What's New in Charlotte, North Carolina: Hotel Development, Food Halls & Bodegas, Holiday Events & More
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Oct. 31, 2017) – Recently included in the top 50 best U.S. cities to live in by USA Today, Charlotte is in the midst of a development boom that shows no signs of slowing. In fact, based on projected growth, Yelp researchers say Charlotte is the No. 1 up-and-coming city in the country. Charlotte’s chef-driven culinary concepts, luxury hotels and electrifying major league sports scene aren’t just exciting for locals; visitors reap the benefits, too. Along with the growth, a new breed of markets and eateries have cropped up around Charlotte’s neighborhoods, bodega-style. We’d also be remiss not to mention the 8,198 new hotel rooms slated for development in the Charlotte region through 2020, the 9.3-mile extension of the LYNX Blue Line light rail opening in early 2018, and numerous holiday events that keep friends, family and out-of-towners coming back to visit the Queen City time and time again.
SUITE DREAMS ARE MADE OF…
Hotel development in the Queen City has hit its stride. A new luxury option, The Ivey’s Hotelpampers guests with local partnerships: 5Church Charlotte makes room service even more delectable, and a swanky cocktail bar called Sophia’s Lounge turns after-dinner drinks into an affair to remember. Additionally, upgrades to long-standing favorite The Ritz Carlton, Charlotte have included a new salt therapy vault at its spa as the hotel continues to woo visitors with heady libations at The Punch Room. More than 8,198 new hotel rooms are currently in development in the region through 2020. In 2018, 19 hotels (a total of 2,130 rooms) are projected to open in the Charlotte region. Opening at the beginning of November, Kimpton Tryon Park Hotel is a highly anticipated upscale boutique venture bringing the following to Uptown.
The Ivey’s Hotel
Opening Date: April 2017
Location: Uptown
Number of Rooms: 42
Concept: Located in the historic Ivey’s building at the intersection of Trade and Fifth streets in Center City, Charlotte’s newest boutique hotel is housed in the former J.B. Ivey & Company Department Store, which was designed by famed architect William H. Peeps in the early 1900s. The luxury boutique hotel features 42 luxurious room, in-house dining and room service from the modern and innovative 5Church restaurant, a royally outfitted craft cocktail and tapas bar Sophia’s Lounge, the 1,000-square-foot Tulip Room for meeting space, and the finest amenities and service.
Salt Vault at The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte
Opening Date: October 2017
Location: The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte Spa in Uptown
Concept: Presenting the only salt therapy experience in central Charlotte, the Salt Vault replicates the healing and restorative benefits found in natural salt caves and grottos – where salt’s impacts have been proven to improve and enhance skin, breathing, allergy resistance and general wellness.
Kimpton Tryon Park Hotel
Opening Date: November 2017
Location: Uptown
Number of Rooms: 217
Concept: Adjacent to the 25-story 300 South Tryon office tower and Romare Bearden Park, Kimpton Tryon Park Hotel features a unique design, Angeline’s, an Italian-inspired Modern American restaurant, more than 9,000 square feet of meeting and event space, an indoor/outdoor rooftop lounge, Merchant & Trade, on the 19th floor and an event lawn offering stunning views of the city.
DOWN ON THE CORNER
Charlotte is more neighborly than ever, thanks to the abundance of urban food halls popping up in and around Center City. In addition to inventive breakfast and lunch menus, one-stop shops like Earl’s Grocery in Elizabeth and The Common Market in Plaza Midwood, Oakwold and South End (opening soon) sell local goods—cheeses, craft beer, wine and more. Often the favorite gathering places of locals, these hubs are also known for having extensive drink menus; 7th Street Public Market in Uptown even houses separate coffee and craft beer vendors, Not Just Coffee and Tank’s Tap. This fall, look for newcomers such as The People’s Market—and its cocktail bar, The Queen & Glass—in Dilworth and, housed in a former Lance factory, Lincoln’s Haberdashery in South End. You’ll also find recently opened Rhino Market & Deli in Uptown, a second location for the beloved establishment. And finally, the long-awaited Tompkins Hall, the historic mill redevelopment in the Optimist Park neighborhood between Uptown and NoDa set to open late 2018, will boast 22,250 square-feet of food hall space, 33,470 square-feet of restaurants and retail as well as 80,000 square feet of office space.
Rhino Market & Deli—Uptown
Opening Date: August 2017
Location: Uptown
Concept: Quick bites—deli sandwiches, salads and soups—as well as affordable grocery items and live music made Rhino Market & Deli’s first location a success. In the heart of Uptown’s weekday hustle and bustle, this second location is similar, offering sandwiches and craft beer to the lunch crowd.
The People’s Market
Opening Date: October 2017
Location: Dilworth
Concept: In addition to being an upscale urban market, this all-day food and beverage spot will serve breakfast, lunch, dinner, craft beer, wine and coffee made from locally roasted beans. There’ll be seating indoors, but patrons will also be able to lounge on large covered patio with a fireplace. Around the back, the market’s sister concept, The Queen & Glass, will serve craft cocktails.
