon.
• Archer Paper Goods – Fine stationery and supplies like greeting cards, journals and gifts. Archer also has locations in Atlanta, Athens and Dallas.
• Fonta Flora Brewing – Morganton-founded brewery with a focus on local agriculture. It boasts a tasting room and lots of outdoor space.
• Felix Empanadas – Felix Godward’s local food truck serving authentic sweet and savory Argentinian empanadas, entraña (skirt steak with chimichurri) and milanesas (breaded and fried cuts of chicken, pork and steak).
• Suarez Bakery and Barra – Popular Park Road Shopping Center bakery’s second location serving a savory menu and Cuban-style coffee.

• Harriet’s Hamburgers – Old school burger joint from the teams behind Plaid Penguin and Papi Queso. The "succinct and nostalgic menu" is reminiscent of diners from the 1950s and 1960s.
• Botiwalla – Indian street grill from the James Beard-award-winning chef behind Asheville's wildly popular Chai Pani. The menu features grilled meats, flatbreads, fresh herbs and wraps along with homemade ice cream and boozy slushies. The original location is in Atlanta’s Ponce City Market and a second is on the way in Alpharetta. Related guide.
• Mezeh – A Mediterranean grill with locations throughout North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland.
• Paradiso – This Atlanta-based plant shop is next to Mezeh. Expect tons of beginner-friendly plants, terrariums, candles, plant and gardening books, pots and other plant and home goods.
• Noble Smoke – The barbecue is inspired by both the Carolinas and Texas, and it's available by the pound or in a sandwich.
• Enat Ethiopian – Expect traditional Ethiopian dishes like crispy sambusa, stewed tibs and injera bread.
• The Merchant – An Atlanta-based stationery and homeware store next to Paradiso Plant Shop featuring vintage home goods, gifts and stationery from local vendors.
• Schreiber's on Rye – Chef Larry Schreiber's New York-style deli featuring dishes such as pastrami on rye, matzo ball soup and Coney Island knish.
• Collier Candy Company – Atlanta-based candy store with new and vintage treats.
• ESO Artisanal Pasta – An Italian food stall by husband-and-wife duo Kristina Gambarian and AJ Sankofa, who started ESO as a delivery business during the pandemic. Their handmade pasta and sauces became so popular that they opened a storefront in New Jersey in 2021.
• Poppycox – A popular food truck-turned-brick-and-mortar known for its Nashville-style hot chicken sandwiches, tenders and loaded fries.
• Comal Taco Co. – A fast-casual Southwest-inspired taco stall.

Here's a photo tour of Optimist Hall:

Looking for more Charlotte food and drink guides? Check out best burgers, best bars, best new restaurants, best weekly specials, best pizza, best sushi, best cocktail bars, top restaurants, and best brunch.