An insider’s guide to uptown Charlotte’s Overstreet Mall
If you’ve lived here for a while, you likely already know about uptown’s “hidden” mall. But if you just moved here or it’s been a minute since you’ve explored Center City, this one’s for you: We’re about to take you on a tour.
Inspired by the Galleria in Milan and Place Ville-Marie in Montreal, in 1971, city planners proposed that Charlotte create a series of tunnels and indoor shopping plazas through uptown that “brightens the daily lives of workers in the office towers and visitors from everywhere by providing them with an attractive environment of their own, remote from the noise and fumes of the street — a zone of restfulness, but also of elegance and vitality in the heart of the city,” according to the Ponte Travers Wolf Plan proposal.
A few years later, Overstreet Mall was complete. This weather-proofed, climate-controlled series of tunnels, bridges and walkways wraps 1.5 miles from the Duke Energy Center headquarters building on Stonewall Street to the Hearst Tower on the other side of uptown on Fifth Street.
Workers can save a lot of time using the mall to run errands, Myers said. So if you have to “pick up something from the pharmacy or those kinds of things, you can do it during the week and don’t have to do it on the weekend when you get home.”
“It provides a great service for the uptown workers and employees. It’s a great way to grab your lunch and run some errands in addition to all the grab-and-go restaurants,” said Cheryl Myers, chief planning and development officer of Center City Partners.
Although originally designed for uptown workers, the variety of restaurants, retail and services in Overstreet Mall can appeal to every Charlottean and provide a weather-proof way to explore uptown.
You can find a photo guide to navigating the walkways here, and a guide to the highlights in each building in the mall below. Happy strolling.
Three Wells Fargo Center
401 S. Tryon St.
Restaurants
Locally owned Jackson’s Java has served speciality coffee drinks uptown since 1994. It has many unique signature latte options, as well as seven flavored drip coffee options that rotate daily.
Shops and services
The Wells Fargo History Museum has free admission and features exhibits like a stage coach simulator and historic coins from the Charlotte Mint.
Skywalk: Go up the escalators that will lead you to a rainbow tunnel. Two Wells Fargo Center is on the other side of this tunnel.
Two Wells Fargo Center
301 S. Tryon St.
Restaurants
In addition to a selection of french pastries and light bistro fare, this Amelie’s location also has a wine bar and selection of craft beer.
A little quaint cafe serving up speciality coffee drinks and a selection of breakfast foods, soup, sandwiches and ice cream.
This take-out spot for California-style burritos, tacos and nacho salads is an uptown lunch favorite — arrive early to avoid the line.
Just Fresh offers up a selection of sandwiches, soups, salads and smoothies to the uptown lunch crowd.
A high-end restaurant serving up global cuisine with a southern twist.
Shops and services
Opened in 1986, This local florist offers same-day delivery on a variety of custom floral arrangements.
JR’s has a selection of sundries, snacks, sodas and greeting cards, and it also offers dry cleaning.
Relaxations offers barber cuts, natural hair styles, makeup artistry and chair massages. It has a nail bar coming soon, too.
Skywalk: Once you enter Two Wells Fargo Center from the rainbow tunnel skywalk, the escalators to your left will take you to One Wells Fargo Center. The elevators straight ahead across the atrium will lead to a short sidewalk in a parking garage that will connect you to BB&T Center and the rest of Overstreet Mall.
One Wells Fargo Center
301 S. College St.
Restaurants
Independent coffee shop Charlotte Coffee Station serves up specialty coffee drinks, smoothies and baked goods from Monday to Friday.
FUJO Bistro serves Chinese and Japanese cuisine for lunch and dinner during the week and dinner on Saturdays. Check out its sushi lunch specials — you can get two rolls for only $10.50.
Shops and services
This uptown branch of the YMCA features amenities such as an adults-only lap pool, a variety of fitness classes, towel service and an in-house cafe with fresh and healthy lunch and breakfast options.
Novant Health Uptown Primary Care
Novant Health Uptown is an adult and pediatric primary care facility.
This upscale sundries shop features fresh meals and snacks from local vendors like Pasta and Provisions and Nothing Bundt Cakes alongside an extensive wine and beer selection.
This grade A salon provides salon services such as regular, gel and acrylic manicures, pedicures and face and body waxing with no appointment necessary.
This dry cleaner has an automated machine outside of the storefront so customers can pick up their dry cleaned clothes after hours.
BB&T Center
200 S. College St.
Restaurants
Chop and Chisel provides pre-prepared grab-and-go meals, kombucha and other healthy treats.
This Canadian-based chain serves up a health conscious menu of bowls, soups, salads and frozen yogurt.
Locally owned fast casual restaurant Zen Taco has served Latin and Asian fusion cuisine to Overstreet walkers since 2016. Try a brisket taco with Korean BBQ sauce, or build your own steam buns for a unique uptown lunch experience.
Shops and services
Spectrum Eye Care offers basic eye exams for kids and adults and LASIK eye surgery. It also has an optical store with contact lenses, prescription glasses and sunglasses available for purchase.
The Overstreet Mall Merle Norman Cosmetics shop is both a makeup counter and salon, providing services such as eyebrow waxing, special event makeovers, ear piercing, nail services and hair removal.
