Just Opened in Charlotte - May '22
It’s been quite a busy May! And it’s feeling very summer-like here in Charlotte. Escape the early heat by visiting one of these newly opened businesses.
by Allie Papajohn May 31, 2022
Food & Drink
Amélie’s French Bakery & Café
Neighborhood: NoDa
Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 7 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 7 a.m.-midnight.
Charlotte’s beloved French bakery now has a new flagship store! They closed the doors of their NoDa location and are now open just down the road in Villa Heights. Inside, you’ll find the eclectic decor you’ve come to expect and love inside an Amélie’s (including a 24-foot-wide replica of the Eiffel Tower) plus pastries, sandwiches and coffee.
Bagel Boys
Area: Ballantyne
Hours: Wednesday-Friday, 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.; Closed Monday-Tuesday.
A New Jesery-native couple has opened a New York-style bagel shop in the Waverly shopping center. On the menu, you’ll find various bagel and schmear flavors plus “baninis” (press bagel sandwiches), standard bagel sandwiches, coffee drinks and housemade home fries. They’re currently open in training-mode with a “grand opening” date set for June 14th.
Bar à Vins
Neighborhood: NoDa
Hours: Bar open Tuesday-Friday, 4-10 p.m.; Saturday, noon-10 p.m.; Sunday, noon-8 p.m.; Closed Monday. Wine Shop open Tuesday-Saturday, noon-10 p.m.; Sunday noon-8 p.m.; Closed Monday.
Two sommeliers, Natalie Stewart and Jeff Kellogg, have opened this wine bar featuring a wine shop and small bites. Unlike many similar concepts, this spot is a “retail shop with real retail prices,” and the price to enjoy a bottle in-shop is only $10. On the snacks menu, you’ll find fun options like tinned fish with Verdant bread and caviar served with Lay’s potato chips.
Condado Tacos
Neighborhood: South End
Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-midnight.
Come explore this Ohio-based taco shop, not only for their tacos and margarita but for their unique, colorful murals (crafted by 12 local artists.) Build your own tacos with unique shells like the Sweet Lucy (soft flour, hard corn, queso blanco, guacamole) or choose from their signature “taco suggestions.” Charlotte’s location has some pretty sweet happy hour deals, too, including $6 House Margs and $7 Frozen Tequila Sunrises all-day on Mondays.
Drift
Area: Lake Wylie
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 4-10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 4-11 p.m.; Sunday, 3-9 p.m.
A new lakeside dining option is open just miles away from Charlotte on Lake Wylie. Drift is from the same team behind The Pump House, a popular spot on the Catawba River in Rock Hill. Feel free to drive up via car or boat and enjoy steak, seafood, signature cocktails and over 1,000 bottles of wine.
Early Girl Eatery
Neighborhood: South End
Hours: 8 a.m.-8 p.m. daily.
Ever enjoyed this popular all-day breakfast spot in Asheville? Now you can in the Queen City, too. The food menu includes breakfast biscuits, bowls and entrees plus “King Daddy’s Chicken” options (including a Hot Honey Chicken Waffle Sandwich) and various sandwiches, sides and salads. Everyone will find something to love on this fun menu.
Enat Ethiopian
Neighborhood: Optimist Park
Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
The Ethiopian restaurant that has called The Plaza home for four years now has a second location inside Optimist Hall. Stop by this new food stall for sambusa, classic tibs and all the injera. Your lunch break just got that much better.
Fidel’s Kitchen
Neighborhood: Gold District
Hours: 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m. daily (except closed Thursday.)
Get your fill of oxtail, curry chicken, Jerk chicken and so much more from Jamaican-born Fidel Clarke, owner of Fidel’s Kitchen. This ghost-kitchen concept offers delivery or takeout only, so you won’t be able to walk in or order over the phone. Be sure to plan ahead and order on their website or through a third-party delivery service.
IndiGrille
Neighborhood: Montford Park
Hours: Wednesday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Closed Monday-Tuesday.
Completely customize your eating experience at this fast-casual Indian spot located in the lower level of ParkTowne Village. Choose between a curry and rice bowl, curry burrito or Kati roll then pick your protein, toppings and veggies. The restaurant plans to extend hours of operation in the near future, and you can find them on Uber Eats and DoorDash.
Juniper Grill
Neighborhood: Ballantyne
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Charlotte is now home to Juniper Grill’s first location outside of Pennsylvania (and only the fourth overall.) The menu, described as “American cuisine with a fresh Cali vibe,” includes steak, burgers, “big salads,” fish tacos and a nice lineup of margaritas and signature cocktails. Reserve a table now on OpenTable.
Legion Brewing
Area: West Charlotte
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
There seems to be a Legion Brewing around every corner these days! You’ll now find this popular Charlotte brewery off West Morehead featuring a hearty food menu (including wood-fired pizzas) and plenty of locally brewed beer. This particular location offers lots of indoor and outdoor seating, so bring your crew for an afternoon of good eats and drinks.
Mattie’s Diner
Area: Plaza Midwood
Hours: 7 a.m.-9 p.m. daily.
Mattie’s Diner operated at The Music Factory for five years before it closed in 2015, when AvidXChange took over. Since then, the building has been in storage, but it now has a new home in the Plaza Shamrock area. Owner Matthew King has re-opened the diner with more seating and a menu of diner favorites as well as healthier additions.
Summit Coffee
Neighborhood: NoDa
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 7 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday, 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
You can find this Davidson-born coffee shop popping up all over town. The newest is located in Villa Heights and includes your favorite coffee drinks, seasonal selections and pastries. Download their app to order ahead for the perfect grab-and-go moment.
VINYL
Neighborhood: South End
Hours: Wednesday-Friday, 5 p.m.-2 a.m.; Saturday, 3 p.m.-2 a.m.; Sunday, 3-10 p.m.; Closed Monday-Tuesday. (Soft opening hours)
Music-lovers will flock to this new bar in South End featuring craft cocktails, beer, wine and a small but substantial food menu. The best way to describe their vibe can be found on their Instagram post: “Nicer than a dive bar, more relaxed than a club.” We dig it.
Things to Do
Crayola IDEAworks
Area: North End
Hours: Check their ticket website for available ticket times.
This world-traveling tour made its second stop ever right here in Charlotte at Camp North End in the Ford Building, where the popular Immersive Van Gogh exhibit called home for many months last year. The Crayola experience will include opportunities to “think outside the box” in the IDEA Workshop and explore land, space and sea in the Colorverse®. Tickets are available through July 2022.
Super Abari Game Bar
Neighborhood: Belmont
Hours: Monday-Friday, 5 p.m.-2 a.m.; Saturday-Sunday, noon-2 a.m.
Miss the original Abari Game Bar? Good news – it has re-opened in the Belmont neighborhood! The funland features 55 arcade games, 35 pinball machines, lounge booths, a patio, a bar and even “Super Hot Pockets” crafted by Duke’s Bread. Sounds like a good ol’ time.
The Spa at Selenite
Neighborhood: South End
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday, noon-6 p.m.; Closed Monday.
You may already shop at this clean beauty store on Camden Road, and now, you can book spa services such as massages, facials and sound baths. Beauty treatments, like lash, brow and waxing services, are also available. Head to their website to book an appointment and enjoy an hour or two of bliss.
