turbocraig

^^Those photos are amazing! Thanks for sharing. Years ago, I went down there to accept delivery with a friend for a new BMW they had ordered and it included the race track experience with the retired F1 drivers riding shotgun. If you've never done it, it is incredible. After our initial orientation, our group was taken out to the track where a new M5 sat waaaaaay in the distance (ass end facing us). We saw a figure walk to the car, get in and reverse at full throttle directly toward us, and at the last second do a 180 and come to a stop about 25' in front of us. He was the lead guy that was giving us all the orders through the walkie talkies or headsets (I can't remember which) as we did some insane driving and maneuvers, and he was some famous F1 driver from somewhere in Europe that had been hired by BMW to create that program there back when that facility opened. They had acres of cars - every model/bodystyle/engine displacement BMW offered, so you could run the sh!t out of a brand new version of the car you'd come to take delivery of to see what its potential was without using your own car. I've never smelled so much burning rubber in my life. So fun.

I was with a friend at Pride who works for TJ's and we ran into some TJ attendees that we talked to for a few moments. They had their work shirts and name tags on, so were easy to spot. The one (a VP, she said) told us that they were also here scouting locations.

How… sporadic.

Somebody who’s a lot smarter than me should write an Op-ed in the O about this subject.

I have a Yelp review on the OG SouthEnd one from the early days. It speaks for itself.

That was on here somewhere a while ago I’m pretty sure. I like the new color, but that name is stupid. So contrived sounding. Shoulda just left it The Packard.

Well, just to be sure, would you mind going down there and talking to the guy QC talked to just so we can clear this up? Also, I thought I was the only one who doesn’t like Seoul…

Not sure if dust has technically been bitten yet, but this does not bode well. CBJ reporting Cantina 1511 suddenly closed both locations “temporarily”… “The closures come after the restaurant faced financial woes in March 2022, filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Quantum faced challenges that started during Covid and continued after, with inflation diving up operating expenses and labor costs. That case was dismissed by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of North Carolina, in December. The court found dismissal to be in the best interest of creditors, according to a filing by U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Laura Beyer. The dismissal came after efforts to sell three Cantina locations fell through. Quantum conceded a lack of sale prospects and lack of profitability at the time.” https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2023/08/16/cantina-1511-restaurants-closed.html

This post is so coincidental. Just today, past clients of mine that I haven’t talked to in about six years reached out to me via text. In our convo, she told me that they (her and her husband) are opening a wine bar and they’d secured space in Elizabeth. And they do live close by. So weird how the universe works sometimes.

Wow! That’s crazy! Wonder if @CLT Developmentknows any more about this…

1995

Wow. Biz Journal reporting that Catawba shut down their Belmont taproom basically without notice. Staff was informed today that they were being let go - without severance. Ownership says they want to find a better place in SouthEnd, but wouldn't you... oh, I don't know... have another location in the works at least before turning the lights off with zero notice? So weird. I feel bad for the staff that just got shafted. Says they also had a Wilmington taproom they closed too. This doesn't sound too good. “We’re just really trying to find a better location for the taproom. This really is just a location change and nothing else,” he says. A former Catawba employee said that the staff was informed on Monday morning that the brewery would close and they were all being let go. No severance was offered — and there was no talk about plans to reopen, the employee says. "We had no prior knowledge," she says, noting there were four full-time employees and eight part-time. https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2023/08/14/catawba-brewing-belmont-taproom-closes-breweries.html

Went to Sycamore finally last night. I've never been a huge fan of Sycamore's beer, but did want to check it out. It's obvious they sunk a huge amount of money into the place (even craning the Airstream food truck onto the upper level terrace). It's definitely a more refined and upscale atmosphere than the revamped warehouse feel of the old one, but it left me a little cold. We felt like we were in a hotel lobby bar. Place was PACKED but we did find a table upstairs outside to eat at. Fried pickles, pizza, and even the dipping sauces weren't very flavorful, but they did keep us alive for a few more hours. I doubt I'll go back; it just isn't my vibe, but it is an impressive set up for folks looking for a big brewery with a slick veneer.

It can't be objectification if they offered a buffet.

Charlotte Beer Garden named best beer garden in the country per USA Today Reader’s Choice poll. It was last year too. I need to start going here more. It’s never on my radar for some reason. https://www.charlotteobserver.com/charlottefive/c5-food-drink/article278028658.html “Charlotte Beer Garden offers one of the largest selections of draft beers you’re likely to find in a single restaurant, with more than 400 beers on tap. Visitors can enjoy their beer of choice at the indoor-outdoor beer bar or on the heated patio,” the report says.

Maybe the occasional cop ticketing people for speeding might have an effect. When was the last time anyone saw someone pulled over for speeding downtown? I live down here and I can’t remember. In fact, the only time I really see police presence downtown is traffic mitigation during games and concerts. Who cares that Chargers and Mustangs sail down Graham St at 65+mph? We may, but does anyone else?

This post struck me as odd since they were so close to completing this building. I drove by today and signage is up, lights are on, and people working at desks inside. Looks up and running to me.

It’s gone backwards. The logo isn’t even lit anymore.

You’re right, it is an incredible view of the city coming down N Graham and pics do not do it justice. Everything looks so far away in pics but it’s like, right there.

There’s an article in the Biz Journal today about Lidl closing 2 NC stores, but then opening others. But this tidbit was interesting to me. I feel like I see Aldis a lot more than I see Lidls. “In 2022, Lidl held 2.46% of the grocery market share in the Charlotte metro area, according to Chain Store Guide. Aldi reported 33 stores but fell just below Lidl with a market share of 2.21%.”

Another rendering from today’s Ledger newsletter.

Why on earth was that glass and water sculpture ever moved from here? I mean, it’s a lovely addition to the 4th Ward park entrance, but what was wrong with it in its originally-designed for location, again?

Welcome back! Is that across from Blue Blaze? I was just there yesterday looking at that development across the street!

Let’s spin that into “vehicular hotel”.