Around Town

The surprising power of the Ballantyne Breakfast Club

By Jen Rothacker

The Story

15 years ago the Ballantyne Breakfast Club started as a small group of 12. Today, 200-300 attend six events a year in the who’s who event of South Charlotte.

The Facts

– Thornhill resident and real estate agent Ray Eschert started the breakfast forum in 2001 with the blessing of the Bissell Co. (the company that developed Ballantyne) and city councilman Don Lochman. His goal: To provide a forum where residents could have frank conversations with decision makers about issues affecting Ballantyne.

– Many call Eschert the Mayor of Ballantyne.

– Each year, a parade of public officials attends the first breakfast to talk about city/county priorities. It’s a must-attend.

– After getting hired, these officials made the breakfast club one of their first stops: CMS Superintendents Peter Gorman and Heath Morrison, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police Chief Rodney Monroe, and Charlotte City Mayors Anthony Foxx and Dan Clodfelter.

— The club is not afraid of controversy, even though it remains non-partisan. Over the years it has held forums with key government officials on:

  • Whether Ballantyne should secede from Charlotte and form its own town
  • Concerns over the I-485 widening
  • Worries over school rezoning

Quotes

C5’s Take

We love an idea that originates from one person, flourishes and continues to thrive after 15 years. And, it’s free and open to all. It meets the second Saturday of February, April, June, August, October and December. Get details at ballantynebreakfastclub.com.

Photo: via Eschert / Charlotte Observer,  Google Maps & Todd Sumlin / Charlotte Observer

This story was originally published January 5, 2015 at 1:11 AM with the headline "The surprising power of the Ballantyne Breakfast Club."

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