Business

Historic Savona Mill to become culinary destination with food hall in west Charlotte

Savona Food Works, a 30,000-square-foot food hall, will open in 2027 at Savona Mill in west Charlotte, developer Portman said Wednesday.
Savona Food Works, a 30,000-square-foot food hall, will open in 2027 at Savona Mill in west Charlotte, developer Portman said Wednesday. Portman

Charlotte’s west end will soon have a culinary destination, adding a food hall as part of a mixed-use project in the adaptive-reuse Savona Mill, a century-old textile mill.

Savona Food Works is expected to open in 2027 at 500 S. Turner Ave., Atlanta-based developer Portman said Wednesday. Construction will begin in six months, Portman said.

The first phase of redevelopment of the mill was announced five years ago at the nearly 30-acre site that includes retail and apartments, plus an outdoor amphitheater, green spaces, a rooftop deck and a plaza.

Portman declined to disclose the cost of the project.

Developer Portman is working with Robert Montwaid to create Savona Food Works, a 30,000-square-foot hall, in Charlotte.
Developer Portman is working with Robert Montwaid to create Savona Food Works, a 30,000-square-foot hall, in Charlotte. Portman

What to expect at Savona Food Works

The 30,000-square-foot space will have about 25 stalls, a full-service restaurant, a coffee shop, a flower market and rooftop bar, Portman said.

The food hall will be in the historic “Weave” building, a single-story building originally developed in the 1900s.

“Well-executed food halls have the ability to become true community gathering places that reflect the culture and energy of the neighborhoods that surround them,” food hall operator Robert Montwaid said in statement. “The goal is to bring together local chefs and entrepreneurs.”

Montwaid is known for food halls like Gansevoort Market in the Meatpacking District of New York City, and Chattahoochee Food Work and The CTR in Atlanta.

Savona Food Works food hall is expected to open next year at Savona Mill, a century-old textile mill.
Savona Food Works food hall is expected to open next year at Savona Mill, a century-old textile mill. Portman

Historic Savona Mill redevelopment plan

The Savona Mill development in the Seversville, Smallwood and FreeMoreWest area spans 27 acres, centered on a 105-year-old former textile mill that has been converted into 200,000 square feet of creative office space.

The property currently includes 319 multifamily units, with a second phase of residential construction slated to break ground next year.

Portman Holdings’ other Charlotte projects include: 615 S. College St. office tower; The Westin Charlotte 25-story hotel at 601 S. College St.; The Line mixed-use; 16-story tower at 2151 Hawkins St.; and Linea residential high-rise at 2161 Hawkins St.

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This story was originally published May 27, 2026 at 12:08 PM.

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Catherine Muccigrosso
The Charlotte Observer
Catherine Muccigrosso covers retail, banking and other business news for The Charlotte Observer. An award-winning journalist, she has worked for multiple newspapers in the Carolinas, Missouri and New York.
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