Charlotte VFW sells old Plaza Midwood building in latest neighborhood change
An 80-year-old Plaza Midwood building that’s been home to an even older local Veterans of Foreign Wars group has a new owner.
The VFW Mecklenburg Post 1160 sold its former headquarters at 1917 Central Ave. for nearly $1.5 million last Thursday, according to Mecklenburg County records. It was sold to a limited liability company, 1917 Central Avenue LLC, run by local investment firm Shadow Ridge Capital.
The sale isn’t displacing the 93-year-old VFW branch. The group relocated to 2831 The Plaza about three years ago, according to Post Commander Jack Drisker.
The building, which was constructed in 1945, isn’t going anywhere either, according to a LinkedIn post from Andrew Altman, managing director at Shadow Ridge Capital.
According to the post, Shadow Ridge will renovate the building but keep the brick structure. And it’ll get a new coat of paint.
The plan for the space is a neighborhood business that would be open in mid-2027. Altman did not immediately return comment requests.
But the sale continues the trend of major changes in Plaza Midwood.
Scout Motors will be making the neighborhood home to its new corporate headquarters at the Commonwealth development. That move comes with a $207 million investment and a promise to create over 1,200 high-paying jobs.
And down the block, the former historic Midwood Elementary School is being demolished for a seven-story apartment building.
“It was very gracious of the VFW to give us the opportunity to own and preserve a historic element of Plaza Midwood,” Altman said in the post. “The neighborhood has seen massive changes in just the last month.”
About VFW Post 1160
VFW Post 1160 made the Central Avenue building its headquarters in 1971, according to county records. But in recent years, membership has been declining, said Drisker. And it’s not just the Charlotte branches.
Since a membership peak in 1992, the VFW has lost almost half its national membership, which sits at about 1.5 million, according to a PBS report.
Because of declining membership, Post 1160 couldn’t hold meetings, Drisker said. It put the Central Avenue location up for sale last year. And the post merged with Post 9488 about three years ago.
Since Post 1160 is older, the new group meets under that name at The Plaza location, Drisker said. And membership is increasing, especially with Gulf War veterans, Drisker said. But younger membership is still needed.
One of the ways the VFW is bolstering membership is through game nights. Video games or cards, Wednesday nights is the time to unwind, Drisker said.
“We’re using gaming to combat PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) without medication,” Drisker said. “It’s all about talking through your issues in a social setting. You can get things off your chest without having to sit in a session.”
Doctors are around if needed or wanted, but Drisker said it’s more about the social aspect.
“Everyone brings a dish, and we break bread together,” Drisker said. “And we have a good time.”
