Axios Charlotte

June 28, 2023
🐪 Hello, Wednesday! It's Laura.
☀️ Weather: Sunny with a high of 88.
🎂 Happy birthday to Axios Charlotte member Octavia Meredith.
💼 On the job hunt? Here are 50 fresh openings to check out.
🛬 Situational awareness: Airport service workers are planning a protest today at CLT at 4pm. They are demanding fair wages and affordable health care from American Airlines, per a statement from the Service Employees International Union.
Today's Smart Brevity™ count is 898 words, a 3-minute read.
1 big thing: ⚽️ Gold Cup guide
You can watch the USMNT on fuboTV and FS1. Photo: Ashley Mahoney/Axios
The Concacaf Gold Cup returns to Charlotte this weekend, Axios' Ashley Mahoney writes.
What's happening: Bank of America Stadium will host a doubleheader on Sunday, July 2.
- U.S. men's national team vs. Trinidad and Tobago at 7pm.
- Honduras vs. Haiti at 9pm.
Why it matters: This is the first time USMNT will play in Charlotte.
Details: Both the lower bowl and the upper deck of the stadium will be open.
- Tickets start at $50 and include both matches.
2. 🚒 School fire investigation continues
Photo: Courtesy of WBTV
An investigation into the cause of Monday night’s fire at Charlotte Prep School in southeast Charlotte continues, Axios' Alex Sands writes.
What’s happening: Charlotte Fire Department, ATF and Charlotte-Mecklenburg arson detectives deployed drones and K-9s on Tuesday to determine the cause of the blaze that took out $2.5 million worth of property, our news partners at WBTV reported.
Details: More than 60 firefighters responded to the three-alarm fire on Monday night. It took about 90 minutes to get the flames under control.
- No injuries were reported.
- The school has canceled summer camps and all other activities for the week.
What’s next: Damage to the lower school building is extensive, Chris Marblo, the head of school, said in a message. The school will bring in temporary classrooms and offices before the next academic year starts.
A new career is waiting for you
💼 Check out who’s hiring now.
- Director of Education and Programming at Sullenberger Aviation Museum.
- Security Associate at Blumenthal Performing Arts.
- Physician Assistant at Starmount HealthCare Management.
- Communications Account Executive at Anna Stallmann Communications.
Want more opportunities? Check out our Job Board.
Hiring? Post a job.
3. 😋 Coming soon to Montford
"Ostrica" means "oyster" in Italian, and since Ferguson and Carter came up with the idea for L'Ostrica over oysters, the name is a nod to the business' inception. Rendering: Courtesy of L'Ostrica
A new tasting menu restaurant and chef’s market called LʼOstrica is opening in Montford.
- It’ll serve international cuisine once fully open, but first, it will operate as a chef’s market.
Why it matters: The duo behind the new restaurant knows a thing or two about Charlotte's restaurant scene. Owners Eric Ferguson, former Stagioni chef, and Cat Carter, a food writer and branding/marketing specialist, have been operating L’Ostrica as a catering business for two years. Now, they’re establishing a permanent presence.
What to expect: As a market, L’Ostrica will serve fresh pasta, sauces, snacks, salads, dips, soups, sandwiches and sweets, all made in-house.
- The market will also sell wine and produce from local farms.
- Later this fall, the restaurant will offer intimate tasting menu dinners, with eight to 10 courses made with seasonal ingredients and optional wine pairings.
4. 🍽 Speaking of tasting menu restaurants...

