Street Level Retail in Downtown Charlotte

[graydog]

Wow, that would be a real boon for Uptown if we had those stores! I would imagine they were just placeholder logos but why would they go to the trouble to adding name-brand placeholders?

[atlrvr]

Apparantly there is a new indepedent clothing store on W Trade....I think in the old, grey midrise building across from Trademark. It is called bijoux 12 and was supposed to have opened earlier this month.

[dubone]

In the Builder's Building? That is a good spot. I just walked by there the other day and didn't see anything, but I guess I'll look again.

I'd really like the green tile building to also have street retail, so we can get something going on West Trade to fill the gap between Gateway and Tryon. With retail on the ground of Trademark, and the new residents nearby, I believe it could work. But then again, so of the other gaps where this is only surface parking would also need to be built up to help create a district.

[uptownJim]

It also might be that it was all too early. Now, you have McCormick and Schmick pulling in lots of people after hours to that corner. You also have Ruth Chris about to do the same thing, and the other retail in 230 S Tryon. You also have three major residential projects going in within a block of it (Trademark, 230 S Tryon, The Trust), which could help to support a store with the right products.

Anyway, I was so excited to see that little spot, I'm really disappointed to hear that it hasn't been able to make things work.

[Charlotte_native]

Where is there going to be retail located on the ground floor of 230 South Tryon?

Anyone know where it is going to go? I could assume on the 3rd Street side, though there would not be much room for other than a tiny little deli or something ...

[Southernyank]

I actually tried to get some pics of bijoux 12 earlier but some bike cop asked me not to snap a picture inside the window. I had to snap and run, so there not that good, but you can basically get the gist of it. they sell watches, neck ties, mens and womens hats, shades and miscellaneous stuff. Its more of an accessories store.

[BUILDIT]

i dont really think that is the retail that uptown deserves but at least its a start

[dubone]

It was a neat store, but that street is kinda dead in that block. There used to be a men's store across the street from the old Authentic Modern space...and it didn't last long there either.

I think you are right dubone that with the right signage and maybe something on Tryon St directing pedestrians to the space could make it work for a retail tenet.

[uptownliving]

Glad I was wrong, downtown needs to take every little thing it can get for street level retail.

[swh1972]

Gold Pepper Grill has closed its doors. For those of you who are not familiar, this was located sort of in the Ivey's building, behind Grand Central, and next to the Subway and Showmars. Famous for their Taco Salad, GPG will be missed.

[Charlotte_native]

KO Sushi in the bottom of 230 South Tryon on the 3rd Street side is supposed to open in a week or two. Really excited about that place...

[BUILDIT]

thats good, I am hesitant to get excited when I hear about the wachovia retail because it probably will have to be accesed through the building or something that makes it less easy to hop in and out. Street side cafes and stores are what we need... but I dont expect it to be too long

[revitalize]

I thought I'd give a review of the addition of some decent street level retail in Uptown - the Quizno's sub and KokoMo's Coffee are now in full operation at the Courthouse Plaza parking deck area! These two new stores have already created an extremely lively plaza streetscape in an area that used to be pretty devoid of people. With the opening of the new Courthouse, the intersection of McDowell and 4th Street is bustling.

Quizno's is, well...quizno's...but it's another option for lunch in this area besides Green's East and Showmar's in Govt Center. The great part is they have outdoor seating with umbrellas and I'm glad to say that most days (usually around lunchtime) these tables are full of people relaxing and eating.

KoKoMo's coffeehouse just opened up last week some time. They are a local business with another store up on Eastfield Rd./Prosperity so this is their second shop. Very relaxing/industrial unfinished sort of feel to the inside of the store. Great views through floor to ceiling windows of the new Courthouse and busy streets outside. Free Wi-Fi (yes!!!!), and the coffee is great. They serve the usual coffee, espresso drinks, etc, and also serve frozen coffee drinks and fruit smoothies too. They have a small but good selection of desserts and offer a simple breakfast menu. KoKoMo's website is kokomoscoffee.com.

