Hornets fans will soon find elevated food options from a familiar team in Charlotte
Charlotte Hornets fans and concertgoers grabbing a bite at the Spectrum Center are in for a treat. A new partnership with the restaurant group behind some of the city’s most well-known restaurants is helping to elevate the arena’s food offerings.
Hornets Sports & Entertainment, Levy and Rare Roots Hospitality — which operates Dressler’s, Fin & Fino and Joan’s, among other restaurants — are announcing a culinary collaboration that’s part of the multi-year Re!magine Spectrum Center project.
New selections will roll-out in concessions and club locations over time, starting with popular features from Rare Roots restaurants:
- Rob’s Hot Pastrami Sandwich from Joan’s Bakery & Deli (Grab & Go markets outside sections 208 and 226)
- Prime Rib Sandwich with au jus from Dressler’s (Wicked Weed Cart by section 116)
- Mom’s Cheesecake from Joan’s (suites)
- Poké Bowl from Fin & Fino (Hardwood Club)
More choices will come on board throughout the year, along with activations such as guest chef appearances.
“In our search for a Carolinas-based restaurant group to collaborate with, Rare Roots really stood out, as their efforts align with our vision and renewed focus on providing a high-quality, diverse food and beverage experience that meets the needs and tastes of everyone who walks through our doors,” Donna Julian, Hornets Sports & Entertainment’s executive vice president and chief venues officer, said in a news release.
The food will be prepared at the Spectrum Center amid teamwork between Rare Roots staff and Levy staff, with the exception of Mom’s Cheesecake — a longtime Charlotte staple found at each Rare Roots restaurant. The dessert that inspired Joan’s Bakery & Deli will be made off-site and brought in, in part to protect the recipe.
“It was super cool to tell my 86-year-old mother that something that she’s been doing for 60 years of her life was put on full display,” Jon Dressler, who co-owns Rare Roots with his wife, Kim, said on a call before the announcement.
“We are a family-based company, and it goes up to my parents and down to my kids and everybody in between 320 families that work with us,” he added.
It’s been a busy time at Rare Roots Hospitality, which also owns The Porter’s House and opened Chapter 6 last year. Plans call for Dogwood Southern Table & Bar — which closed in SouthPark last year — to reopen at The Westin in uptown Charlotte.
The restaurant group operates Dressler’s Improv Kitchen at Middle C Jazz Club, as well, and remains open to opportunities to stretch further outside the box, Dressler said.
“If I’m not mistaken, there’s a big football stadium not far from the basketball stadium, and we would love an opportunity to get involved. And I understand Levy may or may not be running that one, so we’ll see how it goes,” Dressler joked. “We like to be good stewards of the community and pride ourselves on being good team players.”
Levy, a company that specializes in food and drink at major entertainment venues, is looking at the partnership as a “synergy and a process that will be ever evolving,” Levy regional director Carter Witt said on the call.
“The quality of the products that they bring to the table, as well as their diverse food and beverage options, I think, help us meet the needs and taste of everybody who comes into the arena. So we’re thrilled to partner with them and to kick off a great year of hospitality for the fans coming into Spectrum Center,” Witt said.
Spectrum Center
Location: 333 E Trade St, Charlotte, NC 28202
Instagram: @spectrumcenter
This story was originally published October 31, 2024 at 6:00 AM.
