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🚗 No car, no problem
Joinery Alley will feature eateries, shops, and housing within a car-free development. | Rendering by Space Craft via NiceDay
Ever dreamed of living somewhere without needing a car? That’s exactly what Joinery provides. The mixed-use, car-optional community in Optimist Park opened in 2022, providing housing, free e-bike and carshare rentals, and walking distance to the Light Rail.
This year, Joinery is expanding its neighborhood with 14 storefronts, additional apartments, and an official pedestrian-only retail corridor.
Anticipation for the Alley
Joinery Alley, a pedestrian-only corridor, will be located between the three Joinery buildings, creating a car-free passage designed for strolling, gathering, and creating community. Fun fact: The alley was inspired by Japanese yokocho streets.
Space Craft, the Charlotte-based urbanist developer behind Joinery, will host a grand opening for Joinery Alley this year. Developers expect to host food trucks, concerts, farmers markets, artist showcases, and pop-up events.
"[Joinery Alley] is meant to be a space the community helps shape, and that reflects the creativity, energy, and everyday life in Optimist Park,” said Emma Kenney, asset and retail manager at Space Craft.
The start of Ramadan depends on the sighting of the crescent moon, which may take place today. Observe and learn more by attending the Ramadan iftar fundraiser hosted by the Islamic Society of Greater Charlotte on Saturday, Feb. 28 in Plaza Midwood.
Civic
Today is the last day to submit your input on the Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization’s 2055 Metropolitan Transportation Plan. The plan outlines which road, transit, and mobility projects could be built. The CRTPO Board is scheduled to vote on final adoption next month.
Open
Velvet Coupe Wine Bar is now open in Tega Cay, just outside of Charlotte. The upscale wine bar along Stonecrest Boulevard offers a variety of red and white wines, and sharables like flatbreads, cheese boards, and desserts. (The Charlotte Observer)
Coming Soon
Amélie’s French Bakery & Café will open a new grab-and-go location in Plaza Midwood next month. Amélie’s L’Express is expected to have a full menu of macarons, brownies, croissants, and breads + coffee, teas, and lemonade. (Charlotte Business Journal)
Development
Hilton Hotels & Resorts plans to convert part of the FNB Tower in Uptown to a Tempo by Hilton, according to a filing with the City of Charlotte. This will be the first Tempo-branded hotel in Charlotte — North Carolina’s only Tempo hotel opened in Raleigh in January 2025. (Charlotte Business Journal)
Eat
But wait, there’s more. Raising Cane’s will open its first Charlotte-area location on Tuesday, Feb. 24. Expect to order chicken-finger meals, Texas toast, and crinkle-cut fries when the restaurant opens along John Ross Parkway near Dave Lyle Boulevard. (WCNC)
Biz
Global insurance company Amwins filed a plan with the City of Charlotte to build a mixed-use development at Sharon Station. Japanese restaurant Baku, which is at Sharon Station, is expected to leave its location on April 1. Site work will start in June. (Charlotte Business Journal)
Announced
Sloomoo Institute, a DIY-slime lab and play space, will open its flagship location this summer at Metropolitan in Midtown. An exact opening date is TBA — keep an eye on your inbox.
Play
Are you looking for our Games page? You can find it here. Thanks to all of our readers who let us know you’re enjoying this page — our team is continuing to work on even more ways to play in future.
Cause
Meet Ivy, a Labrador retriever that could soon join the Monroe Police Department as a therapy dog. To make it happen, Project 2 Heal needs to raise $15,000 to cover Ivey’s training, certification, and placement.
Number
$185.5 million. That’s how much North Carolina film and TV productions generated in spending in 2025. Projects like “The Hunting Wives” and “Top Chef” also created more than 7,000 jobs across the state. (WCNC)
Job
Six months. That’s how long the average job search takes nowadays, and last summer, job seekers outnumbered job openings for the first time since 2021. Need a hand finding your next role? Start exploring opportunities. (The Wall Street Journal)
Health
Wellness is not one-size-fits-all. With a science-backed program that combines personalized coaching with habit-building tools, Noom is ditching restrictive diets for nourishing meals that lead to real results. Start a free trial.*
Congratulations are in order for this happy couple, who tied the knot during halftime at Carolina Ascent FC’s game this past Saturday, Feb. 14 at American Legion Memorial Stadium. Showing love for our only women’s professional sports team and each other? Goals.
Sometimes the simplest solutions make the biggest difference. These four products tackle everyday headaches — each for under $30.
👜 Tired of your purse tipping over or disappearing on the car floor? These car purse hooks keep your bags within reach.
🚽 Late-night bathroom runs will no longer feel like an obstacle course thanks to this toilet bowl night light.
🧅 Swap baking soda for this fridge deodorizer that works for up to 10 years, so you can set it once and forget it.
🚗 Designed to reduce strain, this vehicle assist handle provides sturdy support to help you get in + out of your car with ease and stability.
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