Counter- in Wesley Heights recently released its latest menu — a vegetarian meal called "Here & Now."
Why it matters: All of the meal's dishes are solely made using ingredients from within a three-hour drive of Charlotte.
- Plus, the demand for vegan and vegetarian options is growing in our city; our team is constantly getting requests on Instagram to feature more vegetarian options.
Context: Counter- is a tasting menu restaurant, which means you can expect about 10 to 14 courses throughout your meal. Each meal (along with the restaurant's decor, playlist and overall theme) changes every quarter.
💭 My thought bubble: I'm not a vegetarian but I really enjoyed this meal. I especially love the attention to detail at Counter-; everything from the dishes I ate on to the art on the wall was a nod to Charlotte and the Carolinas.
- Check out the TikTok I made of my experience.
5. ☂️ Speed reads: Tepper's $2 million donation
Rendering: Courtesy of The Umbrella Center/Risden McElroy
🏗 The David and Nicole Tepper Foundation is donating $2 million to support the construction of The Umbrella Center, a local family justice center, per a statement from the foundation.
- Other support for the east Charlotte facility will come from the county, the city and private funding sources, as Ashley reported.
🌮 Tampa-based Tex-Mex chain Capital Tacos will open two Charlotte locations this year — one in Mallard Creek and another in Cotswold. (Axios)
🗳 Charlotte City Councilmember LaWana Mayfield is running for re-election. (Twitter)
🤝 Samaritan House, a local nonprofit and medical respite for people experiencing homelessness, will reopen next month thanks to the more than $450K in donations raised by community members since April.
6. 🏛 SCOTUS rejects GOP bid to control elections
The U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., is the seat of the Supreme Court of the United States and the judicial branch of government. Photo: Robert Alexander via Getty Images
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that state legislatures do not have the authority to draw electoral districts, rejecting one of Republicans’ most audacious attempts to control elections, Axios’ Sam Baker writes.
- In a 6-3 decision, the justices said states' election laws can be challenged in court.
- The ruling is a rebuke to a burgeoning conservative movement that has sought to block the courts from hearing such cases.
Context: A group of North Carolina GOP lawmakers had asked the court to embrace a sweeping legal theory called the independent state legislature doctrine, which holds that state legislatures have total control over their state's election rules.
Plan ahead
📆 Check out what’s happening on our Event Board.
- The $20 Sale by Nothing New at 165 Brumley Ave. Concord Friday through Sunday: Shop 500+ vintage and secondhand items all priced at $20 and all buy 2 get 1 free. T-shirts, sweatshirts, shorts, pants, hats, flannels, jackets and more. Mix & match to build an outfit or take home 3 of a kind. Free entry.
- Full Moon Paddle at Mt. Holly Boat Landing this Saturday and Sunday: Enjoy a perfect date night, evening out with friends or simply a fun adventure. They shuttle kayakers a mile upstream for a relaxing paddle under the rising moon. No experience needed. Price includes everything. Bonfire with s'mores and beverages. $55.
- Uncle Sam Jam at Fountain Plaza at AvidXchange Music Factory on Saturday: Don't miss the first annual Uncle Sam Jam. Celebrate the USA with great food, cold drinks, and 2 amazing bands. U2 tribute, 'Rattle and Hum' & Special Guests, Incubus tribute 'Are You In?'. $10.
- Charlotte FC vs. FC Cincinnati at Bank of America Stadium on July 8: Charlotte FC faces off against FC Cincinnati. Celebrating Marvel Hero Night in honor of Military Appreciation. Captain America Challenge Coin gate giveaway, post-match firework show and the upper bowl will be open for this match. $15+.
- Girl Tribe Pop Up at The Revelry at Camp North End on July 30: Girl Tribe Pop Up is headed to Charlotte's newest magical venue, The Revelry at Camp North End. Shoppers can expect a full day of shopping, drinks, food, live music, and magical photo moments. $5-$15.
Want more things to do? Check out our Event Board.
Hosting? Purchase an Event Listing.
7. 🏘 Real homeowners of Charlotte
Photo: Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty Images
"Real Housewives" regular Mauricio Umansky is expanding his real estate agency to Charlotte, Axios' Alexis Clinton writes.
What's happening: The Agency, founded by Umansky, opened its first office in North Carolina yesterday.
- It will serve the greater Charlotte area and has plans to open a Lake Norman office next year.
Context: Umansky appears on the Netflix show "Buying Beverly Hills" with his daughters.
- You might also recognize him from "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills."
Full story: "Real Housewives" regular Mauricio Umansky expands real estate agency to Charlotte
8. 🎅🏻 1 festive thing to go
Like their December pop-up, Christmas in July will be walk-in only at BackStage Lounge. Photo: McKenzie Rankin/Axios
Starting today, BackStage Lounge in South End is bringing back its popular holiday-themed pop-up, for "Christmas in July," Axios' McKenzie Rankin writes.
Details: Expect a similar look and feel to the December setup with new holiday cocktails, according to the bar’s Instagram post.
- Christmas in July will run through Saturday, July 29, every Tuesday- Saturday from 5pm to midnight.
- BackStage Lounge is located at 2433 South Blvd. (behind SouthBound).
🍽 We're currently updating our best restaurants list. Don't see your go-to? Let us know which Charlotte staple you think deserves the top spot in this short survey.
S/O to Katie Peralta Soloff for editing this newsletter and Lucia Maher for copy editing it.
Sign up for Axios Charlotte

Get smarter, faster on what matters in Charlotte with Laura Barrero, Ashley Mahoney, and Alexandria Sands.






