Imagine skating around Eastland Mall’s indoor ice rink on opening day. | Photo via Charlotte Observer Archives within Charlotte Mecklenburg Library
On July 30, 1975, Eastland Mall welcomed shoppers to its grandeur as a retail destination. At the time of its opening, the mall had three large department stores — Belk, J.C. Penney, and Ivey’s — featured an indoor ice rink, a movie theater, and the first in-mall food court on the East Coast.
The mall officially closed in 2010 and was demolished three years later, but its legacy remains, as the site is poised to become Eastland Yards.
The mall’s heyday
“My sixth-grade class flew from Charleston, SC, to Charlotte for the day to go ice skating at Eastland Mall.” — Katie B.
Do you have memories from behind the walls of this iconic mall sign? We want to hear them.
“I can remember wheeling my 8-month-old son through Eastland Mall during Christmas dressed in an Elf Suit. It was magical and a beautiful mall during Christmas!” — Terry E.
Your stories remind us just how legendary it was. Share your own memories and photos with us. We’d love to hear them.
And to commemorate what would have been its 50th anniversary, CharlotteEAST is hosting giveaways through Wednesday, Sept. 17.
First Friday Gallery Crawl | 5-8:30 p.m. | Dilworth Artisan Station | Free | Peruse the works of local artists while touring several of South End’s galleries.
Liberty Steeped: A Revolutionary Tea | 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. | The Charlotte Museum of History | $30+ | Spend the afternoon sipping tea and learning about the role of women in the American Revolution.
“Immediate Family” | Times vary | Booth Playhouse | $27+ | Directed by Phylicia Rashad, this show will turn a family reunion into a family showdown, and you’re invited.
Louis CK | 7:30 p.m. | Ovens Auditorium | $63+ | The actor and comedian is bringing his tour to the Queen City — prepare to laugh.
Charlotte Knights vs. Rochester Red Wings | 5:05 p.m. | Truist Field | $29+ | Enjoy a game of baseball while watching the beloved mascot, Homer, marry his love, Caroline.
Burgers and Drafts at Sycamore | 5-11 p.m. | Sycamore Brewing & Taproom | Cost of purchase | Start the week with friends, cold beer, and a stacked burger.
Maya VP Studios, Charlotte’s largest LED virtual production studio, opens today. The full-service studio boasts a 31-foot wide-by-13-foot tall wall of LED screens, creating a blank canvas for local businesses, schools, organizations, and film productions. (The Charlotte Optimist)
Coming Soon
Lifestyle-brand Hill House Home will open at Phillips Place in SouthPark later this year — its first store in North Carolina. The shop will offer its full collection, like its signature Nap Dress, ready-to-wear clothing, and accessories. An exact opening date is TBA. (Charlotte Business Journal)
Closed
Mazi, a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant in South End, closed abruptly this week. The business by Built on Hospitality opened in March 2024, and didn’t give a reason for the closure.
Try This
Are you ready for some football? Cheer on the Panthers during tomorrow’s Fan Fest at Bank of America Stadium. Prepare for an open practice, live entertainment, fireworks, and a laser show. Tickets are $5 + the event starts at 6:30 p.m.
Civic
Mecklenburg County discussed language for the proposed one-cent sales tax surrounding the P.A.V.E Act. The funds would go to transit projects, including the Red Line to Lake Norman, overseen by a new transit authority. If approved by voters in November, a 27-seat group must be established by Jan. 1. (WCNC)
Community
Mecklenburg County mailed ~458,000 property tax bills, which are due Sept. 1. The funds pay for services like fire and police protection, trash and recycling, parks, public health services, and more. The bills must be paid by Jan. 5, 2026, to avoid interest.
Number
The Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority (CRVA) says it has more than 40 conventions and trade shows booked for 2026. At the end of the 2024-2025 fiscal year, events at the Charlotte Convention Center generated over 250,000 hotel room nights, with events drawing more than 9,000 attendees. (WBTV)
Biz
Brand Camp, a hands-on workshop series for small businesses and lean marketing teams, is launching in Charlotte this month. Co-led by branding expert Kara Hollinger and strategist Jason Spooner, the sessions on Tuesday, Aug. 19 + Wednesday, Aug. 20 provide personalized coaching, brand audits, and registration is filling up.
Charlottean
Joseph McRae, a Charlotte-native and NC State alum, is competing on “Project Runway.” The self-taught designer combines his engineering background to bring outfits to life. Watch him compete on Thursdays at 10 p.m. on Freeform, or Hulu and Disney+. (The Charlotte Observer)
Watch
If you’ve been watching “The Hunting Wives” on Netflix, you may have noticed a scene at Mooresville’s What-A-Burger — but the inside was disguised as the Texas-based Whataburger. The move is becoming a hot topic for viewers. And, yes, there’s a difference. (The Charlotte Observer)
Outdoors
August is peak season for Southern Copperhead snakes in South Carolina. Sean Foley, curator of herpetology at Riverbanks Zoo, says SC residents are reporting encounters on trails, in garages, and even near homes. If spotted, calmly walk away and call a professional to remove it. (WCNC)
Sports
Why were the Hornets last in the league last season, and what changes are coming this year? Go beyond the court for the biggest stories on the Charlotte Hornetswith Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Job
Are you the one we’re looking for? We’re on the hunt for a sales-driven leader to help us land significant brand partnerships at a national scale as a Sales Executive. From a competitive benefits package to 401k matching, we’re a pretty amazing company to work for. Join our team and apply today.
Edu
For those seeking out loan options for upcoming semester expenses, check out College Ave. They offer private education loans starting at 3.19% APR — plus a simple application process, flexible options, and highly-rated customer service.*
Category
Fun Fact
🌆 Hey, soul sister
Arequipa, Peru became Charlotte’s first “sister city” in 1962. | Photos via H.W. Schlieper via Wikimedia Commons and CLTtoday
This Sunday, Aug. 3, is National Sisters Day. While the day typically celebrates the bond between siblings, it’s also the perfect time to shine a light on Charlotte’s own “sisters” — six cities stretching seven countries across four continents.
What are “sister cities?”
Sister cities, also known as “twin towns,” are long-term partnerships between two communities in different countries.
A sister city relationship with Charlotte requires citizen involvement, city council approval, and $50,000 in donations. After both mayors sign the agreement, volunteers coordinate activities to build the partnership.
Sister city relationships are meant to promote peace and mutual respect while fostering cultural exchanges through business, education, technology, and the arts.
Going back in time
The modern concept of sister cities in the US was popularized by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to heal international relationships in the wake of World War II.
On Feb. 5, 1962, Charlotte formally started its first partnership with Arequipa, Peru.
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
Before heading to Fan Fest tomorrow, be sure to celebrate Optimist Hall’s sixth birthday, starting at 5 p.m. The Optimist Park eatery will transform into a free fair, with a Ferris Wheel and other carnival rides, live music, and “Puttskee” — a combination of Putt Putt and Skeeball — set up through 9 p.m.
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