Charlotte retailers that promote creatives are closing. But they won’t be gone for good.
A pair of Charlotte retail shops that showcase clothing, jewelry, art and other products from small business owners is closing this weekend.
Charlotte Collective owners recently announced they’re shutting down their Plaza Midwood location 1222 Central Ave. because of rising rent.
The Boho Collab in Dilworth at 316 East Blvd. is also closing its doors less than a year after opening. But the reasons are different.
After testing out a retail space, best friends and co-owners, Sara Tall and Kris Cox say, they are closing the shop to focus on pop-up events and online sales.
“It’s us getting back to the roots of our business. Overall, it’s a sad thing but we’re happy because when one door closes, another one opens and there’s so many opportunities for that in Charlotte,” co-owner Sara Tall said.
Tall and Cox each had their own successful online businesses prior to opening Boho Collab. In March of 2022, they decided to team up and open a retail space selling products from their brands, Notso Designs and Shop Kiki in person.
After six months, they brought in other small business owners who were not in other stores.
“We weren’t originally going into this as a collab, but we had a tiny bit of extra space so why not open it up to our friends,” Tall explained.
Tall explained when the store originally opened, they weren’t certain about its longevity at first. Despite a successful run, they decided not to renew their lease.
“It was basically a year-long pop-up for all of us -- just a way to get our names out there,” Tall said. “Unless you’re well-established, having a physical retail space in Charlotte can be difficult to get the word out.”
Homewurk owner Annabelle Johnson, who uses the Boho Collab as her only physical store location to sell her stock of women’s clothing items, agreed.
“It [the store’s closure] really has a big impact on other businesses in the area and discourages them from wanting to do something similar in the future,” Johnson said. “We would love to have a storefront too, but unless you have a massive and steady following, it’s really difficult to have that.”
Mike Arriola, the North Carolina district director of the U.S. Small Business Administration, said 99.6% of all businesses in the state are considered small. And that statistic tends to hold up even at the local level.
“The impact is very clear, given the fact that many of these folks won’t have retail space to work out of,” Arriola said.
Both Johnson and Tall explained online sales and pop-up events were most successful for their businesses. It was a revealing lesson that there are several ways to shop small.
“Just because they’re [The Boho Collab] closing, none of those businesses [from the store] are closing,” Johnson said. “You can still go to pop-ups, go online, shop through Instagram and really still support those businesses on all fronts.”
The Boho Collab is holding a closing sale on Jan. 28 and small businesses at the Charlotte Collective have also marked items down before the store closes for good on Jan. 29.
Several pop-up events in Charlotte have also been scheduled for this year and many of the businesses may be featured at these area locations:
Cocktails + Cupids
When: Feb. 9
Time: 5-9 p.m.
Where: 1217 The Plaza, Charlotte, NC 28205
Celebrate Valentine’s Day early with this holiday-themed pop-up event. You can shop from seven small businesses, all of which are solely online or pop-up businesses. From clothing to permanent bracelets, there will be a wide variety for shoppers.
Mini Pop-Up Market
When: Feb. 23
Time: 6-8 p.m.
Where: 340 W Tremont Ave. Suite 140 Charlotte NC 28203
Grab a beer and shop small at Hi-Wire Brewing. Each week, the pop-up will feature a rotating cast of local creators and cultivators.
Girl Tribe Pop Up
When: March 12
Time: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Where: 2122 Thrift Rd. Unit C, Charlotte, NC 2820
Shop from local boutiques, beauty brands and other women-owned small businesses based in Charlotte. If you can’t make this one, there are two more pop-up events planned for April 8 at the Charlotte Convention Center and May 7 at Alexander Homestead. You can buy tickets for all events online or in person.
March Front Porch Fest
When: March 25
Time: 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Where: 2000-2140 South Boulevard, Charlotte, NC, 28203
Stroll through South End and shop from over 30 different vendors. There will be coffee, beer, food and family activities.
Front Porch Sundays
When: April 2
Time: 11 a.m.- 4 p.m.
Where: 2000-2140 South Boulevard, Charlotte, NC, 28203
This is a kick-off to one of Charlotte’s largest monthly pop-up markets. You can shop from 70 local vendors on the first Sunday of every month. Dates have already been confirmed through June.
Nebel’s Alley Night Market
When: April 8, May 13, and June 10
Time: 4-9 p.m.
101 West Worthington Avenue, Charlotte, NC, 28203
You can shop under the stars at this pop-up event. There will be over 30 vendors to shop from plus food, drinks, and live music. If you can’t make this one, there are other pop-ups scheduled for May 13 and June 10.
Is there a pop-up event we missed? Let us know.
