Oct 17, 2025 - News

Charlotte nostalgia: Photos from a decade of change

Laura Barrero

City skyline at dusk with tall buildings, construction cranes, and a park with green lawns. Buildings reflect warm sunset light under a clear sky with soft pastel colors. — Charlotte skyline under construction. Photo: Justin Lee

When Charlotte Agenda launched in 2015, the city was on the cusp of transformation — breweries were opening all over town, South End was still finding its identity, and Uptown had fewer rooftop patios than construction cranes.

Why it matters: Ten years later, Axios Charlotte reaches an audience the size of more than half of the city's population every week across its social platforms and daily newsletter. This is a testament not just to how fast the city has grown, but also to its growing appetite for smart local news.

Driving the news: To celebrate this milestone, we asked our readers to submit their favorite nostalgic photos of Charlotte.

We received about 100 submissions, which included restaurants you miss, important moments in your lives, big sports wins and tons of skyline photos. Enjoy!
Editor's note: Some responses have been edited for clarity.

"Fahrenheit has always been a special spot for my family. When we moved back to Charlotte in 2014, we were thrilled as it had been a goal of ours for years — Fahrenheit had recently opened and we celebrated a few family events there within the first couple years of our return." — Jeff Bechtold

City skyline at sunset with orange and yellow clouds, a tall building with triangular top, and glass railing in foreground on rooftop. — View from Fahrenheit rooftop in 2015. Photo: Courtesy of Jeff Bechtold

"I recently found these photos of Venture Outdoor Leadership student leaders at UNC Charlotte. I loved seeing the Atkins Library and Cone University Center (the original student center) in the background! They have both stood the test of time in an ever-changing city." — Kristin Coffey

Black-and-white photo of a group of 16 young people posing outdoors on grass, some holding frisbees, with buildings and trees in the background. — Photo: Courtesy of Kristin Coffey

"Last day of school, June 11, 2011, taken at 7:01am. My boyfriend (now husband) took me out to an early breakfast at Midnight Diner in South End to celebrate ... To my left is a sleepy Uptown Cabaret, and the Duke Building is clearly the edge of Uptown. This parking lot and everything behind me is now skyscraper!" — Natalie Parmenter

Woman in a bright green S.R.E.S. first grade T-shirt, jeans, and sandals smiling, standing in a parking lot with city skyscrapers and trees in the background during daylight. — Photo: Courtesy of Natalie Parmenter

"We had our wedding reception at Dandelion Market on February 22, 2014." — Jessica Sachson

Two photos: a couple in wedding attire outside a teal building with gold "Dandelion Market" sign; a black-and-white close-up of them smiling at each other by the entrance. — Dandelion closed in 2024 because of rising rent. Photos: Courtesy of Jessica Sachson

"[In 2018] my buddy and I witnessed the first-ever 16-seed upset of a 1-seed in the NCAA tournament. Charlotte hosted the first and second round games that year. UMBC beat the 1 seed Virginia by 20 points. It was an incredible upset and as I mentioned, the first time it ever happened!!" — Tyler Jones

Two men smiling in a stadium with a basketball court below showing UMBC leading 74-54 against Virginia on the scoreboard during an NCAA March Madness game. — Photo: Courtesy of Tyler Jones

"[Here's] a throwback to 24 Hours of Booty, circa 2010 ... "What's more iconic than hundreds of cyclists and walkers looping through Myers Park to support our cancer community?" — Jenni Walker

A large group of cyclists gathered on a tree-lined street hold their helmets up, wearing colorful cycling jerseys, ready for an event or race with spectators nearby. — Photo: Courtesy of Jenni Walker/ 24 Foundation

"Interior photo I took in the historic Barringer Hotel, also known as Hall House, before it was demolished." — Larken Egleston

view from below of tower — Hall House was demolished on Nov. 6, 2022. The site will be used to build a new apartment building, according to The Observer. Photo: Courtesy of Larken Egleston

View from Truist Field (then, BB&T Ballpark) in 2015. — Gary Blouin

Baseball game with players in purple uniforms on a green field, spectators in stands, and an under-construction beige and white building with a blue crane behind the stadium under a clear blue sky. — Photo: Courtesy of Gary Blouin

"RIP Owen's Bagels" — Cody Smith

Exterior of Owen's Bagel & Deli with a blue awning reading "OWEN'S BAGEL" and "Home of the Steamed Bagel Sandwich." Sign above offers breakfast, lunch, dinner, catering. Cars and bushes in front. — Owen's Bagel & Deli closed in 2019. Photo: Courtesy of Cody Smith

"Patrick Sweeney performing at Free Range Brewing in October 2019." — Julie Altmire

Black and white photo of a live band performance at Free Range Brewing with a drummer and three guitarists on stage against a curtain backdrop, illuminated by string lights overhead. — Photo: Courtesy of Julie Altmire

"My boyfriend and I went to Tyber Creek the first night we met. I joke that I literally fell for him that night because I took a tumble down the stairs ... Before they tore it down, they let us come in to have some professional photos taken." — Beth Berkey

Two young adults in casual clothing share joyful moments in a bar and outside by a brick wall with a large beer illustration and the text "there's nothing like Tyber Creek." — Photos: Drew Furr

"I have a digitized video from 1991-ish … The NationsBank tower is under construction. Shot from a strangely traffic-lite 277." — Chaz Hinkle

Cityscape with a tall building under construction and a crane on top, a large tree silhouette in the foreground, and an incomplete metal roof structure on the right under a gray sky. — Screenshot: Courtesy of Chaz Hinkle

Local photographer Byron Baldwin took a series of photographs along Central Avenue in the mid-1980s.

Black and white photo of a vintage white car parked next to a lit-up diner with a person standing at the counter under a cloudy evening sky. — Photo: Byron Baldwin

"It was just 10 years ago when we helped CLT and Meck County announce a new county ordinance that created smoke- and tobacco-free parks and public grounds. Gotta love that!" — DC Lucchesi

Selfie of four people — Photo: Courtesy of DC Lucchesi

Several of you sent us photos of Mr. K's, which closed in 2021.

Three photos showing signage for Mr. K's Soft Ice Cream in red, white, and blue, including business hours and menu items like hamburgers and onion rings, set in urban environments. — Photos: Courtesy of Ellyn Ritterskamp, Pete Personal and Mark Upton

"A picture of the Charlotte skyline from Peculiar Rabbit in Plaza, back when there wasn't an apartment building in the way." — Joseph Mulligan

Dimly lit bar interior at sunset with glowing pendant lights, glasses on the counter, a TV on the left, and a city skyline visible through the large window. — Peculiar Rabbit closed in 2020. Photo: Courtesy of Joseph Mulligan

I'll leave you with this collection of throwback photos from Jerry McQuay. They include Athens restaurant, which closed in 2006; the Park n Shop grocer, which looks a little different now; Pinky's before it was Pinky's; and Wiener King, a hot dog joint that originated in Charlotte.

Collage of four restaurant signs: New Athens Restaurant with chef figure, Park N Shop with tall letter signs, Triple Automotive with car on roof, and Wiener King with red roof and yellow sign in snowy setting. — Photos: Jerry McQuay

Laura's thought bubble: Thank you all so much for your submissions. It's been quite the ride going through Charlotte's memory lane.

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Charlotte nostalgia: Photos from a decade of change

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