Lost but not forgotten: These Charlotte-area restaurants have closed in 2026
Despite incredible growth in Charlotte’s restaurant industry, there are always notable closures each year that mark a loss in the community.
Some close the doors for financial reasons after fighting rising costs for food, rent and labor. Others are tied to retirements, construction projects, legal problems or other unique circumstances.
Whatever the reason a restaurant shuts down, customers and staff alike feel the sting.
These are the Charlotte-area food and drink businesses that have permanently closed in 2026:
Applebee’s
Location: 137 Norman Station Blvd., Mooresville, NC 28117
The Applebee’s in Mooresville has closed, leaving a note on the door that asks customers to “please visit the nearest location in Statesville,” located at 111G Glenway Drive.
Athens Pizza & Kabob
Location: 2920 Old Monroe Rd, Matthews, NC 28104
Athens Pizza & Kabob closed its doors on Jan. 4, after nearly 19 years of serving pizza, calzones and Persian cuisine in Matthews. Owner Ameneh Pirhayali lost her lease to a road-widening project and hopes to reopen in a new space in the future.
Bitty & Beau’s Coffee
Location: 1930 Camden Rd Ste 236, Charlotte, NC 28203
Bitty & Beau’s Charlotte location is closing March 22. The coffee shop that employees individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities will keep its remaining locations open, including its other North Carolina shop in Wilmington.
Bubba’s Barbecue
Location: 4400 Sunset Rd, Charlotte, NC 28216
Bubba’s Barbecue, which had been closed for renovations for the past year, has been sold and won’t reopen because owner Ralph Miller has been recovering from surgery and unable to lift meat onto the pit. A new restaurant will take its place, he told CharlotteFive in mid-January.
Cavendish Brewing Company
Location: 207 N Chester St, Gastonia, NC 28052
Cavendish Brewing Company owner Scott Cavendish announced his retirement via social media, saying, “It’s been real. It’s been fun. It’s been real fun!,” in a post that was later deleted. A day later, he told The Gaston Gazette that Sugar Creek Brewing was taking over the space. The brewery closed Jan. 8.
Cinnaholic
Location: 915 S Point Rd Suite F, Belmont, NC 28012
Cinnaholic’s Belmont location closed in late March, with franchise co-owner Carrie Tanner sharing: “This decision has come with a lot of heartbreak, but also a lot of pride.” The vegan cinnamon roll chain’s remaining Charlotte-area location in Concord is still open.
Clutch Coffee
Location: Multiple
Clutch Coffee Bar, a drive-thru chain headquartered in Mooresville, grew to more than a dozen drive-thrus, including Charlotte-area spots in Indian Trail, Monroe and Rock Hill. A deal was made with Dutch Bros Coffee to acquire its 17 locations across the Carolinas, according to a message posted to the business’s website. Its last day was Friday, Jan. 16.
Crispy Banh Mi
Location: 2130 Ayrsley Town Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28273
Crispy Banh Mi’s Ayrsley location is closing March 25 after the restaurant lost its lease. The Vietnamese sandwich shop’s other Charlotte locations remain open, serving a variety of banh mi, boba tea and more.
Fontana Di Vino
Location: 4905 Ashley Park Ln, Charlotte, NC 28210
Fontana Di Vino’s SouthPark location quietly closed in mid-February, meeting the same short-lived fate as celebrity chef-owned The Fox and Falcon did in that space before it. The Italian restaurant’s flagship Davidson location remains open, however.
Fresh Egg
Location: 631 Brawley School Road, Mooresville 28117
Location: 14013 North Creek Village Drive, Huntersville 28078
Location: 20609 Torrence Chapel Rd, Cornelius, NC 28031
Restaurateur Mel Funk’s FunkHeizer’s Diner has replaced Fresh Egg in Mooresville, with a Huntersville location opening in early April and a Cornelius one to follow at the current space of Fresh Egg Cornelius. The rebranding includes an expanded menu of smashburgers, salads and dinner options with a full bar, along with all-day breakfast.
Lily’s Bistro
Location: 4547 Charlotte Hwy, Lake Wylie, SC 29710
Lily’s Bistro shut down, and a new Italian restaurant took place, the former owner announced in February. Taverna Italian American Bistro offers similar fare under new ownership.
Masija Beer + Bites
Location: 8320 Pineville-Matthews Rd Ste 607, Charlotte, NC
Korean sojubang Masija Beer + Bites closed in late March after only about three months in business. In its farewell message, the restaurant teased plans to open at a new location but did not say where.
Miki’s Restaurant
Location: 1819 Matthews Township Pkwy, Matthews, NC 28105
Miki’s Restaurant in Matthews is closing March 15, citing “unforseen circumstances.” The neighborhood restaurant was open for 10 years, serving customers at breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Red at 28th
Location: 1315 East Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28203
Red at 28th — which has moved around the city over time with spaces in University City and NoDa — closed its Dilworth location Jan. 15. The hookah bar and lounge’s announcement via Instagram promised “a beautiful vision on the horizon. This includes a new location, new hours, and as always, dope vibes! We look forward to announcing in the next few weeks our new endeavors!”
Reigning Doughnuts
Location: 3120 N. Davidson Street Charlotte, NC 28205
Reigning Doughnuts is closing Feb. 15 to make way for a new mico-deli, Olivelli Deli. The NoDa walk-up window will serve sandwiches, chips and other bites, including soft-serve ice cream.
Skinny Buddha
Location: 201 West Ave, Kannapolis, NC 28081
Skinny Buddha, an Asian food stall in Kannapolis serving sushi, egg rolls and bulgogi bowls, is closing March 8. The reason for its closure at The Bank Food Hall was unclear.
SkyView 22
Location: 9820 Callabridge Ct. Charlotte NC 28214
SkyView 22 closed its brick-and-mortar location at a Charlotte Walmart on March 1, returning to its roots as a food truck and catering business. The soul food restaurant served dinner plates with baked and fried chicken, cheesy macaroni and collard greens, plus burgers and salads.
Slingshot Social Game Club
Location: 332 W Bland St, Charlotte, NC 28203
Slingshot Social Game Club in South End closed up shop on March 28. The bar with self-pour taps offered wings, flatbreads, burgers and spicy chicken sandwiches to eat while patrons passed time bowling and playing arcade games.
Southern Strain Brewing
Location: 1800 Central Ave., A1, Charlotte, NC 28205
Southern Strain Brewing’s Plaza Midwood location closed Feb. 28, leaving only the original Concord location open. The lease for the taproom’s space came to and end.
Sycamore Taproom
Location: 2151 Hawkins St, Charlotte, NC 28203
Sycamore Taproom closed indefinitely on Jan. 5 to “allow space for processing, healing and beginning the work of reimagining this community space,“ owner Sarah Taylor said in a late December letter to the Charlotte community. Taylor’s husband and former Sycamore co-owner, Justin Tawse Brigham, 44, was charged Dec. 11 with statutory rape of a child under 15, first-degree burglary and indecent liberties with a child. On Jan. 8, Taylor filed with the Secretary of State’s office to change the name and rebrand to Club West Brewing, and it is reopening under new ownership.
Tanasia Kenney and Joe Marusak contributed.
This story was originally published January 16, 2026 at 5:00 AM.
