The Alley at Latta Arcade mixes history with the present

Latta Arcade houses several offices and retailers, welcoming Charlotteans to dine in the heart of Uptown.

A marble facade and entryway which read "Latta Arcade."

While the entrance to The Alley at Latta Arcade may seem unassuming, dining with skyline views makes for a great lunch break.

Photo by CLTtoday

How would you like to combine the history of Uptown Charlotte with your lunch break? The Alley at Latta Arcade, though unassuming on the exterior, provides a skyline view, numerous dining options, and a glimpse into the Queen City’s growth.

History of Latta Arcade

Latta Arcade was established in 1914 by developer Edward Dilworth Latta. Officially opening in January 1915, it was built to house his construction company and grew to include six stores fronting Tryon Street + 16 shops on the building’s first floor.

Now as a designated historic landmark, the destination recently underwent a $2 million upgrade and serves as a nod to Latta’s legacy in Charlotte, plus a collection of eateries in walking distance to Bank of America Stadium, Truist Field, Romare Bearden Park, and The Green.

Fun fact: Latta Arcade is one of the few remaining structures from the early 1900s on Tryon Street.

A two-story dining area with round lights, displaying names of tenants.

The warm interior of The Alley is all thanks to the skylight, providing a view of Charlotte’s highrises.

Photo by CLTtoday

Welcoming guests

While restaurants and businesses along Brevard Court remained open during the renovations in 2024, new and local tenants began filing into the building, welcoming hungry diners and shoppers.

800° Carolinas | Serves pizza, salads, and sandwiches + beer and wine.
Crisp | Salads are built with locally-grown produce and made to order.
Felix Empanadas | Order sweet or savory empanadas in the Charlotte-based shop’s second location. The first opened in 2020 at Optimist Hall.
Gather Flower Studio | Learn to build a bouquet or order the perfect arrangement created with local flowers.
Ohana Poke | Blend Japanese and Hawaiian cuisine with fresh seafood bowls.
Knowledge Perk Coffee Co. | Grab a coffee from this family-owned spot serving locally roasted coffee, fresh bagels, and pastries.

A window that reads "BFF Burgers Fries and Franks" with diners standing behind it inside a dining hall.

Burgers are always a popular lunch choice.

Photo by CLTtoday

Two Scoops Creamery | Satisfy that sweet tooth with ice cream from this Charlotte-based creamery.
Nana Li’s by The Dumpling Lady | Qian Zhang, the owner of The Dumpling Lady, uses family recipes to serve up Sichuan dumplings and dishes.
BFF | As the name suggestions, Burgers, Fries & Franks offers burgers, hot dogs, and fries with your choice of toppings.
Biryani Bliss | Prepare to experience Indian flavors like biryani, curry, and dosa.
Tony’s Shoe Shine | This shoe shine station has been around for 70+ years and is a staple of The Alley.

Editor’s note: We searched and can’t find a website for Tony’s. Guess you’ll need to visit yourself.

The Alley also hosts two national chain restaurants: Potbelly Sandwich Shop and Chipotle.

Coming soon

The growth hasn’t stopped, with several new businesses opening in the coming months, including Jean’s Cold Drinks, Protagonist Beer, and Maneki.

Make sure to keep a close eye on our newsletter and social media for updates on when you can visit all these businesses. Bring your appetite.

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