A gourmet restaurant with patio views is opening where South End, uptown meet up
Big burgers, craft cocktails and an expansive, dog-friendly patio with a 25-foot LED Jumbotron screen is coming to a space right along the light rail’s Carson Station stop in Charlotte.
Market on Morehead will be a full-service restaurant with food made from scratch, craft cocktails to drink, “really good entertainment” and a “really cool atmosphere,” co-founder Josh Willoughby told CharlotteFive. It will seat about 200 inside, plus 150 more on the patio.
Perhaps the most attractive feature for the restaurant — which sits about four blocks away from Bank of America Stadium, right where South End and uptown come together — is its attached parking deck. The rest of The Offices at Carson Station’s space is filled with 9-5 businesses, ensuring plenty of parking will be available dinner and late-night customers.
Construction is still underway, but Market on Morehead — which carries the same MOM branding as its sister restaurant Market on Main in Columbia, S.C. — is projected to open sometime this spring. Willoughby is shooting for St. Patrick’s Day, “but everything is still fluid.”
Food and drink at Market on Morehead
Executive chef Howard Stephens, who crafts the food at Market on Main, will lead the way in the restaurant’s Charlotte kitchen, as well. The 2023 South Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association Chef of the Year focuses on crafting gourmet American food with global influences.
From outside, you’ll be able to peek into the kitchen’s prep area to watch lunch, brunch and dinner in the works.
Among the options Willoughby expects to be popular is the M.O.M. Burger, made from two 5-ounce, grass-fed Brasstown NC beef patties, with shredded lettuce, chopped onions, pickles and Russian dressing served on a sesame seed bun and paired with truffle fries. The gourmet Big Mac dupe starts at $22, but you can make it even bigger by adding on bacon, an egg or pimiento cheese for $3 each. Or, you can go smaller and cut the price to $18 by making it a single-patty Step M.O.M. burger.
Small plate selections ranging from $12-$19 include chimichurri shrimp, wings and Thai sweet potato bisque. And a highlight from the salad offerings is the Smoked Duck Salad ($30) with Culver City duck breast, mixed greens, local pears, goat cheese, candied pecans, dried cranberries and miso-maple vinaigrette.
Saturday and Sunday brunch will be served from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., with Waffle Hashbrowns ($12), Steak and Eggs ($44) and a Brunch Burger made with an 8-ounce, coffee-rubbed Texas Taijima wagyu patty loaded up with Canadian bacon, provolone, an over-easy egg and Alabama white sauce on a broche bun.
The beverage program includes elevated cocktails, along with beer and wine.
What to expect at Market on Morehead
When you step inside Market on Morehead, you’ll see a lounge-style waiting area at the entrance and banquettes throughout the dining room.
An indoor fountain will anchor a sunken area of the restaurant, creating a calming space meant to offset the relatively low ceilings elsewhere in the dining area. A private room for 25+ people will also serve as overflow dining space.
The bar will stretch along the windows, allowing indoor and outdoor access.
Outside, that 25-foot LED Jumbotron on the patio will sit above a stage for live events, paired with multiple TVs. A smaller inside stage is sized for solo performers.
As you dine, you can play trivia or music bingo, sing karaoke or enjoy live music on the weekends. Those seated outdoors can enjoy a screened-in pergola space that cool guests with misters on hot days and warm them with heating on cold days.
“It’s basically a lot of exciting things that we’re trying to bring to the area,” Willoughby said.
Market on Morehead
Location: 1001 Morehead Sq Drive #100, Charlotte, NC
Cuisine: American
Instagram: @marketonmorehead
This story was originally published January 28, 2026 at 6:00 AM.
