Birkdale Village adds seven retailers, including three restaurants with Charlotte roots

More restaurants and retailers plan to open at Huntersville mixed-used center undergoing a major $20 million renovation.

Following last week’s opening of apparel shops Beck on Broad and Cosmo Gypsy, five more businesses plan to open at Birkdale Village, including some familiar to Charlotte.

Foxcroft Wine Co., The Good Wurst Co., Warby Parker, Icebox Cryotherapy and Morelia Gourmet Paletas will open , property owner and real estate company North American Properties exclusively told The Charlotte Observer.

The first revamped section, called The Grove near Regal Birkdale, opened at the end of May as part of its ongoing redevelopment at the center. The Grove lawn reopened with tables and chairs and a fire pit, and it will include four “tiny” retail kiosks for merchandise and food vendors.

The 52-acre, mixed-use center is being transformed into a gathering place and outdoor entertainment destination. It’s a mix of local and national retailers.

“We want to create this atmosphere of great brands that have some sort of resort-level hospitality,” Adam Schwegman, partner and senior vice president of leasing at NAP, said in a statement. “We want it to be a place where you come and feel like you’re on vacation.”

New dining and desserts at Birkdale Village

▪ Foxcroft Wine Co. will open its fifth location next spring next to Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar. The wine bar and wine shop, founded 18 years ago by Charlotte native Conrad Hunter, has an extensive selection of wines from around the world.

Foxcroft has a full-service kitchen with small shareable plates and entrees. Bread, cheese and pasta are made in-house. Three years ago, Foxcroft Wine opened a store in Waverly, and has three other locations in Dilworth, Southpark and Greenville, S.C.

Interesting fact: Huntersville is named after Hunter’s family, according to NAP.

▪ The Good Wurst Co. will open its fourth location in a 1,200-square-foot “jewel box,” a floor-to-ceiling building in The Parkway. Two years ago, Charlotte restaurateur Lincoln Clark opened the European-influenced, New York deli-style eatery at 3001 Central Ave. in Plaza Midwood. Two other locations are planned at Vantage South End in South End and Riverbend Village in northwest Charlotte, as well as Atlanta.

The Good Wurst features Montreal-inspired bagels, wursts, burgers and sandwiches. The pastrami, smoked meats, sausages, and bagels are made in-house daily.

▪ Morelia Gourmet Paletas, a Mexican ice cream popsicle vendor, will open its second location likely later this year in one of four 200-square-foot retail kiosks in The Grove. Norberto Munoz of Charlotte opened the first store in spring 2021 at 1425 Winnifred St. in South End. Each paleta is handmade and full of natural ingredients, CharlotteFive previously reported.

Accessories, apparel and glasses too

Joining other recently opened apparel and accessories retailers — Beck on Broad and Cosmo Gypsy — will be Warby Parker.

The eyewear retailer is expected to open later this year in one of three stand-alone retail buildings in the Parkway. The publicly traded company based in New York has four stores in North Carolina, selling eyeglasses, sunglasses, contacts, and offering eye exams.

Husband and wife Leigh Moose and Ozzy Ojito opened Beck on Broad and Cosmo Gypsy on July 18 in two of the tiny retail kiosks, as first reported by The Charlotte Observer. The stores sell leather bags, women’s luxury apparel and accessories, home décor and wellness items.

Icebox Cryotherapy, a cold therapy franchise that specializes in athletic recovery, pain relief and beauty services, will open this year in a 1,700-square-foot space along Cranlyn Road. The wellness studio is owned by Chloe and Ryan Slattery of Cornelius.

Other businesses at Birkdale Village that have recently opened or are opening soon are: Apricot Lane (open), Brown Bag Seafood (coming soon), Girl Supply (open), Green Brothers Juice Co. (opening July 30), Lovesac (open), and Sephora (open).

Other businesses expanding and renovating

Several longtime Birkdale Village businesses relocating, expanding or renovating, according to NAP.

▪ Brixx Pizza will reopen later this year as Brixx Wood Fired Pizza & Craft Bar after relocating to the former Qdoba space, which is about 45% larger. Owner Eric Horsley plans to invest about $1 million in the project.

▪ eeZ Fusion & Sushi is undergoing a 1,000-square-foot expansion. The locally-owned restaurant’s remodeled space will feature a sushi bar, private dining room, takeout area with its own entrance and a grab-and-go cooler.

▪ Midwood Smokehouse is renovating its patio. The barbecue chain owned by Frank Scibelli has four other locations in Plaza Midwood, Ballantyne and Park Road Shopping Center, as well as in Columbia.

▪ Red Rocks Cafe outdoor dining area will undergo a renovation to give it a “beach, coastal” feel, Schwegman said. The locally-owned restaurant, known for steak, seafood and pasta, has been a staple of Birkdale Village since 2003. Owners Ron Herbert and John Love signed a 10-year lease extension.

▪ Savory Spice is relocating to the retail row fronting Cranlyn Road and will neighbor Icebox Cryotherapy.

More about Birkdale Village and its renovation

Birkdale Village, which opened 19 years ago, has more than 60 stores and restaurants, 320 apartments and 50,000 square feet of office space.

The renovations, which are expected to be complete this fall, will include:

▪ A full-service valet and concierge booth behind the new stage.

▪ Some 13,000 square feet of open-air greenspace, including The Grove and Plaza, a performance stage and LED screen. “After Labor Day we’ll immediately start to have a lot more events on the property,” Schwegman said, such as football games on the big screen.

▪ Five small, freestanding retail buildings.

▪ A community garden and dog park.

▪ Aesthetic changes including new paint, redesigned storefronts and improved streetscape.

North American Properties is based in Cincinnati, Ohio. The privately held company manages more than $7 billion in properties across the country.

This story was originally published July 27, 2022 at 5:55 AM.