Concord is joining the party. Starting Thursday, Aug. 1, downtown Concord’s social district will officially open. Concord City Council unanimously approved the decision back in February.
A social district comprises of neighboring areas where people can walk with open, to-go containers of alcoholic drinks. Charlotte’s Plaza Midwood + neighboring cities like Gastonia and Kannapolis already have active social districts in place.
Drinks must be purchased from ABC-permitted restaurants and bars and consumed on sidewalks and public areas within the social district zone.
The zone includes stretches of City Place, Spring Street, Market Street, Union Street, Church Street, and McCachern Boulevard.
Pro tip: Social district guests must use an approved cup provided by participating locations available for purchase.
Business owners hope the social district will have positive results on revenue and give visitors further incentive to stop and stay awhile.
Andrew Angel, owner of Cellar Door Wine Shop in downtown Concord, told WCNC he knew what he was signing up for when he picked the location earlier this year.
“We’ve been walking town and saying ‘You know what this town really needs,” Angel said. “Pedestrian-friendly restaurants out on the sidewalk. It made sense to ask will there be a social district?”
Get ready to cheers. Drinks will be allowed in the district from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week.
