Why an alleyway in South End’s Gold District is getting an official name on Saturday
The slim South End alleyway off of Lincoln Street often used for blogging and artistic photoshoots is officially getting named on Saturday, May 5 during a celebration from 1-3 p.m. If you’ve been to Craft Tasting Room, you’ve probably driven past the alley, which extends from Lincoln Street, along the side of specialty shop Magnolia Emporium, to the back door of Craft. But the significance of the alley is often forgotten in local history.
A count from Milan by the name of Don Vincenzo de Riva Finoli walked the path that is now the alleyway and the Magnolia Emporium building on his way to the Rudisill Gold Mine, which he operated in the 1830s. By 1891, there were 60 mines in operation in Charlotte, with $2.6 million in gold extracted from the area. The count is credited for his contribution to such a prolific period of time.
Count Riva Finoli’s descendent, Luca Simon R. R., has come from as far as Milan to see the alleyway in more recent times.
And Charlotteans are invited to visit the alleyway this weekend. Randolph James, co-owner of the Magnolia Emporium, is formally introducing the alleyway as the The Riva Finoli Passage in The Gold District (a sub-district of South End) to honor the history of the area. To honor Count Riva Finoli’s heritage, Baroness Quaranta di San Severino e Fusaro is coming from New York to cut the passageway’s ribbon, opera singer Virginia Gutierez will perform, and Edwins Organics will cater food.
Magnolia Emporium, a shop with a curated collection of home decor, fine art, gifts and more, opened in the Gold District at 307 Lincoln St. about three years ago. Today, with a lineup of 28 artists featured in the shop (the majority of which are local), James seeks to turn the Gold District and South End into the official arts district of Charlotte.
“It’s about supporting the arts,” said James, who comes from a family of avid collectors and is a member of the board of directors for the Gold District.
He added that the alleyway will contain up to six murals on the bricks as an ongoing mural project, including an homage to the Catawba Indians by Miouxni and other elements of the area’s history.
The front of the Magnolia Emporium building itself has already been brightened by a mural of Queen Charlotte, courtesy of Brand the Moth.
Local businesses (particularly those in South End and the Gold District) can pay to have their logos added to the murals. The move can offer a cohesive effect on the community by promoting the businesses while paying the artists.
A living wall (including edibles for the public to clip and consume), bat houses and beehives will also be added to the alley.
“We pretty much want to blanket as much of the area as possible with murals, with mosaics, with living walls, whatever it may be,” said James.
The naming of the passageway is a reminder that Charlotte’s Gold District, an area where locals already flock to fun spots like Craft, Seoul Food Meat Co. and Bulldog Beer & Wine, is a space where history and art can thrive. (See the borders here.)
And as chairwoman of The Gold District Caren Wingate put it in a press release, “We want the Gold District to be a place where anyone can come and mine their own gold, through new adventures.”
Featured photo courtesy of the Gold District Charlotte
This story was originally published May 1, 2018 at 11:00 PM with the headline "Why an alleyway in South End’s Gold District is getting an official name on Saturday."