Local guide: 31 businesses in Commonwealth and Plaza Midwood to support right now
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Local guide: 31 businesses in Commonwealth and Plaza Midwood to support right now
Last chance to get pork belly tacos from iconic Midwood restaurant Soul Gastrolounge
Over the past few years, Charlotte’s Commonwealth and Plaza Midwood neighborhoods have seen the departure of several local businesses, such as Reggae Central, Buffalo Exchange and Nova’s Bakery. Soul Gastrolounge will be added to the list on Sunday, Aug. 14.
While some of these businesses are longtime staples of the area and others are somewhat new, it still hurts to lose a favorite local retailer or restaurant. Here at CharlotteFive, we want to make sure you aren’t blindsided by your favorite business leaving. So, we compiled a list of 31 local Commonwealth and Plaza Midwood businesses to support now:
Akahana Asian Bistro
Location: 1308 The Plaza, Charlotte, NC 28205
If you are in the Plaza Midwood area and in the mood for sushi, Akahana Asian Bistro is your best bet. The restaurant has been serving BOGO sushi rolls since 2009. The restaurant combines a sushi bar, an Asian kitchen and a full-service bar.
The sushi bar offers fish including Temaki, Nigiri, Hosomaki and Makimono. The restaurant also can accommodate a variety of customers like sushi beginners and enthusiasts, vegetarians, vegans and pregnant women.
Bistro La Bon
Location: 1322 Central Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
Luxury never goes out of style and Bistro La Bon knows this. The restaurant is in Central Square, the same shopping center where RoCo and Yama Izakaya were once located.
The European-style bistro offers a one-of-a-kind dining experience that uses locally sourced products to create global dishes. The restaurant also has a selection of vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options.
On Saturday and Sunday, the restaurant hosts Brunch 2.0, a buffet-style all you can eat brunch. Wash down your brunch with a Bistro Peach Bellini, mimosas or a Bloody Mary.
Burial Beer
Location: 1214 Thomas Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
Burial Beer planned to move into Plaza Midwood in May 2022, but the opening was delayed due to construction in the area. Now it’s open with a taproom called The House of Relics that honors the history of both the property and Plaza Midwood.
The brewery and taproom, located in the former Boris + Natasha space, has become part of the change happening in the neighborhood. The taproom has an indoor lounge, outdoor beer garden and a rooftop deck. Boris + Natasha has moved to Plaza Shamrock, just 2 miles down the road.
Calle Sol Latin Café & Cevicheria
Location: 1205 Thomas Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
Calle Sol is a Latin American cafe that began in Commonwealth and recently expanded to SouthPark. Since it opened in July 2021, the cafe has focused on Cuban and Peruvian cuisine like different types of ceviches, a fusion of Chinese and Latin foods called “Chino-Latino” and Latin soups.
Led by chef Paul Cruz, the restaurant makes dishes such as pasta huancaína, Cuban Fried Rice and aji chicken salad. The restaurant offers three beloved and classic desserts: Key Lime Pie — made with a graham cracker crust, key lime custard and whipped cream — Guava Maria — made with cream cheese ice cream topped with guava and Maria cookies — and Flan — made with traditional vanilla custard, a burnt sugar top and caramelized syrup.
Charlotte Tattoo Co.
Location: 1514 Central Ave., Charlotte, NC 28205
Whether you got your first tattoo or one of many in Charlotte, you might have gone to Charlotte Tattoo Co. The shop, owned by Bill Harris, has been serving Plaza Midwood for eight years.
Rent has risen 75% in the eight years the business has been in the area. However, Harris has no plans to leave the area anytime soon.
“It’s still a great neighborhood,” he said. “One of the last truly artsy kind of districts in Charlotte.”
Cilantro Noodle
Location: 2001 Commonwealth Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
If you like Vietnamese food, then here’s one suggestion: Cilantro Noodle. According to owner Steve Ly, the restaurant will not be leaving anytime soon. “The location was just perfect for our concept, fast-casual Vietnamese,” he said.
The locally owned restaurant serves everything you need to feel nourished and fed. Now that you know the restaurant is here to stay, celebrate with one of the restaurant’s signature pho dishes, which have cilantro, filet mignon and shrimp. These dishes are sure to warm and fill you rain or shine, hot or cold.
CLTCH
Location: 1512 Central Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
Brought to you by the owners of Soul Gastrolounge, Sister and Tattoo, CLTCH is a jewelry, accessory and gift boutique. While Sister and Tattoo have left and Soul Gastrolounge will leave on Aug. 14, the boutique is here to stay.
Co-owner Lesa Kastanas said the boutique has no plans of leaving soon. Retail has been rapidly leaving Plaza Midwood, according to Kastanas. “I think it’s important that Plaza Midwood is not just a restaurant and bar neighborhood but also a retail shopping neighborhood as well,” she said. “And we’re committed to that.”
