Soul’s menu offers a variety of small plates and sushi rolls. | Photos by CLTtoday
Hungry for something new? Charlotte’s dining scene just got better, with several highly anticipated openings — plus, a peek at what’s coming soon. Save this list to stay ahead of the Queen City’s ever-growing culinary game.
August openings
ESO Artisanal Pasta, Optimist Hall | Italian
The food stall offers handmade pastas, in addition to arancini (fried risotto balls), meatballs, and Sicilian fried chicken, using ingredients imported from Italy.
Soul Gastrolounge, 4110 Raleigh Ave. | Tapas
The new iteration of this beloved Plaza Midwood spot will be found in NoDA, serving their famous pork belly tacos, small bites, cocktails, live music, and a tattoo lounge coming soon.
The Improper Pig is planning to transform the former Pizza Peel location in Plaza Midwood.
Renderings by Southwick Architecture + interiors courtesy of NiceDay
Coming soon
The Improper Pig, 1600 Central Ave. | Barbecue | Projected opening: fall 2025
The new restaurant’s flagship will be designed like a lively backyard barbecue, serving smoked meats, Asian-inspired specialties, and more.
Uchi, The Commonwealth | Sushi | Projected opening: early 2026
The renowned spot by James Beard award-winning chef Tyson Cole, is expected to serve fresh sushi, hot and cold plates, and seasonal omakase.
Crackle Paint Book Vase Class | 4 p.m. | Fewell Park Center, Rock Hill, SC | $34 | Learn to transform an old book into a painted vase.
SouthPark After 5 | 5-9 p.m. | Symphony Park | Free | Bring the family and a lawn chair for an evening of live music, food trucks, and activities at the park.
River Jam | 7 p.m. | US National Whitewater Center | $12 | Enjoy the sunset as live music plays next to the rapids.
Friday, Sept. 5
Daytime Pasta Making | 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. | Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen | $80 | Learn to make three savory pastas from different doughs.
University City Food Truck Friday | 5-9 p.m. | Armored Cow Brewing Co. | Cost of purchase | Spend the evening with craft beers and food truck fare.
3rd Annual Remember Our Heroes 5K | 9 a.m.-1 p.m. | Nation Ford High School, Fort Mill, SC | $40 | Lace up your shoes for a race to support first responders.
Yiasou Greek Festival | 11 a.m.-10 p.m. | Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral | $5+ | Soak up the sun at this lively festival packed with live music, games, dancing, and Greek food.
SuperMotocross World Championship Playoff | 2:30 p.m. | zMAX Dragway, Concord | $53+ | Watch 22 of the best riders compete on the track with big air jumps at high speeds.
Carolina Ascent FC vs. Tampa Bay Sun FC | 7 p.m. | American Legion Memorial Stadium | $18+ | Fill the stadium to cheer on Charlotte’s only women’s professional soccer team during their home opener.
Rides aren’t the only thrills this year — for the first time ever, the fair will feature a rodeo hosted by Southern Rodeo Company, a two-time award-winning stock contractor.
If approved, the new Excelsior Club would serve as a community gathering space, restaurant, and live music venue.
Renderings by Crosland Southeast via City of Charlotte
Development
The historic Excelsior Club could soon see a $7.8 million revitalization. The proposal would transform the venue into a two-story venue featuring a museum, live performances, and a restaurant. If approved, construction would begin in the second quarter of 2028. (WCNC)
Announced
Charlotte is about to get wild. Survival expert Bear Grylls, known for “Man Vs. Wild,” will host a one-night-only fireside chat at Carolina Theatre. Mark your calendar for Tuesday, Nov. 4 — tickets go on sale tomorrow, Sept. 5, at 10 a.m.
Transit
A section of the Rail Trail near South End’s New Bern Station will close Monday, Sept. 8, for a drainage replacement project. One side of the trail will be closed at a time to allow for an accessible detour route. The closure is expected to last four months and will not disrupt the Blue Line. (WCNC)
Job
AVL USA Inc. plans to hire 300 workers by July 2026 at its new headquarters in Charlotte. The company started production this week, making enclosures for industrial power generators. See what’s available. (Charlotte Business Journal)
Sports
Meet Sir Purr, the TopCats, and Panthers legends during a pep rally tomorrow, Sept. 5, at the Bowl at Ballantyne, starting at 11 a.m. After that, go beyond the practice field for the biggest stories on the Carolina Pantherswith Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts, as the team preps for Sunday’s game against Jacksonville.
Biz
Charlotte-based Belk will serve as the presenting sponsor of the inaugural Dick Vitale Invitational. The Duke Blue Devils are slated to face the Texas Longhorns on Tuesday,Nov. 4 at the Spectrum Center and on ESPN. Ticket presale registration is underway.
Edu
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte hit a record 32,207 students this fall — up from last year’s 31,091. Growth came from new undergrads, returning students, and online programs. Students now represent all 99 NC counties, 50 states, and 128 countries.
Ranked
Charlotte ranked No. 9 on Smart Asset’s 2025 Safest Cities list, one notch above Raleigh (we see you, RALtoday). Rankings are based on crime, alcohol use, and income statistics.
Try This
L’Ostrica is launching Takeover Tuesdays starting Tuesday, Sept. 9. The new dinner series features local chefs showcasing their skills and creativity in the kitchen. Book your table for a seven-course Korean dinner prepared by Rada’s Sous Chef Yongwon Hwang.
Featured Deal
Hair loss deserves more than guesswork. That’s why we’ve partnered with Happy Head. Use code 6AM to get 45% off a dermatologist-developed, customizable treatment plan for hair loss.*
Finance
When some of the big investors who backed companies like Uber and eBay before they IPO’d invest in a new company, people take note. That’s the case with Pacaso — 10,000+ everyday investors are already in. But the chance to join them ends Thursday, Sept. 18. Learn more about the opportunity.†‡*
Aside from megapacks and weekly coupons, did you know several retailers offer customers 55+ hefty discounts — sometimes up to 20% off? Learn about key Senior discounts and several more savings hacks older adults should know about to continue saving and building wealth at age 50+.*
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.
How many people attend the Yiasou Greek Festival every year?
For three days, the Yiasou Greek Festival feeds thousands of visitors from across the Carolinas.
Photo via Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral
The annual Yiasou Greek Festival kicks off tomorrow, Sept. 5, drawing 45,000 people to Dilworth — 39% of readers guessed correctly. Don’t fret, you can still enjoy the festivities whether you guessed correctly or not.
If it’s free, it’s for me. OneBlood is hosting blood drives at Habit Burger & Grill in Denver, Indian Land, Monroe, and Mooresville today. By donating blood, you can help save a life + receive a free burger, a $20 gift card, a T-shirt, and wellness checkup.
‡‡Finance “investment method” disclaimer: This is a paid advertisement for Pacaso’s Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.pacaso.com. Reserving a ticker symbol is not a guarantee that the company will go public. Listing on the Nasdaq is subject to approvals. Comparisons to other companies are for informational purposes only and should not imply similar success. Under Regulation A+, a company has the ability to change its share price by up to 20%, without requalifying the offering with the SEC.
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