3 uptown Charlotte businesses face eviction at embattled former Epicentre
Even as Queen City Quarter struggles to attract new businesses, three of its tenants face eviction for unpaid rent at the former Epicentre food and entertainment complex in uptown Charlotte.
And one of those stores, a restaurant called Taste Cheesesteak Bar, has never even opened.
Magistrate Katrina Watson gave the landlord of Queen City Quarter the right to evict Taste Cheesesteak Bar on Tuesday. The restaurant must pay $13,504 in back rent to 201 East Trade Street Holdings, which is operated by CBRE property management group, according to Mecklenburg County Superior Court records.
The legal actions represent the latest hurdle at the Quarter. According to its own website, only about 12 of the 50 spaces are occupied, resulting in a 24% occupancy rate.
That’s down from the 30% occupancy when the Epicentre was sold in 2022. Furthermore, the complex is set to go back on the market, a pending sale that caught tenants off guard.
Taste Cheesesteak expected to open in October 2024 at the Quarter, according to the company’s Instagram. But it has yet to do so. Taste Cheesesteak has one location in Philadelphia, according to the company’s website.
Taste Cheesesteak has 10 days to appeal the judgment, temporarily halting the eviction process.
The complaint was filed March 9, claiming Taste Cheesesteak had breached its contract to pay monthly rent of $4,823 since January. The amount listed past due in the complaint was $25,608, which included other charges such as taxes, insurance and late fees.
Officials with Taste Cheesesteak did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday.
CBRE officials and the firm’s attorney also did not respond to requests for comment.
Other eviction actions at Queen City Quarter
Taste Cheesesteak isn’t the only business facing eviction at Queen City Quarter, county court records show.
Mecklenburg County court magistrate April Mack ordered the eviction of Sea Grill Restaurant & Bar, operated by Mikhail Grigorovich, which owes $95,929 in back rent at $21,642 per month on Feb. 25, records show. The restaurant owed rent dating back to October 2025, according to the filings.
The complaint against Sea Grill was filed Jan. 28, claiming rent owed had totaled $144,150, including late fees and other charges.
Sea Grill officials told the court they are being charged for property damage they did not cause. The restaurant said the landlord also failed to address service elevator issues, property safety concerns and that hired security is inaccessible.
The upscale restaurant opened at the Quarter less than two years ago. Restaurant officials did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday. Sea Grill continues to book reservations on its website and promote upcoming events on its social media.
Sea Grill and the landlord at Queen City Quarter have entered into a confidential settlement to resolve their dispute on March 25, allowing the restaurant to remain in its space, Sea Grill’s attorney, Jacob Johnson of Robertson and Associates in Charlotte, told The Charlotte Observer on Wednesday.
Privee Clothing, a clothing boutique that specializes in designer brands and is owned by J Winston Roberts, moved to the Quarter in 2023. The landlord filed its complaint for eviction last September for $3,082 in past due rent. The case is pending an appeal, court records show.
Queen City Quarter struggles despite rebrand
The evictions are the latest issue for the uptown complex that was once a popular destination for Charlotte nightlife. It also hosted high-profile events like NBA All-Star and CIAA parties, and the Democratic National Convention.
Just two weeks ago, CBRE said it plans to list the East Trade Street entertainment complex for sale. Queen City Quarter was renovated and rebranded after lender Deutsche Bank purchased the 302,324-square-foot, mixed-use center for $95 million at a foreclosure auction in 2022.
The Quarter’s website map lists 14 of its 50 tenant spaces currently occupied. Two of those businesses — CVS and Tailored Smoke Cigar Lounge — have also closed.
The one-block complex opened in 2008 as Epicentre. In 2014, California real estate group CIM Group bought Epicentre for $130.5 million. At the time, it was 94% leased, with 70% of its rental revenue from 16 restaurants.
But an increase in crime and the COVID pandemic led to decreased interest in the complex.
In June 2021, the three-story site fell into receivership after defaulting on an $85 million loan. Lender Deutsche was the only bid at the 2022 auction.
In 2023, CBRE announced the complex would be rebranded as an entertainment destination instead of a nightclub venue. The name changed to Queen City Quarter. And the vibe was set to shift from nightlife and after-hours parties to a corporate and family-friendly hub.
This story was originally published March 25, 2026 at 5:05 AM.