Lincoln’s Haberdashery
Opening Date: Fall 2017
Location: South End
Concept: Aiming to fill a bodega void in South End, Futo Buta owner Michael Shortino plans to stock this market with the essentials: fresh-baked bread and pastries, coffee, beer, wine, small grocery items, and grab-and-go food. Housed in a former 1920s Lance Factory, it’ll also have breakfast dishes and a few local retailers.
ROYAL HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS
Known as the Queen City—named in honor of King George III’s wife, Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz in Germany—Charlotte lives up to its royal namesake with a regal roundup of holiday events, including beloved traditions like The Singing Christmas Tree, Christmas Town USA, Speedway Christmas and Holidays at the Garden. New offerings this year include WinterFest at Carowinds amusement park, boasting over 5 million shimmering lights, a 70-foot tree and lavish displays. Also, for the second year Charlotte Christmas Village returns to Uptown Charlotte, bringing a European-inspired Christmas Market with festive eats and Glühwein.
Holidays at the Garden
Dates: Friday, Nov. 17 – Sunday, Dec. 31
Location: Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
Event Details: A twinkling winter wonderland comes to life at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden with more than 600,000 lights, sparkling fountains and a towering tree of beautiful orchids—one of the most popular features at this annual holiday spectacular. Family-friendly fun ranges from live music and marshmallow roasts to visits with Santa and holiday shopping.
Speedway Christmas
Dates: Sunday, Nov. 19 – Sunday, Dec. 31
Location: Charlotte Motor Speedway
Event Details: In its eighth year, Speedway Christmas returns to one of the most popular tracks on the NASCAR circuit, considered the hometown track for most major NASCAR teams and drivers. More than 3 million lights glow on the 3.5-mile lights-to-music drive-thru experience. The speedway also hosts a Christmas Village with a petting zoo, Bethlehem village, photos with Santa and more, while classic holiday movies are shown on the 16,000-square-foot HDTV—the second largest in the world.
Charlotte Christmas Village
Dates: Thursday, Nov. 23 – Sunday, Dec. 24
Location: Romare Bearden Park in Uptown Charlotte
Event Details: Only in its second year, Charlotte Christmas Village transforms Romare Bearden Park in Uptown Charlotte into an authentic European-inspired Christmas market featuring handmade crafts, gifts and specialty foods like Austrian strudels, bratwurst, sauerkraut and German-style baked goods as well as German beer, cider, hot chocolate and Glühwein, a hot mulled spiced wine served during the holidays in Europe.
Carowinds WinterFest
Dates: Select nights Friday, Nov. 24 – Saturday, Dec. 30
Location: Carowinds
Event Details: New this year, WinterFest brings the sights, sounds, fare and celebrations of the holidays to Carowinds amusement park—home to Fury 325, the tallest and fastest giga coaster in the world. Seated on the North Carolina and South Carolina state line, Carowinds will shine bright with more than 5 million lights, a 70-foot-tall tree and larger-than-life displays. Live shows and strolling performers will entertain visitors as they enjoy holiday activities and 16 rides open in the park.
Christmas Town USA
Dates: Friday, Dec. 1 – Tuesday, Dec. 26
Location: McAdenville, North Carolina
Event Details: Located just 15 miles west of Uptown Charlotte, McAdenville—nationally known as Christmas Town USA—makes the season merry and bright throughout the month of December. Since the mid-1950s, local homeowners have come together to make the city glow with lavish decorations and lighting on almost every single home on the 1.3-mile stretch. More than 600,000 people visited Christmas Town USA last year.
The Singing Christmas Tree
Dates: Saturday, Dec. 9 & Sunday, Dec. 10
Location: Knight Theater in Uptown Charlotte
Event Details: In its 63rd year, The Singing Christmas Tree features up to 100 carolers singing popular holiday favorites in a 32-foot-tall tree display. The show incorporates dance, puppetry and Santa. Locals and visitors vie for a coveted seat at one of the five performances each year, including two shows just for kids.
New in Charlotte is a regular update on tourism-related developments in the Charlotte metro area including hotel and venue construction, culinary accolades and openings, the city's major events, and upcoming attractions. Additional information about what's new in Charlotte can be found here and additional photos can be found here. Didn't find what you're looking for? Reach out to our team for more story ideas or visit charlottesgotalot.com/media-resources-photos-b-roll.
Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority
The Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority (CRVA) works to deliver experiences that uniquely enrich the lives of our visitors and residents. Through leadership in destination development, marketing and venue management expertise, the CRVA leads efforts to maximize the region’s economic potential through visitor spending, creating jobs and opportunities for the community. Brands supported by the CRVA include the Charlotte Convention Center, Spectrum Center, Bojangles’ Coliseum, Ovens Auditorium, NASCAR Hall of Fame, Charlotte Regional Film Commission and Visit Charlotte in conjunction with the region’s destination marketing brand, ‘Charlotte’s got a lot.' For more information, visit charlottesgotalot.com.