‘Everyday’ tavern to take over former Bar One space in uptown Charlotte
A veteran restaurateur is breathing new life into a vacant space in uptown Charlotte.
Packard Tavern is slated to be the city’s newest hot spot, serving up contemporary American cuisine, cocktails and more inside Packard Place, restaurant owner Paul Manley told CharlotteFive.
The eatery, part of Manley’s High Tide Hospitality group, is set to open in spring 2026.
“We’re leaning into the word ‘tavern,’ and taverns go back to the founding of this country as a pivotal place to gather within the town square,” he said.
The 4,800 square-foot restaurant will occupy a portion of the ground floor at Packard Place and feature a 90-seat dining room and bar area. The space was previously home to Bar One, which closed in June after the development’s owner Northpond Partners ended its lease, Charlotte Business Journal reported.
Manley said he plans to utilize much of what’s already there, though the space will undergo light construction “to make it our own.” Modifications include the addition of a private dining room and chef’s table.
“The building as a great story to tell, and we just felt like it was the perfect name,” Manley said of Packard Place, which was originally a car showroom built by James Ward Packard back in the 1920s.
Guests can look forward to a “small but well-appointed menu” that leans into contemporary American fare.
Think “a hearty short rib dish, a wonderful chicken pasta, vibrant entrée-sized salads,” snacks and other shareables, Manley said. “We’ll also have a fantastic tavern burger, but it’ll be a premium burger.”
There’s seafood, too. The Packard Tavern menu will include a curated oyster program similar to ones found at High Tide Hospitality’s existing restaurants.
Azure Cassidy will head up Packard Tavern’s drink program featuring classic cocktails and a smaller menu of “creations that fit a comfortable and refined cabin atmosphere,” Manley told CharlotteFive.
It will be the hospitality group’s third restaurant to set up shop in uptown Charlotte, joining Ace No. 3 on South Tryon and Sea Level NC inside Truist Center.
Manley noted the area is a hot spot for business and leisurely outings, putting Packard Tavern at “a great advantage” for foot traffic.
“We have the ability with this brand to be an everyday place where (guests) can trust the menu, they can find what they want, they can be impressed by the hospitality,” he said.
Packard Tavern
Location: 222 S Church St, Charlotte, NC 28202
Cuisine: Contemporary American
This story was originally published December 5, 2025 at 9:09 AM.