[SouthPark Mall]

I guess the only thing to do is tear down that big box store and add on out that way with or without a department store addition.

I have a better idea, two words, downtown retail. Remember Ladies, URBANplanet not SHOPPINGplanet, this is about urbanity not whos mall is bigger than whos.

I was hoping dub1's excellent choice of taking this off the top would hide this topic forever, unfortunately it did not.

[210 Trade | EpiCentre]

"Matchy-matchy" urban design is such a drag~~~but Epicentre's boring color scheme is made even worse by the fact that Founders Hall, across the street, is basically the same darn colors!

With Founders Hall, we could forgive the dullness because other structures near the Square weren't beige. But now with Epicentre's similar blandness within eye shot, it all multiplies. The exact opposite of eye candy.

At night, the lighting will be cool. But in the daytime, that lifeless hue will just sit there and underwhelm all passersby.

Reminds me of going into a new home and seeing the ubiquitous eggshell/off-white color scheme. I always wonder why people are so scared of color---maybe Ghazi should steal away Novare's design team. Being afraid of color in a situation like this is just trifling. Epicentre should be dazzling!

There will be non-beige awnings, and non-beige business signage. As well as lights, and different accents. I am not too happy with the mega screens, the curved one looks just as awkward as the one facing the bobcats arena, imho. Hopefully this place will be improved somehow, so much for masonry and stone. Whats with the beige-craze anyway, metmidtown is getting the same treatment, I'm starting to feel like I'm in north myrtle beach.

[210 Trade | EpiCentre]

Bah on the retail.

This location should have Borders, Barnes & Noble, the Gap, Old Navy, Virgin Superstore and things like that.

Instead we get tanning salons and a drug store. I hope to goodness this matures into something better.

If you build it they will come

[210 Trade | EpiCentre]

I'm glad to see some lower scale shops on the list (Brueggers, CVS, Coldstone Creamery, etc.) so this place doesn't go ultra-lux. First Charlotte Physicians is over in Bank Of America 1. Are they moving locations or is this just another office for them?

The are moving and their current offices are part of the founders hall/winter garden renovation in preparation for the ritz carlton/ bofa super block project.

[SouthPark Mall]

So is anyone else kind of wishing upon a star that SP goes 2 stories? If they want to lure more high-end stores or more stores in general they have no choice, unless Dick's goes sour and they build another wing with another department store in that area....hard to tell still.

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why would i want anything in the world such as this that would take away retail from downtown, answer me that.

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Mod edit. Please do not attack other forumers.

[Dilworth Projects (Kenilworth, Morehead, East)]

I noticed today that a new restaurant called 310 Main is hiring and will be opening soon. It's directly across from the Epicurean lot. Also saw that there is a Super Suppers in the same building. I believe that's where you can go and prepare a weeks worth of meals, bag them, freeze them, then thaw and cook when needed. Those places seem to always do well.

Yea super suppers is pretty neat, they've been open for a little over a year now. 131 Main is new only to the location, there is also a location at Blakeney, aka Ballantyne 2. Its a pretty good restaurant, but they are quite bold to move to that doomed location.

[The Vue]

I just peeked at Vue Charlotte's webpage, and it looks like the twin spires are back~

No they aren't, they are only in one of the dozen or so pix. And the only reason it is still in the location pic is because it was probably hard to photoshop out.

[Good New Restaurants]

I just found out that Southend Brewery closed! It's now apparently "Woods on South." It's got a celebrity chef -- Marvin Woods. They are still going to be brewing beer, but it will be handled by the Carolina Brewing Company in a partnership. It opened last night with a charity fundraiser and are doing the same again tonight.

I wonder if I can still use my mug from the mug club.

First post, this was announced on the southend thread a week or two ago. Glad to know that it is already open though, that sure was fast. It will be interesting to see how well a $30+ an entree restaurant does pared with a Brewery. I live in South End, and often was a South End Customer. The question it makes me ask is what happens to the other South End Brewery Locations.