An ‘Archive’ of Black media awaits at new West Charlotte Coffee Shop
Archive, a new coffee shop and bookstore showcasing Black ephemera from the 1930s to now, is opening in Charlotte on Saturday, Aug. 27.
What in the world is ephemera, you wonder? They are items of printed collectible memorabilia, such as magazines, that had short-term popularity.
Cheryse Terry, who grew up in West Charlotte, is the owner and founder of Archive, which will offer coffee, tea, memorabilia and books for purchase. The coffee shop will allow Terry to share her lifelong love for vintage items with the public while providing a space for book club and mentoring meetings.
Inside the shop
THE ATMOSPHERE: When you walk into the space, your eyes instantly draw toward the mural by Sade Black on your right, then the shelves of classic magazines and books to your left. You’ll want to grab something to browse, then nestle into one of the space’s reading nooks. You might smile as you see collectible dolls from 1990s pop culture icons such as the Spice Girls and Urkle.
This is a nostalgic haven for anyone interested in Black culture.
Archive will be a communal spot with board games, chess and playing cards — and plenty of books, including:
Toni Morrison’s “Beloved,”
“The Pursuit of Happyness” by Chris Gardner,”
“The Autobiography of Malcolm X” as told to Alex Haley; and
“My Life” by Earvin “Magic” Johnson.
THE MENU: Archive’s menu includes vegan muffins and cookies from Sweet Imalda’s and other on-the-go items, such as breakfast bars.
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DRINKS: Archive will offer coffee, espresso and locally blended herbal teas. A custom menu with colorful drinks, called Kool-a, was created by mixologist Justin Hazelton of Leah & Louise and features ingredients such as hibiscus, ginger, cinnamon, cucumber, mint and more.
These drinks are named after songs by Black music artists:
“Little Red Corvette” by Prince has hibiscus, ginger and cinnamon.
“Hey Ya” by Andre 3000 has cucumber, mint, lime and cayenne; and
“Wild Flower” by 1970s music group New Birth has lavender and butterfly pea tea.
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‘Modest childhood’
Terry grew up in West Charlotte on Hoskins Road, adjacent to her new business on Beatties Ford Road.
“I grew up in Black church tradition, around a bunch of antiques and lived in an older home. I had a real humble, modest childhood,” she said.
She said having older parents influenced her love for vintage items, which she collected for a long time.
“I was always around vintage cars and items. I didn’t even know I had developed a love for it until I got on my own,” she said. “I still gravitated toward that.”
In 2008 when she was 19, she started a retail website, Vintage Dreams, while working a day job at a bank. She sold vintage clothing out of her house and kept a commercial rack in a spare bedroom where her customers could fill their bags.
The cost? Five dollars a bag.
As social media gained popularity, she enhanced her presence and built a following. Later, she added stationery and created nostalgic greeting cards. Soon, a collection of Black magazines gathered, as well. John H. Johnson’s empire caught her interest and how he created Ebony and Jet magazines.
“I have admiration for the work Black people had in media — the pride in that type of Black excellence and determination,” Terry said.
The vision for Archive
In 2021, a Black-owned space was being renovated near her home, and she inquired about it, even though she thought she wasn’t ready for a brick-and-mortar spot.
The broker — Rodney Faulkner of Boundary Street Advisors — said a coffee shop was among the uses envisioned for the space. At the time, she did not know much about coffee. But Faulkner was willing to have someone coach her in the coffee business if she was willing to learn.
“Archive’s location was strategic because hopefully, I’ll have the opportunity to help change the trajectory of someone who has a path that may be going in the direction I went. I can help by way of mentorship,” said Terry, who had two children before she was 19 and said while growing up, she had no outlet for her hobbies.
Make memories digital
For Terry, the mission of Archive and its collection of Black ephemera goes beyond pop culture — it’s personal.
Archiving family history is important to her — she lost all her family photos in a fire at her childhood home.
“I only have five photos of myself under the age of 10. I’m only 32. Situations and circumstances can determine our history if not properly archived. If our family photo albums were digitized, I’d still have access to them today.”
Terry plans to host a scanning event to allow families to come to Archive to digitize their photos. Staff will scan pictures from the customers’ photo albums and email them to them.
This is Archive’s mission: “to encourage Black folk to digitize and properly archive family photos and memories. Remember, your personal Black history is a part of the larger Black history.”
Archive
Location: 2023 Beatties Ford Rd Suite D, Charlotte, NC 28216
Neighborhood: West Charlotte
Cuisine: coffee, teas, vegan pastries
Instagram: @archive_clt
This story was originally published August 26, 2022 at 5:55 AM.
