The Charlotte Hornets broke ground Wednesday morning on Novant Health Performance Center, the team's new practice facility.

Why it matters: Uptown's post-pandemic revival is ongoing. City leaders and team owners believe the team's new practice center will spur economic growth along Trade Street, creating a destination similar to Milwaukee's Deer District.

The potential district doesn't have a name yet, but team owners Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin like the idea of The Hive District or maybe just The Hive as a nod to the Hornets.

Between the lines: When you exit Spectrum Center, you see parking lots, hotels, the transit center, the Blue Line and the Gold Line, plus Midnight Diner.

• Options for things to do after an event at the arena are limited. The same can be said for many of Charlotte's professional sports and entertainment venues.

What they're saying: "This is a great city, a growing city," Schnall says. "It needs a world-class Uptown."

Zoom out: Changes for the franchise are already underway, with a $245 million renovation at Spectrum Center across the street. The arena will close during the upcoming NBA offseason for the second and final round of renovations.

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💼 See who's hiring around the city.

1. Economic Development Manager at Charlotte Regional Business Alliance.
2. Senior Event Manager at Honeywell.
3. Employee Relations Specialist at Krispy Kreme.

Want more opportunities? Check out our Job Board.

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Chili Willi's, a new restaurant by the Duckworth's team, will open in Lake Norman next year, in the former The Waterman space.

Catch up quick: Chili Willi's is a Tex-Mex cantina that operated for nearly three decades in West Virginia before closing in 2011.

• It has sentimental value for Rob Duckworth — owner of the Duckworth's restaurants and Link & Pin — and he's working with the original owner to revive the restaurant and bring it to Charlotte.

What's next: The Duckworth's team is aiming to open Chili Wili's early next year, they confirmed to Axios.

Keep reading about Chili Willi's

✈️ American Airlines will add service between CLT and Aspen, Colorado on Dec. 19. (Axios)

🏡 Former NASCAR driver Kevin Harvick has sold his south Charlotte mansion for $9.825 million. (CBJ)

🎀 A ribbon cutting for the renovated section of Little Sugar Creek Greenway between Morehead Street and East Boulevard is scheduled for 11am today on the section of greenway near Atrium Health's main campus. (Axios)

💵 Two bills in the General Assembly propose raising the state's minimum wage from $7.25. One aims to raise it to $22 per hour, another would increase it to $10 on Jan. 1, 2026, with an additional $2 increase each year until it reaches $18. (WCNC)

🖊 North Carolina lawmakers proposed a bill that would ban kids younger than 14 from creating social media accounts. (WCNC)

⛰️ Gov. Josh Stein is visiting Fairview today to commemorate the six-month anniversary of Hurricane Helene and honor the 106 lives lost, per the Governor's office.

🚔 Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is reporting an overall crime drop of 11% so far in 2025 compared to last year, with violent crime down 19% and property crime down 9%. (Observer)

🍑 Peach Cobbler Factory, a dessert shop at the Metropolitan, will host its grand opening Saturday, March 29.

💰 Sustain Charlotte is returning $10,000 to Duke Energy, the top sponsor of its Sustain Charlotte Awards.

• The nonprofit says the decision stems from Duke Energy "actively working to slow the transition to clean energy and weaken EPA regulations designed to protect our air, water, climate, and health."

This tough housing market could soon get even trickier to navigate.

Why it matters: Some real estate companies want to list homes on private networks, fueling fears that buyers might struggle to access them.

How it works: Right now, most homes for sale are widely viewable online and on multiple listing services (MLS), the databases brokers use.

• A few brokerages are pushing for more leeway to privately share listings with their agents and clients before advertising them publicly on the MLS.
• The National Association of Realtors is considering a rule change this month that could allow it, per HousingWire.

By the numbers: Homes sold outside the MLS in the Charlotte area typically went for more than $3,000 less than those listed on the MLS, per a Zillow study analyzing sales over the past two years.

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News you can use from our partners.

• ☀️ Keep your kids busy in the best way this summer. Charlotte Country Day offers 150+ camp options for children ages 3-18, including sports, academics, outdoor activities and more. Register for camp.
• 🌳 ICYMI: The new Charlotte Museum of Nature is coming to the heart of Freedom Park — and you can help bring this world-class nature experience to our community. Here's how to get involved.

We've rounded up plenty of ways to keep your calendar full this weekend.

⚾️ Friday: Attend the Charlotte Knights' season opener, which will host a free fan fest beforehand. Details

🍷 Saturday: Enjoy hours of wine tastings, cider, cocktails and beer at the South End Wine and Hops festival at Lenny Boy Brewing. Details

🎉 Sunday: Party in the Park with food trucks, live music, museum admission at Mint Museum Randolph. Details

More fun things to do

Sharigato, a new hand-roll-focused sushi restaurant, will open at The Joinery in Optimist Park this fall.

Why it matters: Sharigato will introduce a new kind of sushi experience to Charlotte — one that will be consistent and craveable, served one roll at a time for peak flavor and texture, says chef-owner Shari Lynne Robins.

What to expect: Each roll is made to order and served at a 24-seat counter, where people can watch the process unfold.

• A separate takeout window — dubbed Shariboto — will offer maki-style rolls wrapped in a special film to help retain texture.

Dig in: Menu items include salmon, crab, lobster and shrimp rolls, plus vegetarian rolls and small plates, like blistered shishito peppers with furikake ranch, wasabi Caesar salad, and cucumber and seaweed salad.

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