West Coast healthy food chain expanding again after making NC debut in Charlotte
.jpg "Sweetgreen, a Los Angeles-based restaurant chain serving salads and protein bowls, is expanding in Charlotte after opening its first North Carolina store Sept. 30 in uptown.")
A West Coast fast-casual healthy food chain is looking to expand again in the Charlotte region after making its North Carolina debut in uptown last month.
Sweetgreen filed a required verification form with the city of Charlotte on Friday to make improvements at 1404 Central Ave., which includes a patio, in Plaza Midwood. The application is submitted to determine site requirements.
Officials with Sweetgreen did not respond to requests for comment from The Charlotte Observer.
Sweetgreen offers customizable salads, warm bowls and protein plates. Prices range from $12 to $15.
The Plaza Midwood site is part of the massive redevelopment of the 12-acre Central Square shopping center, city property records and online maps show. The project is called Commonwealth by Charlotte developer Crosland Southeast and investment firm Nuveen Real Estate.
.jpg "Summer Menu (1).jpg")
Sweetgreen’s rapid growth
Last month, the Los Angeles-based restaurant chain open its first Carolina store at One Independence Center, 101 N. Tryon St. The Plaza Midwood site is a mile southeast of uptown.
Sweetgreen, on Tuesday, opened another restaurant in Raleigh.
Another store is planned at Birkdale Village at 16844 Birkdale Commons Parkway in Huntersville, according to the mixed-use community’s website. Sweetgreen will be in one of the standalone buildings called “jewel boxes” by Warby Parker.
It’s all part of the chain’s rapid expansion across the country with plans to open up to 35 stores nationwide. The publicly traded restaurant has more than 230 stores in 20 states and Washington, D.C., and over 6,000 employees companywide, The Charlotte Observer previously reported.
About the Plaza Midwood development
The Plaza Midwood mixed-used development adds 100,000 square feet of retail and restaurants with structured parking, according to Commonwealth’s website.
Other restaurants at the development include Virginia-based Five Guys burgers and fries, Miamia-based The Salty doughnut shop, Texas-based Uchi and Uchiba Japanse restaurant and cocktail bar and Brooklyn, New York-based Van Leeuwen ice cream, according to commercial real estate firm Thrift’s online brochure.
Other retailers and businesses will include Lucchese Boots, an ABC store, Solidcore pilates studio, Yonder Yoga and Sweathouz cold plunge and infrared sauna.
Limited liability company TGACSE CENTRAL SQUARE LLC, in care of Crosland Southeast, purchased the property in March 2020 for nearly $50 million, according to city property records.
Commonwealth officials did not respond to requests for comment by Thursday.