There are two more storefronts there - hopefully a couple more businesses will come in soon to make this an even more lively scene.

I didn't have a camera to take pictures... maybe someone else on UP could snap some shots of the scene.

[atlrvr]

The last two spaces will be taken by a drycleaner and a restaurant called "Down to the Bone", which I think serves BBQ etc.

[sleightofhand]

^I drove by it the other day and it looked great, and yes, it was bustling. I was completely surprised.

[Raintree21]

Are these places only open during business hours or can you go during the evening as well?

[fulcrumsf]

The last two spaces will be taken by a drycleaner and a restaurant called "Down to the Bone", which I think serves BBQ etc.

[Raintree21]

Showmars at 201 S. College street just renewed it's lease for 5 more years.

[tiblerbrit]

In the business journal it says that H and M is eying Charlotte. I didn't read the full version, but it seems like Uptown would be a good place for them to put a store. A place like H and M (unlike Gap/Banana Republic) would be able to bring people uptown since it would be the only location in the area and would be very popular. So do you guys think theres any chance they put a store uptown?

[UrbanCharlotte]

5-10%. Id like to think higher, but i've been disappointed many times.

[dubone]

I agree that this would be an amazing draw if located Uptown, but sadly, most stores looking at locating here, would not likely take a risk on an uptown location. They are not coming here interested in charitibly supporting the rebirth of the inner city. They are coming here to reach the most customers and the most money, and those customers and money are found in the malls, especially SouthPark and Concord Mills.

[Raintree21]

I would like to see a restaurant on College or Tryon that serves regular, non-fancy, American food. A place like Elmo's if you've ever eaten there in Carrboro or any other decent diner I guess. A place that has class and style, but everyday people can go to and not worry about being dressed appropriately or being outpriced. I think it would do TONS of business.

[Mobuchu]

So this article is saying that the first two Novare buildings on the old Duke power building site will have 40k sqft of retail. Possibly more in the Twelve building next door once it is finished. The Trump site is rumored by some of our members to have 200k sqft of retail on 2 levels at the Stonewall and Tryon site. We dont know how that retail will be oriented to the street, but its 200k none the less. In between these two projects is Wachovia's mega project which will have 70% (anyone know the sqare footage?) of the ground floor of the site dedicated to retail. Add to that, the current retail along Tryon, the Green, and the future retail at 300 S. Tryon.

Will this be the first true stroll district in uptown? Helping to round all this out is a decent mixture of uses around these blocks. Museums, Theatres, Office towers, 2 different stadiums, Wake Forest U., AACC, 3rd ward park, Hotels, and a dense concentration of residential towers. All these uses, bringing all different people, at differnt times of the day helping to create a 24hr district. Or will it? Does South Park have a choke hold on the upscale retail (which I'm guessing would be more ideal on this side of the city)? Will most of this retail turn into more restaurants which has become the norm for uptown?

The problems I see are the streetscape of 400 S. Tryon and the parking decks along Church st. If retail space can be made out of the street level of decks it would be huge, especially opposite the 3rd ward park.

Thoughts?

[Rufus]

I think that with the Trump development there will be no skimping on the upscale retail. This is just because Trump carries that connotation of luxury. The whole S. Tryon area is really putting itself on the map with all of the development. Uptown already has enough restaurants, well upscale ones anyway so it would be smart to place a more diverse selection of retail.

[atlrvr]

So this article is saying that the first two Novare buildings on the old Duke power building site will have 40k sqft of retail. Possibly more in the Twelve building next door once it is finished. The Trump site is rumored by some of our members to have 200k sqft of retail on 2 levels at the Stonewall and Tryon site. We dont know how that retail will be oriented to the street, but its 200k none the less. In between these two projects is Wachovia's mega project which will have 70% (anyone know the sqare footage?) of the ground floor of the site dedicated to retail. Add to that, the current retail along Tryon, the Green, and the future retail at 300 S. Tryon.

Thoughts?