Coaltranes Char Grill
Location: 1518 Central Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
Coaltranes has offered South American-style cuisine since 2017. Located near the corner of Thomas Avenue and Central Avenue, the restaurant took over John’s Country Kitchen, a breakfast staple for 38 years.
Popular items include:
Stuffed Avocado — a ripe avocado stuffed with wild rice and quinoa, topped with queso fresco, red peppers and salsa roja on a bed of romaine.
Fresco Bowl — pulled rotisserie chicken, black beans, avocado, arugula, shaved carrots, pickled red onion, queso fresco, quinoa and wild rice.
Rotisserie Chicken — brushed with the homemade Maple Chipotle or Buffalo Sauce and served with two sides of your choice.
Common Market
Location: 2007 Commonwealth Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
One of the hallmarks of the area is Common Market. The market serves food, drinks, provisions and good vibes. Luckily for you, the good vibes are here to stay. Owner Blake Barnes confirmed with CharlotteFive that the store is staying put.
Unlike other businesses in the neighborhood, its rent has not risen as much. “I was able to lock myself in a good lease with a huge buyout,” he told us, noting a tight relationship with his landlord.
Celebrate Common Market by grabbing a sandwich like the Evil Homer — made with turkey, bacon, cheddar cheese, dill pickle, tomato, onion, lettuce and Duke’s mayo on sourdough — and washing that down with a cold craft beer.
The Diamond
Location: 1901 Commonwealth Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
The Diamond, which opened in 1945, is one of the oldest restaurants in Charlotte. The restaurant is known for its homestyle diner food.
The restaurant has endless options and food to fit everyone’s tastes. Choices include Jumbo Wings — Buffalo style, hot or lemon pepper sauce — Chef Salad — iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, onions, peppers, cucumbers, sliced ham and turkey, cheddar cheese and a hard boiled egg — and Hot Oven Cheesesteak Sub — thin sliced ribeye, onions, peppers, mayo and provolone cheese.
dish
Location: 1220 Thomas Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
The increase of long-time businesses and restaurants leaving the Plaza Midwood area has made many nervous. Well, rest assured dear reader because Dish, which is now under new (local) management, will continue to serve its loyal customers.
Amanda Cranford said many customers are regulars who hang out with the servers outside of work. “I think that there’s a lot of a lot of fear going on right now that the changes are gonna come in and breed out the true sense of the community that is here,” Crawford said.
The restaurant serves the breakfast menu from Sammy’s Deli, a neighborhood staple which closed in 2020.
Fuel Pizza
Location: 1501 Central Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
With the help of local residents, Fuel Pizza has thrived in serving the neighborhood with delicious pizza made with quality ingredients. Fuel sits across the street from the soon-departing Soul Gastrolounge.
The restaurant serves specialty pizzas like Buffalo Chicken Pizza — made with Buffalo sauce, roasted chicken, carrots, cheddar cheese, mozzarella, bleu cheese dressing and cilantro — Garden Veggie Pizza — multigrain crust, tomato sauce, spinach, tomatoes, garlic herb cheese, onion, green peppers, mushrooms and mozzarella — and Aloha Pizza — made with ham, bacon, honey, pineapple, mozzarella, jalapeño and scallions.
Giddy Goat Coffee Roasters
Location: 1217 The Plaza, Charlotte, NC 28205
Have you recently been caffeinated? If not, you’re in luck because Giddy Goat Coffee Roasters can fuel your caffeine addiction.
Assistant manager Ethan Desmond said rent for the cafe has not gone up too much. “We hope to be in Plaza for as long as Plaza will have us here,” he said.
“We want to be a part of this community and continue to have a positive impact on this community,” he said.
[READ NEXT: Giddy Goat opened a second location at the Dowd YMCA.]
House of Africa
Location: 1215 Thomas Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
House of Africa has been serving in Plaza Midwood since 1997. Owner Pade Ndiaye is also the face behind the annual Juneteenth Festival of the Carolinas on Thomas Avenue.
The store sells jewelry, clothing and art. It is located right in front of Burial Beer and has no plans of leaving the area. “It’s a family-oriented neighborhood,” Ndiaye said. “I love it.”
Jackalope Jack’s
Location: 1801 Commonwealth Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
One thing is true, Charlotte has plenty of bars to meet everyone’s tastes. Jackalope Jack’s is a sports bar and nighttime hangout where you can have a beer while watching the game with friends.
The bar has two main dishes: Bangers & Mash — made with two British Bangers, mashed potatoes, peas and HPP Sauce — and Fish & Chips — made with beer battered Atlantic haddock, slaw and crispy seashore fries served with apple cider tartar sauce.
