‘Elevated’ Mexican restaurant sets summer opening at RailYard in South End

A restaurant devoted to the Mexican culinary traditions of Jalisco and Oaxaca is coming to South End Charlotte.

Raíces will serve elevated Mexican dishes, agave-forward cocktails and more when it debuts at The RailYard South End this summer, according to a news release sent to CharlotteFive.

The eatery will replace fast-casual restaurant Summerbird, which closed permanently in April 2024.

It’s the latest concept from husband and wife restaurateurs Alfonso Bravo and Amalia Macias, whose family roots can be traced to the western Mexican state of Jalisco.

The couple also owns Salud Mexican Kitchen & Tequila Lounge in Camden, South Carolina; Coa Agaveria Y Cocina in Columbia, South Carolina; and Masa Mexican Street Food, which has locations in both Camden and Columbia, South Carolina.

“Raíces is the culmination of our collective journeys and a celebration of our heritage,” Macias said in the release.

“While Charlotte has no shortage of Mexican restaurants, we’ve created Raíces to celebrate the diversity and complexity of Mexican cooking beyond familiar expectations, offering a deeper exploration of Mexico’s regional cuisine, hospitality, and culture.”

Led by Chef TJ Steele, the menu offers a refined take on traditional dishes. Expect “elevated” small plates alongside generational moles, pozole, handmade tortillas and seasonal dishes made with locally sourced meats and produce.

The menu also pulls inspiration from the rich culinary traditions of Oaxaca in southern Mexico.

Oaxaca state has been dubbed “Mexico’s undisputed food capital,” best known for its rich, complex flavors and Indigenous cooking techniques using sacred ingredients like corn, chiles, chocolate, beans and squash, according to Modern Adventure magazine.

Mixologist Edson Sanchez will head up the restaurant’s drink program featuring agave-focused cocktails and spirits.

“Raíces is about bringing together the places that have shaped us,” Bravo said. “Together, they create a restaurant that feels like home and deeply personal.”

Portions of this story were previously published in CharlotteFive.

Raíces

Location: 1422 S Tryon St, Suite 140, Charlotte, NC 28203

Cuisine: Mexican, Oaxacan cuisine

Instagram: @raicesclt

This story was originally published June 10, 2026 at 11:13 AM.

Tanasia Kenney

Sun Herald

Tanasia is a service journalism reporter at the Charlotte Observer | CharlotteFive, working remotely from Atlanta, Georgia. She covers restaurant openings/closings in Charlotte and statewide explainers for the NC Service Journalism team. She’s been with McClatchy since 2020.