Historic Leeper-Wyatt building to reopen as 4-story eatery
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
The Leeper-Wyatt building sits next to Leluia Hall in Dilworth. Photo: Laura Barrero/Axios
A historic Charlotte building from 1903 is getting a second life as Wyatt's Superfine, a four-story dining concept from local restaurateurs Jeff Tonidandel and Jamie Brown.
Why it matters: Saved from demolition and moved in 2024, the Leeper-Wyatt building is one of Charlotte's oldest commercial structures — a former neighborhood grocery that will soon reopen as a modern, multi-level restaurant.
Driving the news: Wyatt's Superfine, which is now next to Leluia Hall in Dilworth, will embrace the building's roots as a neighborhood grocery store, the Tonidandel-Brown Restaurant Group announced in a press release.
What to expect: Each floor will offer a distinct dining experience, designed to function independently.
- First floor: A relaxed, parlor-style space.
- Second floor: An approachable fine-dining experience with coursed meals.
- Third floor: A glassed-in solarium designed for drinks, small bites and lingering, Brown tells Axios.
- Most prep and cooking will happen in a basement kitchen.
"Leaning into our history as a grocery store, we will mill our own grains, serve local produce and 'play' on the use of grocery aisles in a fun way for menu sections and courses," Brown said.
- The group is also exploring a small selection of takeaway, grocery-style items made in-house, though it won't operate as a full market. "These would likely be items we make homemade that aren't easy to make at home," she said.
Flashback: The Leeper-Wyatt building operated as a grocery store in what's now known as South End for more than 50 years, most notably under grocer Pleasant Wyatt.
- In September 2024, the entire structure was rolled 750 feet off South Boulevard to Cleveland Avenue to save it from demolition.
The big picture: Adaptive reuse — repurposing old buildings instead of demolishing them — is costly and time-consuming.
- Moving the historic structure, reinforcing it with steel, and adding exterior stairs and an elevator all added to the price tag, Brown said.
- As a designated Mecklenburg County historic landmark, the building also comes with additional requirements that add time and expense.
Yes, but: "These spaces have history, character, and charm, and our guests genuinely enjoy being in buildings that have a story and help preserve a piece of our fast-growing city," Brown said.
- "They are not cheap to build, but we think it's worth it."
Between the lines: Preserving the Leeper-Wyatt building delayed the opening of Leluia Hall, Tonidandel and Brown's newest surf-and-turf restaurant. But it cemented the couple's reputation for restoring historic spaces, from Supperland's former church to Dilworth's former Bonterra site.
Zoom out: Several Tonidandel-Brown restaurants — including Supperland, Haberdish and Ever Andalo — were recently named to Michelin's "recommended" list, underscoring the expectations around the group's newest concept.
What's next: More details on the menu, timeline and interior design are expected in the coming months.