Check out these 8 ways to live your best ‘Stranger Things’ life in Charlotte
While Charlotte is not being threatened by the Upside Down in the ‘80s, we can still enjoy the fashion and aesthetic of the times via “Stranger Things.”
Listen to ‘80s music, put an unhealthy amount of hairspray in your hair, play D&D and retro games and eat pizza and waffles.
The Duffer Brothers — who created the show — are from Durham, and while the show is set in Indiana, it does drop a few North Carolina references. This summer (and until the foreseeable future — or at least until the newly announced spin-off arrives), you can take inspiration from these 8 locations in Charlotte to help you live your best “Stranger Things” life.
Big Guy’s Pizza
Location: 6914 Matthews-Mint Hill Road, Mint Hill, NC 28227
Neighborhood: Mint Hill
Even though Surfer Boy Pizza is available in Charlotte via Walmart, we have something even better: Big Guy’s Pizza. Fuel up on one of their build-your-own pizzas, and maybe you’ll have enough strength to fight off Vecna. (Note: Argyle will not be available to make and deliver the pizza.)
The pizzeria offers specialty pizzas like the Grandma — made with fresh tomatoes, basil, garlic and mozzarella cheese on a rectangle flatbread crust — and the Sicilian — made with pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese on a square thick crust.
Cost: $8.99 for a Grandma pizza, $16.99 for a Sicilian pizza and $2 for each topping on the build-your-own.
Cast Iron Waffles
Location: 9604 Longstone Ln, Charlotte, NC 28227
Neighborhood: Ballantyne
While frozen, ready-to-make waffles were all the rage back in the ‘80s, try the waffles from Cast Iron Waffles, made fresh daily and served to you. The restaurant serves authentic liege waffles and premium coffee and espresso.
For the ultimate experience, you can choose a Naked Waffle with powdered sugar; the Deluxe Waffle, topped with Nutella, two fresh fruits and homemade whipped cream; or the Lumberjack, topped with maple buttercream and bacon.
Cost: $4.50 for the Naked Waffle, $5.75 for the Deluxe Waffle and $6.25 for the Lumberjack Waffle
Charlotte Spokes People
Location: 2007 Commonwealth Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
Neighborhood: Plaza Midwood
Grab your bike and ride around the city “Stranger Things”-style with your closest friends. Charlotte Spokes People hosts the largest weekly bicycle rides in Charlotte every Tuesday at 7:45 p.m. at Plaza Midwood’s Common Market. The 15-mile ride takes place from 8 p.m.-10:30 p.m.
Bonus tips: Cycling Savvy offers classes to teach Mindful Bicycling to safely ride in the city along with cars. And Bicycle Benefits is a nonprofit that rewards individuals that use a bicycle to get to participating businesses.
Cost: Spokes People rides are free; Cycling Savvy classes are $95 for three
East 8th Vintage
Location: 1950 East 8th Street, Charlotte, NC 28204
Neighborhood: First Ward
From Mid Century to Y2K, East 8th Vintage offers styles similar to those found on the show. Buy all the crop tops, high waisted jeans, jeans jackets and khakis your heart desires.
Cost: varies
Kate’s Skating Center
Location: 4114 E. Franklin Blvd, Gastonia NC 28056
Neighborhood: Gastonia
Location: 1151 Skating Rink Drive, Gastonia NC 28054
Neighborhood: Gastonia
Location: 14500 E. Independence Blvd, Indian Trail NC 28079
Neighborhood: Indian Trail
Location: 1530 Celanese Rd, Rock Hill, SC 29732
Neighborhood: Rock Hill
Skate around the rink with your friends (minus the school bullies) and have the time of your life. The rink offers weekly adult nights at each location where guests ages 18 and up have the floor to themselves. A DJ plays throwback and modern hits to skate to with your friends.
Visit the Pro Shop and get some skates so you can skate in style. The shop offers indoor and outdoor skates, rhythm and freestyle skates, artistic skates and crazy skates. Bring your old school camcorder and make some memories at the rink.
Cost: $25 for beginner skate lessons, $10 admission for all day skating Tuesday-Friday and $12 admission for all day skating on Saturday.
Lunchbox Records
Location: 825 Central Ave, Charlotte, NC 28204
Neighborhood: Plaza Midwood
Blast “Should I Stay or Should I Go” by The Clash or “Running Up That Hill” by Kate Bush from your boombox on your newly purchased cassette tape from Lunchbox Records. All your ‘80s classics can be found here.
The record store sells LPs, CDs, cassette tapes, DVDs, 7” vinyl records and more. It also buys used cassettes, turntables and stereo equipment.
Cost: varies
Spandex City
Location: 2914 Mt Holly-Huntersville Rd, Charlotte, NC 28214
Neighborhood: Northwest Charlotte
Make a strategy to fight demogorgons and Vecna through the Dungeons & Dragons tournament held at Spandex City.
Dungeons & Dragons Encounters will use the 5th edition rules to play and take place from 7 p.m.-9 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Call ahead to join the tournament, as most games are near or at capacity.
Cost: $5 to enter Dungeons & Dragons Encounter
Super Abari Game
Location: 1015 Seigle Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
Neighborhood: Belmont Charlotte
Head to the Super Abari Game Bar to make some friends and defeat aliens in Galactica. The game bar offers 55 arcade games, 35 pinball games and one NES. Guests can also sip a drink at the bar while saving the world.
Cost: 25 cents for arcade games and 50 cents for pinball games.
This story was originally published July 6, 2022 at 12:54 PM.