[BEST SOCCER BARS: Check out our list of the best bars to watch Charlotte FC.]
Legion Brewing
Location: 1906 Commonwealth Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
Since 2015, Legion Brewing has been serving Plaza Midwood in the former Brodt’s Music building. In 2016, the brewery partnered with Roots to add food to the menu.
The brewery offers many beers on tap with creative names like Winnie the Brew — an Imperial IPA with 10.2 ABV — Supernova Strawberry Mango — a sour Berliner Weisse with 4.8% ABV— and Southern Apple — a traditional Apfelwein with 5% ABV.
Mama’s Caribbean Grill
Location: 1504 Central Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
After about 20 years in Plaza Midwood, you can count on Mama’s Caribbean Grill to have a hot, authentic Jamaican meal for you. When visiting the restaurant, the taste of jerk chicken, oxtail and curried chicken to completely wash over your tastebuds.
When owner Vinroy Reid first moved into the building, he paid $2,000. Rent for the restaurant rises every year, he said, and has nearly doubled.
Fear not, the beloved restaurant has no plans of leaving soon. “I have a good landlord that I’ve been working with and my intention is to eventually be an owner,” Reid said.
Midwood Guitar Studio
Location: 1517 Central Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
Calling all musicians: Midwood Guitar Studio will be staying in Plaza Midwood. The studio has been in the area for six years, despite a rent increase of about 15-20%.
The shop offers acoustic and electric guitars, amps, pedals and used gear. The shop offers services like setting up the guitar, restringing and bone nut replacement.
milkbread
Location: 1431 Central Ave, Charlotte, NC 28027
Soon to be located in the old Dairy Queen, milkbread serves more than just, as the name says, milkbread. The restaurant already has a location in Davidson that opened January 2022.
Co-owner Katy Kindred recently told CharlotteFive’s Ebony Morman that she and her James Beard-nominated husband, chef Joe Kindred, are very excited and passionate about restoring the former Dairy Queen building. “We’re in the process of a very careful restoration of that building because we feel very passionate to keep the neighborhood feel of it.”
The restaurant will serve bowls and salads, toast and biscuits, coffee and beer. There are also six milkbread options: original glaze, milk chocolate, seasonal donut, mixed dozen, milkbread mini cinnies and BFC, which stands for “Big Freaking Cookie.”
Pizza Peel
Location: 1600 Central Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
In the Winter of 2014, the Plaza Midwood neighborhood was warmed up by the arrival of Pizza Peel, a pizzeria and taproom. The restaurant uses molasses, olive oil and wheat and white flour to create its unique crunchy exterior and soft interior.
The restaurant serves specialty pizzas, including:
El Blanco — made with 3 cheese sauce, mozzarella cheese, sliced tomato and fresh basil.
Tong’s Thai — made with Thai sweet chili sauce, chicken, red onion, red pepper and mozzarella cheese garnished with fresh basil.
Positive Friction — made with a pesto base, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, feta cheese, mozzarella cheese and fresh tomatoes.
Okra Yoga
Location: 1912 Commonwealth Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
Find your zen at Okra, the yoga and wellness studio which opened in 2012 and named itself after the “weird and beautiful underdog of the vegetable kingdom” known for its slimy texture. The studio also provides massage therapy and private healing sessions.
The studio offers six types of yoga: Chillax Yoga, Deep Stretch, Yin Yoga, All-Levels Flow Yoga, Jivamukti Yoga and Primal Yoga.
The Rabbit Hole
Location: 1801 Commonwealth Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
Do you love live music? The Rabbit Hole hosts both local and nationally touring acts. The music venue provides an intimate setting with a capacity of about 350 people and a low, small stage.
The space hosts multiple genres including funk, punk, metal, hip hop and blues. There is also a special event room for birthday parties, holiday parties and private parties with catering by The Peculiar Rabbit.
SADU Body Modifications
Location: 1515 Central Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
Since 1999, piercing studio SADU Body Modifications has been located on the same street where departed businesses like Buffalo Exchange, Reggae Central and Nova’s Bakery once existed.
Have no fear, the studio has no plans of leaving at the moment. Front counter manager Kaya Stowers said the studio is trying to stay in Plaza Midwood since it was established there.
Smooth Monkey
Location: 1801 A, Commonwealth Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
Are you into smoothies and acai bowls? Smooth Monkey has been serving them up since it opened in March 2019. The shop uses multiple bases — almond milk, whole milk, coconut milk, apple juice, pineapple juice, cranberry juice, orange juice, cold brew coffee, Red Bull Tropical and Hemp Energy juice — to meet everyone’s tastes.
If you’re craving something a bit more sweet, the shop has options like the Blizzard King made with banana, Oreo, Heath, Snickers Butterfinger and your choice of milk.
