The Excelsior Club hosted performers such as Louis Armstrong and Nat King Cole in its heyday. Photo: Courtesy of WBTV
The Excelsior Club will soon have a new owner, who's willing to take on the challenge of redeveloping the historic property, our news partners at WBTV report.
Why it matters: Once Charlotte's only social club for Black professionals, The Excelsior Club is a significant landmark for the city's Black community. Yet, it's remained vacant on Beatties Ford Road since 2016 and fallen into disrepair.
Multiple efforts to honor the club's legacy through redevelopment have fallen through.
Driving the news: Local investor Shawn Kennedy is now under contract for the building. He tells WBTV his vision includes a restaurant, museum and community gathering spaces.
"I'm big on development without displacement," Kennedy said. "So, I think this will be a rebirth for what the community was, and it will spur economic development in this Beatties Ford Road that hasn't developed so much as the other side."
What's next: Over the next seven months, Kennedy is looking for the right partners to join the project.
Whatever is built, the 1944 building must be torn down due to its condition.
