In north Charlotte, The Shoppes at University Place gets a new name + $5M upgrade
A major retail and office center in Charlotte’s University neighborhood is getting a multi-million-dollar facelift. And a new name.
The Shoppes at University Place, which overlooks University’s lake, will now go by The Boardwalk at University City.
And plaza owner Red Hill Ventures is planning to invest over $5 million to revitalize the shopping center, the boardwalk and the nearby office building.
The revitalization is just the latest investment in the University neighborhood, specifically near the boardwalk and lake.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library completed its new University City branch last year, creating a 38,000 square feet, two-story facility off JW Clay Boulevard that overlooks The Boardwalk plaza. It’s the second-largest regional library in Mecklenburg County.
Sol’Delish CLT opened its second location at the plaza in September.
And across the street, at the JW Clay Blvd/UNC Charlotte station on the Lynx Blue Line, Qamaria Yemeni Coffee Co. opened in October.
Red Hill is looking to capitalize on growing interest in the University area, according to Todd Collins, Red Hill’s founder and CEO.
“University is one of those areas where there’s so much growth and activity, but… (The Boardwalk) hasn’t reached its full potential,” Collins said. “But, if you look at the characteristics of the area — adjacent to UNCC, near a hospital, on the lake, connected to trails, the light rail is right there — it has everything you could dream of in a retail center.
“Seeing this diamond in the rough is really what attracted us to the site.”
Charlotte name change from The Shoppes to The Boardwalk
The Shoppes opened in 1990, partially surrounding the 10-acre lake and boardwalk in the middle of University City.
When it opened 36 years ago, it was a premier destination, Collins said. The nearby Hilton Hotel held proms and homecomings, according to Collins. The Shoppes were the center of the budding neighborhood.
But as the University area has grown, The Shoppes had to do some growing of its own, Collins said.
When Red Hill purchased the 8-acre plaza last year for $18.5 million, the occupancy rate sat at about 69%, Collins said. And it’s filled with long-term tenants including Boardwalk Billy’s Raw Bar & Ribs, Crafty Crab Seafood, Famous Toastery, Ninety’s Dessert Bar and The Wine Vault.
But other retail centers in the University area are closer to 100% occupied, Collins said.
Red Hill’s goal is to bring The Shoppes, now The Boardwalk, to its full potential.
“We’re trying to attract new restaurant concepts, health and medical offerings and other services that don’t exist in that area but may exist in Ballantyne and South Park,” Collins said. “And they’d be more utilized in University because of the student population and the density of the residential population.”
The Charlotte Boardwalk upgrades
To attract more tenants, Red Hill is looking to make several aesthetic changes, including new awnings, paint and wayfinding signage.
Red Hill is also looking to renovate the outdoor spaces near Billy’s and Crafty Crab, turning a part of that area into a park, where shoppers can sit, eat, relax and enjoy the lake.
The park would also be used when events are held at The Boardwalk, such as University City’s Farmer’s Market.
There’s an office building on the property that Red Hill intends to renovate, similar to other older office spaces in the city. Red Hill is creating smaller suites and sprucing up the interior to entice new leases.
In the long term, Red Hill is looking for more connectivity to the nearby buildings and trails. Currently, there’s no path that goes all around the lake, Collins said. Walkers or riders will get to a certain point and have to turn around.
Red Hill wants to change that in partnership with nearby business, housing complexes and University City Partners, a nonprofit that advocates for economic development in the area.
New tenants at The Boardwalk at University City
The Boardwalk already has one new tenant on the way.
Local pizza shop Brixx Pizza is heading to The Boardwalk. It will replace Famous Toastery, but no fear. Famous Toastery will be moving to the site of MetroPCS toward the front of the plaza for easier and quicker access.
As far as new tenants, Collins said a coffee shop may be on the horizon too. And if you were curious (like this reporter), the boat rentals are staying.
“If you look at the retail vacancy in the University area, it’s about 1%,” Collins said. “But we actually have a lot of room for great new tenants. With the redevelopment plan, businesses are seeing that we’re investing and making the area better.”
This story was originally published February 3, 2026 at 5:13 AM.
