Philly hoagie restaurant, Yemeni coffee shop + two boutiques opening in NoDa Charlotte
A Yemeni coffee café, Philly hoagie restaurant, children’s boutique and local clothing store will all open soon on 36th Street in Charlotte’s growing NoDa neighborhood.
These four retailers will be the first to open in the ground floor of the new Centro NoDa mixed-use development, which also includes one and two-bedroom apartments, some as small as 425 square feet, for micro urban living.
The building is just a five-minute walk (.2 miles) from the light rail’s 36th Street Station, offering shoppers and diners an easy way to explore the new shops.
.jpeg "922_centro noda_ascent real estate partners_rooftop terrace_cam1_high_resolution (1).jpeg")
“We’re thrilled to bring in such a diverse range of retailers to Centro NoDa,” said Caci Cambruzzi Jaeger, partner at Ascent Real Estate Capital.
“The curated mix of retailers at Centro NoDa was very intentional,” Jaeger said. “We envisioned authentic ground-floor retail that would not only appeal to our residents, but also serve as an amenity for the neighborhood. We hope that the activation of this portion of 36th Street, including its outdoor seating and public art, will enhance NoDa’s vibrant and active atmosphere.”
And stay tuned — Centro NoDa is just getting started:
- A whopping five more retail spaces are still available, including its largest space, ready for a restaurant near the building’s courtyard.
- A 900-square-foot space at the corner of McDowell and 36th streets is still available.
- Three smaller retail spaces are also open for new businesses.
In total, 11,000 square feet of retail will be filled, with spaces ranging from 640-2,850 square feet. “We continue to receive a lot of interest for these remaining spaces,” Jaeger told CharlotteFive on Wednesday, Nov. 13.
As for the debut group, the shopping retailers plan to move in around the end of the year or in January. The food spots will open next year after a build-out. Here’s what to know about each:
Food and drink shops
Bayt Almocha
Instagram: @bayt_almocha
Bayt Almocha is a Yemeni coffee shop offering a traditional Middle Eastern café experience. It also has locations in Louisville, Kentucky, and Ann Arbor and Dearborn in Michigan.
Its vision is to serve Charlotte’s multicultural community, as well as bring people together over a cup of coffee. Expect handcrafted coffee, pastries and savory sandwiches when it opens. Menu items include:
- Mocha latte with Bayt Almocha spices, pistachio latte, iced spiced shaken espresso, coffee with cardamom and cream, cappuccino, mocha and other coffee and espresso-based drinks.
- Dragon fruit mango smoothie, strawberry acai, pistachio frappe, berry hibiscus juice and other smoothie and juice drinks.
- Matcha latte, chai tea and other organic herbal teas.
- Zaatar comb (Honeycomb drizzled with a Middle Eastern spice blend), khamir (a deep-fried Yemeni bead), chocolate croissant, cheese danish, tiramisu and other pastries.
“We want to be known as the best place for premium, organic coffee, promoting a sustainable and inclusive coffee culture,” said Fawaz Alabsi of Bayt Almocha.
Ricci’s Hoagies
Instagram: @original.riccis.hoagies
Missing the authentic Italian sandwich shops of the Northeast? Ricci’s Hoagies will come to NoDa straight from Philly, offering meats and cheeses sliced in front of you for your 6-inch roll, 9-inch hoagie or 18-inch Italian loaf.
Its other two locations are both in Philadelphia, in South Philly and Logan Square. Its original location was opened by Carlo Ricci in 1920, and the shop remains family-owned.
It’s also popular on Goldbelly, so you can brag to your out-of-town friends that you no longer have to pay for shipping to experience this slice of Italian-American culture. Menu items include:
- Antipasta, buffalo chicken, Italian, pepper ham, prosciutto, roast beef, turkey and other hoagies.
- Vegetarian hoagies including roasted peppers, with options to add eggplant and cheese.
- Chicken cutlet hoagies with the option to add cheese, including sharp provolone.
“We can’t wait to get involved in the community in NoDa by actively participating in local initiatives and events and making meaningful connections that go beyond just serving hoagies,” said Tod Garofalo, the local franchise owner and operator.
Clothing and boutique retailers
James+Joy
Instagram: @shopjamesjoy
When it opens, James+Joy will be NoDa’s first children’s boutique, selling gifts, educational toys and special-occasion clothing for babies and toddlers.
The store will be focused on offering items that are both ethically-sourced and trendy.
“We’ll be a destination where you can stop in for last-minute gifts for new babies or moms but also where kids choose to come after acing a test or scoring a goal,” said co-owner Kiki Poland.
Queen & Cotton
Instagram: @queenandcotton
West Coast vibes meet NoDa streetwear at Queen & Cotton, a new local clothing retailer that promises clothing with “irreverent takes.”
The West Coast influence will compliment Charlotte’s eclectic style, its website states. T-shirts include sayings like:
- “Oh no, not another brewery.”
- “Another day in Paradise” with the city skyline behind a drunk skeleton atop a panther.
- “Queen City State of Mind.”
“Our goal is to contribute to the artistic vibes of the neighborhood with our irreverent takes on life in Charlotte with our shirts, hats and art prints,” said co-founder Travis Blain.
The shop sells short and long-sleeved tees, kids’ shirts and onesies, trucker hats and beanies, stickers and more.
Centro NoDa
Location: 715 E 36th St, Charlotte, NC 28205
Instagram: @centronoda
This story was originally published November 14, 2024 at 5:45 AM with the headline "Philly hoagie restaurant, Yemeni coffee shop + two boutiques opening in NoDa Charlotte."
