9 places that have closed in the past year, and what we’ll miss about them
Charlotte feels like it’s changing as fast as it’s growing, with restaurants and venues opening and closing, and apartment buildings continually rising. While we get excited about the new (praise thou grocery store gods for sending us Whole Foods in Uptown), we often mourn the loss of the old.
Here are 9 places that have closed in the past year — and what we’ll miss about them.
Comida in Plaza Midwood
What we know about the closure: Owner Alesha Stegemeyer closed this high-style Mexican restaurant at the end of 2017. She recognized the difficulty in gaining popularity in that neighborhood due to its higher-priced, fine-dining spin on Mexican food.
What we’ll miss: Sipping margaritas in the former location of the Penguin, which Comida had taken over. Luckily, the margaritas and infamous chewy tortilla chips live on in Stegemeyer’s other concept, littleSpoon in Myers Park, where Comida now shares a space.
Park Terrace Stadium Movie Theater at Park Road Shopping Center
What we know about the closure: People freaked out when the closing of this theater was announced in December 2017, after more than half a century of being in business. The building is expected to remain standing, with a new tenant to move in.
What we’ll miss: The independent and foreign films the theater was known for showing. And its historic appeal — Park Terrace was the second oldest movie theater in Charlotte, after the Manor.
Phat Burrito in South End
What we know about the closure: This hip, grungy, fast-casual restaurant with Mexican fare closed in February 2017 to make way for redevelopment. It had been open for nearly two decades.
What we’ll miss: The funk it brought to South End. For a while there, we were pretty sure South End had died. Although, we have to admit the incoming Flower Child eatery sounds nice…
Dean & Deluca at Phillips Place
What we know about the closure: The flagship Charlotte location of Dean & Deluca in Phillips Place closed unexpectedly this week. Signs posted on the building noted that the tenant “defaulted on the lease.” Legal action was expected to follow. Most recently, we heard that all three locations in Charlotte have shut down. (Well, now Uptown’s location will linger for another week.)
What we’ll miss: The Wine Room at the flagship location.
Wu’s Cajun Seafood in South End
What we know about the closure: The hard-to-wrap-your-mind-around Asian/Cajun concept quietly closed at the end of March 2018, after only being in business for about a year. Bottle Cap Group has new plans for the building, soon to be announced.
What we’ll miss: The chance to try that Noodle Salad with kale and crispy quinoa. Oh well, there’s always the Greenville location.
Babushka’s Pierogi in the Pineville area
What we know about the closure: This small, family-owned cafe near the border of south Charlotte and Pineville closed at the end of March 2018, with the ownership citing personal reasons.
What we’ll miss: The chance to try summer and winter versions of borscht. Where else do you find that?
Woodlands Restaurant off Albemarle Road
What we know about the closure: Woodlands Restaurant in East Charlotte closed at the end of March 2018. After renovations, this space is expected to reopen in May as Jyoti’s World Cuisine, boasting an internationally focused vegan and vegetarian menu.
What we’ll miss: The chance to dig into a dish of brightly colored, Indian-spiced vegetable biryani. Our newly opened backup: fast-casual Tandur in SouthPark.
Luca Modern Italian Kitchen in Elizabeth
What we know about the closure: Owners Luca and Jessica Annunziata said the business was too stressful for their family, and chose to close the restaurant in the beginning of April 2018. Luca will transition into a job in the hotel business in Charlotte. Jessica aims to start her own company to roll out food and beverage tours in the Carolinas.
What we’ll miss: Some family-owned Italian goodness in Elizabeth. Doesn’t baked eggplant with San Marzano Sugo and fresh mozzarella sound so good right now?
Healthy Home Market in Plaza Midwood and Matthews
What we know about the closure: The local organic grocer put itself up for sale but was unable to draw in a suitable buyer. Ownership opted to close the two remaining stores in Charlotte in January 2018.
What we’ll miss: The ability to grab a cold kombucha and obscure, fun spices after a class at Yoga One in Plaza Midwood. RIP.
What else has closed in the past year that you’re pining for? Comment below.
This story was originally published April 6, 2018 at 1:00 AM.