OMB opening another brewery in Ballantyne
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Olde Mecklenburg Brewery will open its new biergarten and restaurant in Ballantyne on Memorial Day weekend.
Why it matters: OMB is the oldest craft brewery in Charlotte. Its next location is the anchor tenant to The Bowl at Ballantyne, an under-construction neighborhood with food, entertainment, retail and living space.
- This will be the first brewery in Ballantyne.
What to expect: The new brewery spans 14,000 square feet across its two floors.
- On the ground floor, which is about 9,000 square feet, you'll find a large 360-degree bar, facilitating fast service during rush hour.
The second floor will primarily be used for private events but will open up to the public when it's not booked. The 5,000-square-foot space has a full bar serving liquor, wine, cider and beer. Its balcony overlooks the biergarten.
Similar to the LoSo location, the brewery's crowned jewel is its one-acre biergarten. Expect plenty of seating, a playground, a fire pit and bathrooms.
The vibe: OMB Ballantyne will be a family-friendly spot and will host OMB's popular annual events like Mecktoberfest and the Christmas Market.
- Mecktoberfest will take place over two weekends in LoSo, followed by two weekends at the Ballantyne location, piggybacking off of Ballantyne's preexisting Oktoberfest celebration.
- The Christmas Market will take place over the same four weekends at both locations.
Dig in: Unlike its LoSo location, food from the full-service restaurant at OMB in Ballantyne is available both inside and outside.
- Expect a similar menu, with new additions like rotisserie chicken and smash burgers.
What to expect: OMB will be the largest brewery in south Charlotte, according to Ballantyne owners Northwood Investors LLC.
Context: Northwood, which bought 535 acres in Ballantyne in 2017 for $1.2 billion, is in the midst of a massive overhaul of the area's golf course as part of a project called "Ballantyne Reimagined."
- Owned and operated by Northwood, The Bowl at Ballantyne has about 70,000 square feet of retail, 80% of which is already occupied, Axios' Alex Sands reported.