Dear Plaza Midwood, stop keeping the Tip Top Daily Market a secret
Moments after I passed the flashing red “open” sign and stepped inside Tip Top Daily Market, I asked myself, “Why haven’t I been in here before?”
To be honest, I hadn’t heard of it. Neither had my random sampling of uptown coworkers, Dilworth friends or Colonial Village friends. The only reason I noticed it was because I went to play bingo a couple of months ago at Hattie’s Tap & Tavern, which shares the same parking lot on The Plaza as Tip Top, Odom’s Barber Styling and Blush.
Dear Plaza Midwood, why have you kept this place a secret?
Tip Top, located at 2902 The Plaza, between Plaza Midwood and NoDa, is an unassuming space with an old-laundromat feel filled with shelves of wine and coolers. The group behind Plaza Midwood’s dive bar/concert venue Snug Harbor opened it in summer 2015, naming it after a small business that once existed in NoDa.
Inside there’s an understated wooden bar positioned near the entrance, with five metallic red barstools pushed in. A wooden counter holding a folded copy of the Sunday comics and publications like “The Charlotte Omelette” lines the window with six red stools. That’s all the seating you’ll find.
Two people were perched at the bar on Saturday afternoon when I walked in, sipping dark beers and chatting with one of the managers. Sean Nowak of Tryon Distributing took a sip and told me this is like his clubhouse. “You’re getting away from being in public but you’re still in public,” he said.
I see what he means. It’s quiet in here, with no rush of shoppers and no loud drinkers. A two-room place to wander along the shelves and coolers in peace, browsing specialty and organic items. In room No. 1, you’ll find anything from cartons of eggs to blocks of Ashe County Cheese to Talenti Gelato to individual pint bottles of craft beer (check the “milk” cooler) to bottles of wine starting at $6. Local and regional labels pop up as you scan, like Enderly Coffee, Roots hummus, Lenny Boy kombucha and Queen Charlotte’s pimento cheese.
In room No. 2 you’ll find boxes of Cascadian Farms cereal, gluten-free/vegan Dolci & Maria Morning Chai Pancake Mix, Dave’s Gourmet Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce and more. Not to mention the arcade games Out Run, Popeye and Junk Yard.
The variety of selections in snacks and drinks are akin to that of Wesley Heights’ Rhino Market, Plaza Midwood’s Common Market and Elizabeth’s Earl’s Grocery. The browsing opportunities are endless.
Tip Top isn’t really a secret, it just has more of a neighborhood hangout status right now. But manager Brent Thomas said it’s steadily getting busier.
Events are one draw. Nowak is holding a holiday wine tasting Wednesday, Dec. 21 at 6:30 p.m. at Tip Top. Tip Top brings in other small businesses for monthly events like record swaps, donut days and beer sampling.
Most often, though, Thomas watches waves of customers roll in after work to grab a six pack or a bottle of wine, and something from the shelves or coolers for dinner before continuing on their way. Every week, he sees a man walk in with his young son to buy corndogs and play pinball.
“We’ve been open just long enough for people to develop routines,” Thomas said. “It becomes more than just a spot for milk, eggs and beer.”
It helps that there are bags of organic frozen vegetables, jars of Maya Kaimal Madras Curry, and packages of Florentine Ravioli and Pepperoni Lovers Pizza by Pasta & Provisions. On draft, you’ll see ciders, meads and stouts.
One owner, Matthew Shane, said, “You want people to come in and get things that they enjoy and maybe hang out and have a good time, and be happy. … And enjoy the many wonders of cheese, beer and wine.”
The secret’s out.
(Update: A drawn-out Twitter conversation revealed that Tip Top Daily Market is actually located in an area known as Plaza Hills.)
Photos: Katie Toussaint
This story was originally published December 18, 2016 at 8:00 PM with the headline "Dear Plaza Midwood, stop keeping the Tip Top Daily Market a secret."