Skywalk: Take a left after Zen Taco through a tunnel that will take you to Charlotte Plaza. Continue walking straight to get to the Bank of America Plaza and the rest of Overstreet Mall.
Charlotte Plaza
201 S. College St.
Restaurants
This sports bar is on the bottom floor of Charlotte Plaza and has 20 rotating beers on tap, a menu of entrees and bar bites, and lots of screens to watch the game after work.
Local chain Showmar’s serves up a selection of Greek and American specialties like pita burgers, Greek salads and gyros. This location is one of the few in the area that also serves breakfast starting at 6 a.m.
Shops and services
This locally based boutique features jewelry, home goods, apparel and more from over 40 Charlotte-based artists and businesses.
This CBD boutique has cannabinol in many forms such as edibles, tinctures and more. It also features beauty products and items for pets.
Bank of America Plaza
101 S. Tryon St.
Restaurants
Devon & Blakely serves breakfast with a full coffee bar and lunch options like speciality sandwiches, soups, salads, quesadillas and more on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Energy Café featuring Green Brothers Juice
This restaurant features a full selection of juices and smoothies from Green Brothers plus healthy breakfast and lunch options such as sandwiches, salads, grain bowls and more from Energy Cafe.
Essex is an upscale craft cocktail bar and gastropub right outside the Overstreet Mall entrance at Trade and Tryon.
Fast casual joint Uncle Maddio’s serves up pizzas, calzones, salads and sandwiches with gluten-free and vegan options.
This budget-friendly sandwich chain offers any of the sandwiches on the menu as a salad, tortilla wrap or lettuce wrap.
Shops and services
Beehive Gifts offers a selection of souvenirs and gifts from local artists and artisans and national brands.
This family owned jewelry shop has been selling watches and fine jewelry uptown since 1936. It also offers jewelry and watch repair.
CC’s is an affordable boutique featuring trendy clothes, jewelry, purses and accessories.
This upscale fitness center has a gym, group fitness classes, personal trainers, a full basketball court and locker rooms with laundry service, steam rooms and dry saunas.
Charlotte NC Tours offers segway tours around Center City, including a Haunted Segway Tour, A Taste and Glide Tour, Historic Uptown Tour and more.
New Creations offers hair cut and design, color, texturing and hair removal services for men and women.
This four-star hotel has an on-site restaurant and bar, Trade, and a poolside rooftop bar, Coin Bar, which is open to the public after 5 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays, and after noon on Sunday.
StayMobile offers iPhone, iPad and cellphone repair services, as well as a variety of accessories.
Top Shoe Repair
Top Shoe Repair provides shoe shines and repairs, and also has a replacement key machine.
Skywalk: Continue walking straight through the hallways until you see the Caribou Coffee on your left and Ivy and Leo on your right. Then you will have arrived at Founders Hall.
Founders Hall
100 N. Tryon St.
Restaurants
Aria is an upscale Tuscan-style grill serving Italian food for lunch during the weekdays and dinner Monday through Saturday.
Taste is a cafeteria-style canteen featuring a grill, sushi bar, salad bar, baked goods, a coffee bar and more with internationally inspired menus that rotate weekly.
Shops and services
Bank of America Store and Heritage Center
This gift shop is full of Bank of America branded items like shirts, umbrellas, mugs and more.
Booth Playhouse is part of Blumenthal Performing Arts Center and hosts a variety of dance, choral and other performing arts events.
Blis features a playful selection of jewelry, paper goods, toys and other gifts from brands like Lilly Pulitzer, Kate Spade, Swell and Rifle Paper Company.
Hendrix Business Systems provides office equipment to local businesses in Charlotte.
Women’s clothing boutique Ivy & Leo offers an affordable selection of trendy clothes, shoes and accessories.
Jos. A. Bank offers a selection of selections of suits, sweaters and business professional outerwear for men.
This barbershop offers men’s haircuts, crewcuts, buzzes and beard trims. Show a student ID for a discount on your cut.
Yeager Chiropractic and Wellness Center
This wellness center offers services such as chiropractic, nutritional services and acupuncture.
Skywalk: On the second floor next to the Blumenthal Performing Arts sign, you will see a sign for Hearst Tower. Go into the hallway next to the sign to get to Hearst Tower. Continue past the Hearst Tower sign to a skywalk leading to the Bank of America Center
Bank of America Center
100 N. Tryon St.
Restaurants
Southern American restaurant Rooster’s boasts a seasonal menu featuring entrees like duck breast, and smoked and spiced wings served with sides such as garden peas, fingerling potatoes and fire-roasted beets. Much of the food on the menu is sourced from local farmers.
Shops and services
My Cleaners and Sundries
Hearst Tower
214 N. Tryon St.
Restaurants
This bakery uses locally sourced and vegan ingredients to make a selection of cupcakes, cakes and pies.
Sea Level is an oyster and cocktail bar focusing on offering sustainable and locally sourced seafood from North Carolina farms.
Shops and services
Hearst Tower Newsstand
This story was originally published September 5, 2019 at 10:03 PM with the headline "An insider’s guide to uptown Charlotte’s Overstreet Mall."