Seemingly Overzealous, Charlotte's popular vegan, dairy-, egg- and gluten-free ice cream shop, will open new locations in Davidson and Matthews in 2026.

Why it matters: The expansion marks a major growth step for the Charlotte-born brand, which has rapidly scaled from one shop in 2023 to five locations planned by the end of next year.

• It's also the latest in the second act for local entrepreneur Garrett Tichy, co-owner of Seemingly Overzealous and the founder of coworking company Hygge, one of the city's most well-known startups.

The Davidson ice cream shop is scheduled to open in late April or early May 2026 at 207 Griffith St. in the Sadler Square shopping center, which has recently undergone a major overhaul and is slowly reopening with new businesses.

• Construction on the Matthews location will begin shortly after, with an anticipated opening in late summer 2026. It'll be at 126 Matthews Station St., on the ground floor of a new development downtown, near The Flying Biscuit and Moo & Brew.

What to expect: Tichy says they plan to expand from 12 flavors to 16–24.

• The new locations will also bring shakes, flights and more baked goods — all 100% dairy, egg- and gluten-free.
• Both shops will feature glitter floors, cozy seating (around 20 seats inside plus outdoor seating), and an immersive, playful design similar to the Plaza Midwood location.
• Like their other shops, each will showcase a one-of-a-kind mural by a different local artist.

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💼 See who's hiring around the city.

1. Head of Strategic Programs at Charlotte Preparatory School.
2. Account Manager at Neighborhood Lender Inc.
3. Account Executive at Old Well Labs.

Want more opportunities? Check out our Job Board.

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More than 100 women crowded into one of Charlotte's most beloved dive bars recently to bond over cheating exes.

Why it matters: Johnny Dollars has become a magnet for Charlotte's twenty- and thirty-somethings, thanks in part to its viral social media presence that taps into online humor, nightlife culture and the city's messy dating scene.

Catch up quick: Its social media manager, Sarah Desourdy, regularly shares photo dumps of patrons — always with consent, she says — which have become part of the bar's identity.

• But one night, she snapped a photo of a man who had hopped into a picture with a woman he didn't know. Once posted, the moment looked like something it wasn't.
• Realizing she had accidentally sparked a relationship crisis, she posted an Instagram story to the bar's page jokingly acknowledging she had "offended the noncommittal dating community in Charlotte."
• That story unleashed a flood of responses urging her to host some sort of dating-themed event, and one suggestion stuck: a night inspired by the "Are We Dating the Same Guy?" Facebook groups.

The idea: Women who showed a picture of the person who cheated on them at the door would receive a free drink. Desourdy ran it by owner JT Foster, and it was game on.

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Credit card swipe fees hit record highs last year in the U.S., driving up prices and becoming increasingly visible to consumers already worried about the economy.

Why it matters: All kinds of local stores — restaurants, coffee shops, nail salons, retail stores and even car dealerships' service centers — are now passing those fees along to consumers paying with cards.

• And even if they don't, the increasing fees are causing a "slow cost creep over time that's impacting us all," says Ben Dinovelli, a lawyer and researcher at the Vanderbilt Policy Accelerator.

Zoom in: In North Carolina, if a customer is paying with a credit card, businesses can add a percentage to the bill to offset the fees credit card processors charge them on every transaction.

• It may show up on receipts as a "credit card surcharge," "service charge" or "other." Some places list a "cash pay" discount.
• Customers are rarely warned in advance.

By the numbers: The average swipe fee Visa and Mastercard — the two biggest players — charged merchants last year was 2.35%, a new high, according to Nilson Report, an industry publication.

• That average percentage compares with 2.26% in 2023 and 2.02% in 2010.

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🥐 Brasserie Copain, a French restaurant and bakery, will open at The Bowl at Ballantyne on Jan. 6, per a release.

📝 Parents of an Ardrey Kell High School student filed a federal lawsuit against CMS, alleging the school district violated their daughter's rights to free speech and due process after she painted the spirit rock outside the school in honor of Charlie Kirk. (WBTV)

⚽️ Charlotte FC's Wilfried Zaha and Rodolfo Aloko have been named to their respective national teams (Ivory Coast and Benin) for the 2025 African Cup of Nations, which runs Dec. 21 through Jan. 18, per a release.

🍴 The former JJ's Red Hots building in Dilworth has reopened as The Drum, a revamped event space honoring the site's 1948 drive-up restaurant roots, hosting pop-ups, dinners and special events. (CharlotteFive 🔐)

🍽 NW Met LP, owner of the Metropolitan in midtown, wants to evict the restaurant 3rd & Fernwood due to unpaid rent. (CBJ)

📅 See what's going on around the city.

• Misfit Toys, A Christmas Pop-Up at Queen Park Social now through Dec 31: Inspired by vintage toy factories, '80s holiday movies, and mid-century Christmas kitsch, Misfit Toys invites guests to step inside a whirlwind of festive chaos where every room tells its own story.
• Robert Earl Keen Presents "The Greatest Christmas on Earth" at Carolina Theatre Fri: Get ready to jingle all the way with Robert Earl Keen as he brings back his legendary Christmas tour—a raucous, heartwarming and hilariously festive show. $96.
• Nashville Noel: A Country Christmas Spectacular at Carolina Theatre Sat: This spectacular production showcases the best of country music and the joy of the holiday season, creating a truly enchanting experience for audiences of all ages. $47.
• Belmont Bavarian Holiday Fest at Downtown Belmont Sat: Experience the magic of a German-themed holiday festival in downtown Belmont with Bavarian beers and bites, handcrafted artisan goods, a traditional German polka band, and more.
• Channel the Holidays 5K, 1 Mile & Kids Run at U.S. National Whitewater Center Sat: Run through the channels of the Whitewater Center without the rapids in this trail-to-channel mixed terrain foot race. $45.
• Birdsong 14 Year Anniversary at Birdsong Brewing Co. Sat: Cheers to 14 years of great beer and great people. Enjoy live music, food trucks, a holiday vendor market, live painting, special beer releases, and new killer merch.
• The 71st Annual Singing Christmas Tree at Central Piedmont Community College | Dale F. Halton Theater Sat-Sun: Carolina Voices presents a Classic Celebration of holiday entertainment at The 71st Annual Singing Christmas Tree. $27-$53.
• A Muppet Christmas Carol and The Nightmare Before Christmas at Carolina Theatre Sun: Watch two movies for the price of one. Catch A Muppet Christmas Carol and The Nightmare Before Christmas back-to-back for an afternoon of holiday merrymaking. $16.

Want more things to do? Check out our Event Board.

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Hanukkah starts at sundown Dec. 14, with Dec. 15 as the first full day of the holiday this year.

State of play: Hanukkah 2025 begins on a different day on the Gregorian calendar than it did last year (and will next year), but it's on the same date annually on the lunisolar Hebrew calendar.

Between the lines: Hanukkah starts on the 25th of Kislev on the Hebrew calendar.

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You can bid on Charlotte Hornets game-worn jerseys on MatchWornShirt (MWS).

Driving the news: The team recently announced a multi-year partnership with MWS, making the brand the Hornets' official digital auction partner.

• Kon Knueppel's game-worn and signed jersey from their game against the Knicks is going for just under $5,000 as of yesterday afternoon.

How it works: Jerseys will be listed and auctioned off on MWS's website and app. Fans can bid from anywhere in the world. The jersey will be authenticated before it's shipped.