Drive about 30 minutes northeast from Charlotte, or hop on the train for roughly 20 minutes, and you'll land in downtown Kannapolis, a former textile town that's remaking itself around baseball, walkability and a revived main street.

Why it matters: Kannapolis' comeback didn't happen by chance. After the textile industry collapsed and downtown emptied out, the city bought up much of it in a bold move to reshape the area.

Flashback: J.W. Cannon bought the land now known as Kannapolis in 1906 and launched Cannon Manufacturing in 1908.

• By 1914, Cannon was known as the world's largest producer of sheets and towels, and the company built much of the surrounding community, including homes and amenities for mill workers.
• After years of ownership changes and layoffs, Pillowtex shut down in 2003 in what became the largest one-day layoff in North Carolina history, dealing a crushing blow to the community and its downtown.
• In 2015, the city purchased eight blocks of downtown properties and buildings for $7.5 million. Many of the former mill buildings were torn down in order to revitalize the area.

The big picture: As Charlotte grows more expensive and crowded, places like Kannapolis are absorbing that demand.

Here are a few ideas for how to spend a day in downtown Kannapolis:

🍔 Grab a bite at Towel City Tavern. The two-story restaurant and taproom is built into the ballpark, with views of the field.

⚾️ Catch a Kannapolis Cannon Ballers game at Atrium Health Ballpark. The ballpark is open to the public from sunrise to sunset.

🛍️ Go shopping at Marketplace on Main. The 40,000-square-foot antique and vintage mall has 200+ vendors across two floors.

Full guide

💼 See who's hiring around the city.

1. Upper School English Teacher (Interim 2026) at Charlotte Country Day School
2. Upper School English Teacher at Charlotte Country Day School
3. Assistant Minister/Children & Youth at Woodlawn Community Fellowship

Want more opportunities? Check out our Job Board.

Hiring? Post a job.

Data center moratoriums continue to expand across the state, according to an analysis by the N.C. Data Center Newsletter.

Why it matters: As developers race to build data centers to meet a growing demand for computing power for artificial intelligence, residents across the country are increasingly trying to limit where they can be built.

Driving the news: Charlotte City Council will discuss data centers at its May 11 meeting.

• Some council members want a moratorium on data centers until regulations can be put in place.
• Mayor Vi Lyles shot down a motion to hold a public hearing on data centers in a tie-breaking vote Monday night, the Charlotte Observer reported.
• "I just don't feel comfortable talking about something without having some research and some information around it, so I am a no," Lyles said.

The other side: "This feels like the wild west right now, and we need some guardrails in place," said councilwoman Dimple Ajmera, who lives near American Tower's proposed center in east Charlotte.

Yes, but: The moratoriums could be tested in the courts and the N.C. General Assembly could always address the matter in its current session.

• Chatham County is being sued by a developer over a moratorium it passed.
• And Gov. Josh Stein has called for lawmakers to review existing tax breaks for data centers.

A new nonprofit plans to create an arts hub in south Charlotte called Charlotte Center for the Arts.

Why it matters: South Charlotte lacks accessible, affordable arts space, CCA co-founder Julia Zilke tells Axios, and the nonprofit hopes to fill that gap by repurposing underused real estate.

State of play: CCA hopes to build a 100,000-square-foot flagship campus in south Charlotte in the next 10-12 years.

• The plans include an 800-seat theater, a black box theater with a shared lobby, plus a classroom and event space.
• The project is estimated to cost $125 million, and CCA is considering locations south of SouthPark.

The latest: CCA will host a happy hour tonight from 5:30-7:30pm at Grace O'Malley's (157 N. Trade St.) in Matthews. Tickets are $25.

• CCA leaders will share where the project stands, next steps, and their long-term vision for the Community Arts Hub.

Keep reading

📅 See what's going on around the city.

• Group Chat Girlies at Thrift Pony - SouthEnd Apr 30: Come help celebrate as GCG officially turns one! Group Chat Girlies is a one of a kind ladies night at ThriftPony! Stand up comedy, interactive segments, and unpacking what's in the group chat.
• SouthPark After 5 at Symphony Park Apr 30: Free live music, food trucks and drinks, and hands-on art experiences are coming to Symphony Park at SouthPark After 5, a free concert series happening every Thursday from April 16-May 21.
• Wildacres Weekend at Wildacres Retreat May 1-3: Join Discovery Place for an all-inclusive weekend of nature adventures in the Blue Ridge Mountains. With sunrise yoga, wildflower walks, stargazing and campfires, there are activities for all ages.
• 2026 Art In The Garden Tour at 9 gardens throughout Charlotte May 2-3: Spend a spring weekend surrounded by beauty, creativity, and inspiration. Art In The Garden Tour offers rare access to Charlotte's most stunning private gardens combined with local artists. $40.
• 2026 Derby Days at Mint Museum Randolph May 2: Derby watch party with live music and lawn games. Complimentary beer/wine, Mint Juleps. Best hat/dressed contests, auction, and raffle supporting the Mint Museum's mission. Derby attire encouraged. $60.
• Scaling Smart: Systems, Customers, Growth at South Piedmont Community College May 4: Scale your business with clarity at the Scaling Smart Summit (May 4). Learn systems, customer strategies, and AI tools to grow efficiently. Free event—register now to secure your spot!
• Secret Gardens of Fourth Ward at Historic Fourth Ward May 16-17: A walkable, self-guided garden and lifestyle tour, complete with food, wine and cocktail tastings, plus live music, at gardens and restaurants throughout Historic Fourth Ward in uptown Charlotte.
• Spider Lily Kayak Tour at Landsford Canal State Park May 16-31: Enjoy a guided kayak tour through the Rocky Shoals Spider Lilies. All gear included. This once-a-year bloom takes over the Catawba River for one of the most unique outdoor experiences near Charlotte.

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

Hosting? Purchase an Event Listing.

⛳️ Rory McIlroy will return to Quail Hollow Club for the Truist Championship next week. (Axios)

🎥 A video filmed by a driver shows a street takeover Sunday night that set part of I-77 on fire. (WBTV)

⛳️ 🚗 A viral video shows an SUV driving onto the Topgolf range in University City over the weekend, causing thousands of dollars in damage, according to an incident report. (Queen City News)

🎤 Shaboozey will perform at Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre on Sept. 20, per a release.

Trio, the EDM nightclub in South End, is swapping late nights for lunges with its new weekly fitness series.

Context: Trio Wellness launched in February and offers fitness classes on the club's dance floor, led by rotating instructors.

• I tried Trio Beats, a crossover of dance cardio and strength work, with weights and resistance bands added throughout.

What to expect: A DJ spins behind the booth, accompanied by a light show. You may want to pack earplugs with your mat and water bottle.

• Classes are offered weekly on Wednesdays at 6pm and cost about $33.
• In addition to Trio Beats, other workouts include Trio Sculpt and Trio Flow.

Zoom out: Trio also started hosting "wellness fest," an alcohol-free event featuring back-to-back workouts alongside a range of local vendors, from coffee and matcha to chiropractors and pop-up pickleball courts.

What's next: Trio's next wellness fest is set for Saturday, May 30 from 11am–2pm.

• Tickets start at $23.