Just Opened - Sept. '21
Cooler weather, is that you?! We’re slowly entering that cool morning/warm afternoon season and honestly, we can’t wait. Get out there and enjoy it at one of these newly opened businesses.
by Allie Papajohn Sep 24, 2021
Food/Drink
D9 Brewing Beer Garden & Concert Pavilion
Neighborhood: Uptown
Hours: Monday-Wednesday, 7 a.m.-10 p.m.; Thursday-Friday, 7 a.m.-11 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sunday, noon-9 p.m.
The much-anticipated additions to D9 Brewing’s Uptown location are open! Keep up with their concert schedule for some live music outdoors and enjoy the beer garden while you hang. Remember that this location also serves Javesca Coffee (hence those early-morning hours) for your caffeine needs.
Emmy Squared
Neighborhood: Plaza Midwood
Hours: Wednesday-Sunday, 5-10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 5-11 p.m.
Popular NYC pizza joint Emmy Squared now has a home in Plaza Midwood. This spot is known for its Detroit-style pizza with focaccia-like crust as well as its signature burger, Le Big Matt. Fun fact: Owner/founder Emmy Hyland says her current favorite pizza is the MVP with housemade vodka sauce, red sauce and pesto.
Havana Smoke & Reserve Social Club
Neighborhood: Uptown
Hours: Monday-Saturday, noon-2 a.m.; Sunday, noon-10 p.m.
This cigar lounge is located in the Binaco building and serves guests on a first-come basis. Memberships are required for entry, ranging from daily and weekly to monthly and yearly. The space also contains a full bar and is available to rent for private parties. One floor up, you’ll find the newly opened Novelty House Rooftop.
JINYA Ramen Bar
Neighborhood: Uptown
Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. daily.
The well-known ramen bar from L.A. is now open in the Ally Charlotte Center (with another one in the works). JINYA offers various types of ramen plus rice bowls, small plates and craft cocktails. The large space offers indoor and outdoor dining plus an opportunity to sit at the chef’s bar to watch the action. Feel like dining at home? Order online for easy pickup.
Land of a Thousand Hills
Neighborhood: LoSo
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 7 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday, 7 a.m.-2 p.m.
NOVEL LoSo Station houses this cute coffee shop from Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee, which works with farmers in Rwanda and sells beans worldwide. Inside, you’ll find an array of coffee drinks (hot, iced, blended) plus tea, pastries, heavier bites, bagged coffee beans and wine and beer.
Novelty House Rooftop
Neighborhood: Uptown
Hours: Monday-Friday, 3 p.m.-2 a.m.; Saturday, noon-2 a.m.; Sunday, noon-9 p.m.
Get your camera ready because the flower wall at this rooftop bar is super Instagrammable. Like Havana Smoke & Reserve, you must be a member to enter, and reservations aren’t available.
Rocket Pizza
Neighborhood: Wesley Heights
Hours: Sunday-Wednesday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Thursday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-midnight.
Taco toppings on a pizza? Sure! Get the Rocket Taco (taco sauce, taco meat, lettuce, onions, tomato, black olives, tortilla strips) at this new pizza point. You’ll find drink specials on game days and penty of TVs for football-viewing. Stay tuned as the owners plan to open several other locations in the area.
Velvet Taco
Area: Montford Park
Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
Charlotte’s second Velvet Taco is now open in the former Urban Cookhouse spot at Park Road Shopping Center. The Dallas-based concept serves fun tacos like Buffalo Chicken, Nashville Hot Tofu, Chicken and Waffle and Cuban Pig. Be sure to check out their “WTF” when you come by, too (that’s “Weekly Taco Feature”).
Things to Do
The Cocktailery
Neighborhood: South End
Hours: Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Closed Sunday-Monday.
Time to shake it up! Tamu Curtis has opened a cocktail supplies and gift shop at Atherton Mill. You’ll find just what you need to craft the perfect cocktail, from shakers and jiggers to bitters and shrubs. In-studio cocktail classes are coming soon, and Tamu also offers private classes and virtual team building sessions.
Twigs & Figs
Neighborhood: Ballantyne
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Keep that houseplant obsession going with this new store in Ballantyne. Find all types of plants and decor or pop by to build a terrarium or design a planter. Feel free to purchase a drink from their bar while you browse.
Development

Refuge
Neighborhood: Plaza Midwood
This “mini hotel” on Central Avenue only has five rooms. Seem a little exclusive? They’re currently experimenting to gather feedback from the neighborhood on a larger boutique hotel in the future. Room plans and booking are available online.