Snug Harbor
Location: 1228 Gordon St, Charlotte, NC 28205
If you love underground artists, then Snug Harbor in Plaza Midwood will pique your interests. The venue hosts a diverse array of local artists that attract both older and younger clientele. It celebrated 15 years in May 2022 with back-to-back live shows.
The music venue is also LGBTQ+ friendly with events like Shiprocked!, a dance party that celebrates the Charlotte LGBTQ+ community. The event will feature performances from local drag artists, burlesque and aerial performers and DJs.
All concertgoers must be 18 years of age or older. All other events are ages 21 and up with a surcharge of $5 for anyone ages 18-20.
Soul Gastrolounge
Location: 1500 B Central Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
If you haven’t heard (and of course you have!), Soul Gastrolounge will be closing on Aug. 14 with a plan to reopen in a new location next spring. You still have a few days to enjoy the flavorful creations made by the restaurant.
The Asian Glazed Pork Belly Tacos — one of the restaurant’s popular tapas — is served on tortillas and coated in a watermelon salsa. You can also try The Queen Charlotte, one of the restaurant’s original sushi dishes. It’s an 8-piece roll made with tempura shrimp, cucumber and capelin roe with spicy mayo, wasabi aioli and eel sauce.
Thomas Street Tavern
Location: 1218 Thomas Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
While bar hopping in Charlotte, you may have come across Thomas Street Tavern, a neighborhood hangout with a pool table, bar food and a stage where local musicians perform live.
Try one of the bar’s sandwiches like the Midwood Reuben — made with your choice of turkey or corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese and thousand island dressing — and Commonwealth Roast Beef — sauteed mushrooms, melted Swiss cheese and marinated roast beef on a Nova roll served with au jus and horseradish sauce.
Undercurrent Coffee
Location: 2012 Commonwealth Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
Undercurrent Coffee opened a Plaza Midwood location in 2018. In order to make the best coffee possible, the shop uses carefully sourced ingredients. The shop also has a location in Optimist hall and partnered with Not Just Coffee to open Night Swim Coffee in South End.
The coffee shop serves three gluten-free breakfast options: “Plough Boys” Grit Bowl — made with Anson Mills slow-roasted corn grits, fire roasted tomato gravy, braised Barbee Farms greens and Holly Grove chèvre cheese — Sunrise Yogurt — greek yogurt, orange zest, turmeric coconut cream, orange slices, buckwheat groats and New Communities pecans — and Strawberry Overnight Oats — Anson Mills toasted stone cut oats, J&J Farms honey, cinnamon, and toasted maple pecan granola.
Whiskey Warehouse
Location: 1221 The Plaza, Charlotte, NC 28205
During a night on the town in Charlotte, you’ve probably come across the Whiskey Warehouse in Plaza Midwood. Since 2009, the rustic atmosphere, jumbo wings and endless whiskey, the restaurant has attracted locals and tourists alike.
Try one of the restaurant’s daily drink specials, such as $4 Sam Adams seasonal drafts and $5 George Dickle Lemonades on Monday, or $3 mimosas, $5 Bloody Marys and $3 Miller Lites on Saturday.
Workman’s Friend
Location: 1531 Central Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
When grabbing drinks in Plaza Midwood, stop by Workman’s Friend to sit in the outdoor, covered space and watch the bustling cars and people go by. Since it opened in late 2015, the pub has served guests Irish whiskey and local beer, brunch and lunch options.
Try one of its popular items:
The Working Man’s Burger — made with house-ground brisket and ribeye, Irish cheddar, lettuce and onion served with hand-cut chips (a.k.a. “fries”) and aioli, or
Fish & Chips — battered cod served with green peas, hand-cut chips and tartar sauce.
Zada Jane’s Corner Cafe
Location: 1601 Central Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
If Central Avenue is part of your daily commute, you’ve probably passed by Zada Jane’s Corner Cafe, a longtime staple in Plaza Midwood. Since 2008, the cafe has offered different breakfast, lunch and dinner specials, so guests will never have to eat the same thing twice.
The cafe serves specialty breakfast plates like The Zada Jane 28205 Basic Breakfast — made with any style of egg, a choice of protein (bacon, local Clearview Farms pork sausage*, turkey sausage, turkey bacon or soy sausage), one carb (Herb Roasted Spuds, Sweet Potato Hash, Stone-Ground Grits or Fruit cup) and toast or biscuit — and Pinckney Street Pancakes — three fluffy buttermilk pancakes served with honey butter and syrup and your choice of side.
While the shop is not going anywhere anytime soon, owner Marcia Hurst is not fond of the changes happening in the area. “Just a little disappointed in people coming in and making it impossible for people to survive that has been here for so long and that customers really like to walk to,” she said.
