Business leaders met in Ballantyne to discuss economic development in south Charlotte. | Photo by CLTtoday
Much like the stretch of land along Johnston Road that is now The Bowl at Ballantyne, the Queen City’s business culture is undergoing rapid change — a topic business leaders recently discussed in south Charlotte.
“All of us need to pay attention to what’s happening around us and become involved in our communities,” said Ron Pappas, owner of New Leaf Development and former Mayor of Waxhaw. Pappas served on a panel of local ambassadors representing commercial real estate, master-planned communities, and retail development hosted by South Charlotte Partners.
With a flourishing job market, the panel discussed the significance of public-private partnerships, predicting they will be essential for adapting to changing market conditions.
Gingerbread House Competition | 6-9 p.m. | Urban District Market | $25 | Craft the most impressive gingerbread house to win prizes with your most creative friends.
Winter Duckpin League 2025| 5:30-7 p.m. | Pins Mechanical | $250 per team | Assemble your team before the Winter Duckpin League kicks off Jan. 14.
Wednesday, Dec. 11
A Night of Storytelling through Writing | 5-9 p.m. | Bechtler Museum of Modern Art | Free | Connect with fellow artists and art enthusiasts over festive refreshments.
Candlelight: Holiday Special| 6:45-8 p.m. |The Barrel Room at Triple C Brewing | $50 | Gather for a holiday-inspired evening featuring music from “The Nutcracker.”
Lindsey Stirling: The Snow Waltz Tour | 7 p.m. | Ovens Auditorium | $125+ | See the renowned violinist tear up the stage with her biggest holiday hits.
Thursday, Dec. 12
Indie On Wheels - Best Short Films | 6-8 p.m. | Independence Regional Library | Free | Grab some popcorn to see audience-favorite short films from the 2023 Charlotte Film Festival.
Harp Ensemble Christmas Concert | 7:30-8:30 p.m. | Ballantyne Presbyterian Church | Free | Fall into the holiday spirit during this ensemble of local harpists of all ages and levels.
✨ A replenishing afternoon at Woodhouse Spa SouthPark
Presented by Woodhouse Spa
We feel more relaxed just looking at these cozy spaces. | Photos by CLTtoday
Hey Queen City, it’s your CLTtoday team here, glowing like the Spectrum Center on game night after a blissful visit to the oh-so-luxe Woodhouse Spa SouthPark.
The complimentary mimosas + snacks. Sipping and unwinding in the quiet room before treatments was easily one of the best parts of the visit, and the attention to detail inside the space was truly above and beyond.
The historical Carolina Theatre aims to reopen on March 6, 2025. Originally built in 1927, the Charlotte landmark along North Tryon Street has undergone a $90 million renovation project to offer future guests a revitalized and enhanced theater experience. (The Charlotte Observer)
Development
A Camp North End development analyst foresees between 1,500 to 2,500 apartments will be built at the site over the next decade. Former pro-soccer player Tesho Akindele spoke to WCNC echoing the city’s efforts to expand permitting for duplexes and triplexes in the Queen City. (WCNC)
Traffic
The Stonewall Jackson School pedestrian bridge over Old Charlotte Road is being removed this week following concerns about falling debris. Drivers will be redirected along NC 49, Stough, and Roberta Roads before returning to Old Charlotte Road. The project will last several days. (WCNC)
Ranked
Expecting in 2025? Atrium Health made US News & World Report’s “2025 Best Hospitals for Maternity Care.” Hospitals were evaluated based on their performance in areas like newborn complication rates and transparency regarding racial disparities.
Announced
Bank of America Stadium is hosting four matches during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025. Spain will face Mexico on June 22 followed by Portugal vs. Germany on June 24 — and then two matches in the Round of 16 on June 28 (Group 1C v 2D) and June 30 (Group 1E v 2F).
Biz
Windsor Square Shopping Center, one of the area’s largest shopping centers, is under new ownership. Sterling Organization sold the 653,955-sqft shopping center to Hackney Real Estate Partners for $70.1 million. The site at Windsor Square Drive opened in the late 1980s. (Charlotte Business Journal)
Concert
Country music star Keith Urbanis returning to Charlotte for his High and Alive World Tour. Mark your calendars for Friday, May 30. Urban will perform at PNC Music Pavilion + tickets go on sale Friday, Dec. 13 at 10 a.m. Urban last performed at Bank of America Stadium in October for Concert for Carolina.
Arts
More than 30 western North Carolina potters will be featured in this weekend’s pottery market at the Mint Museum. All proceeds from sales go directly to the participating artists. Plan to shop this Saturday, Dec. 14, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Queen City News)
History
Talk about historical — check out the finalists for our Charlotte historical markers contest. Vote for your favorite historic location by Wednesday, Dec. 11 + be sure to read our newsletter on Friday, Dec. 13 to see which location you, our readers, determined should get the recognition it deserves.
Number
$3,841. That’s the new single day donation record for The Magical Toy Drive hosted by The Salvation Army and WCNC. Looking to spread holiday cheer? Donation barrels are placed at Charlotte-area Belk stores to drop off new, unwrapped toys. (WCNC)
Sports
“We will have the gold standard of achievement.” Tim Albin was officially introduced as UNC Charlotte’s new head football coach.Albin previously led the Ohio Bobcats to their first MAC Championship title since 1968 with a 38-3 win over Miami (Ohio). (WCNC)
Listen
The Panthers fought until the last 30 seconds but came up short against the Philadelphia Eagles. Learn where the Carolina Panthers go from here with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Plan Ahead
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Finance
6AM City COO Ryan Heafy here — we’re referring friends to American Express’s The Business Platinum Card®. Join the AMEX family + receive up to 150,000 member points.*
Category
Eat
🍽️ New restaurants coming in 2025
Sample Indian cuisine when Krazy Curry opens a new Uptown location. | Photo via Yellow Duck Marketing
Charlotte’s food scene is expanding in 2025, and we’re giving you a sneak peek at some restaurants making their Queen City debut.
Antagonist | Get ready to sip drinks in this new all-day cafe/cocktail bar, set to open in The Campbell near South End in spring 2025. Heads up: Antagonist will encourage a no-cell-phone use policy during evening hours.
Krazy Curry | The Indian-Nepali restaurant will open its second Charlotte-area location at One South in Uptown in January 2025. The restaurant is moving into the former Salsarita’s Fresh Mexican Grill.
Osteria LuCa|The Italian restaurant is set to open in Huntersville at Stovehouse in early 2025, seating 150+ guests with a covered patio.
Smalls Sliders | This fast/casual cheeseburger slider hub will be coming to the Charlotte area in 2025. Exact locations are TBA. Fun fact: NFL Hall of Famer Drew Brees is an investor in the Louisiana-based chain.
The Buy
The Buy
A meaningful gift that will surprise and delight: a hidden photo bracelet. Customize with the photo of your choice — the gift recipient can hold it up close to their eyes to see it, or project it on the wall with their phone’s flashlight.
Last weekend was a terrific weekend to be in Charlotte. Along with catching great pro-tennis at The Charlotte Invitational or seeing Clemson University win the ACC Championship in Uptown, I was at Lake Norman on Saturday for a friend’s engagement. The water wasn’t cold enough to stop this gorgeous grey heron from hunting for fish.
