New name, new vision: Once the hotspot of Charlotte, the Epicentre gets a makeover

Epicentre, once the hot spot destination for nightlife in uptown Charlotte, has a new name and new vision under its new ownership.

Now called Queen City Quarter, the 302,324-square-foot, four-floor mixed-used development at 201 E. Trade St., is undergoing a major rebrand and renovations, property management group CBRE said in a news release Tuesday.

The new plan expects to “create a sense of gathering” building on the businesses that are there, plus add more shopping and entertainment, CBRE’s Sabrina Jones told The Charlotte Observer on Monday.

“And when I say entertainment, I do not mean nightclubs,” she said. “We’re really trying to limit the late-night activity.”

Jones would not disclose the cost of the project.

“It’s such a significant city block in uptown Charlotte,” Jones said. “We’re committed to deploying the capital that’s needed to turn this around.”

Last month, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas took ownership of the one-block complex with its winning $95 million foreclosure auction sale bid. The lender was the only bidder. Foreclosure proceedings started in March after Epicentre defaulted on its $85 million loan with Deutsche Bank.

Renaming the complex and the renovation project isn’t a surprise.

In March, the Observer reported that Jones, who is the court-appointed receiver, said during the N.C. Business Court update that Epicentre would be renamed. She also said there would be renderings for the center’s new design.

Charlotte Center City Partners CEO Michael Smith said in a statement that the new changes are “an important step forward.”

What Queen City Quarter will look like

Renovations, including new, uniform signage, at the former Epicentre complex will be done in phases.

“It has great bones, a great location — it just needed a fresh approach, new ideas, and a new narrative,” said Jeff Pollak, managing principal of global urban design firm Streetsense, which is designing the center.

Repairs to the courtyard, parking garage, patios and roof are underway. Those projects are expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Next year, the property’s public staircases and escalators will be renovated. New landscaping, lighting and benches will be installed in the common areas.

The construction will not affect the handful of businesses already there, Jones said.

What to expect at Queen City Quarter

Queen City Quarter will continue to be a mix of retail, restaurants and office space, according to CBRE.

It will become a corporate and family-friendly hub, Compie Newman, managing director of CBRE’s Charlotte office, said in a statement.

But rather than nightlife and after-hours parties, Jones said the Quarter will be a day and nighttime destination to appeal to workers back in uptown offices and travelers staying at nearby hotels.

Queen City Quarter also will be a venue for entertainment such as farmers markets or musical events, Jones said.

And, during construction and while working out long-term leases, expect to see pop-up retailers and performing visual arts in empty spots at the center, Jones said.

As of Aug. 31, Epicentre was 69% vacant, according to the receiver’s latest report filed Sept. 20.

Safety is also a priority at the property. An analysis by the Observer in 2019 found the Epicentre entertainment complex had the most violent crime of any single business address in Charlotte, including two shooting deaths.

Epicentre employs 12 to 20 armed and unarmed security guards daily. An extensive security camera system already has been installed, Jones said.

“We really wanted to get away from the old Epicentre and the stigma that came along with it, starting fresh with the new name that honors the city of Charlotte,” Jones said.

Business reaction

As Queen City Quarter rebrands away from its nightlife destination, Mortimer’s Cafe & Pub General Manager Samantha Francis said the rebrand and renovations will be good for business.

Mortimer’s, which opened 12 years ago at Epicentre, is rebounding from the pandemic as nearby concerts and sports like Hornets and Panthers return.

“At its height, Epicentre was an adult playground,” Francis said. “That’s what made it popular.

“I hope it will cater to a young-professional adult vibe.”

Epicentre’s rise and fall

When Epicentre opened in 2008 during the economic recession, the one-block center was lauded as a catalyst for development.

The complex is centrally located on College Street, between Trade and Fourth streets and within walking distance of Charlotte’s biggest attractions, including Spectrum Center, Bank of America Stadium and the Charlotte Convention Center. It’s accessible from the Overstreet Mall and features an on-site parking deck, a LYNX light rail station on the second level, and on-site property management.

In 2014, CIM Group, a California real estate group, bought Epicentre for $130.5 million. At the time, the center was 94% leased, with 70% of its rental revenue from 16 restaurants.

Epicentre became a prominent entertainment and nightlife destination in uptown. Along with regularly drawing long lines to get into clubs and bars, it was the site of Alive After Five Thursdays and sports parties, and high-profile national events like the 2012 Democratic National Convention.

Epicentre’s popularity dwindled in the past few years because of rising crime in the area as nightlife and development growth shifted to South End, and the pandemic altered and restricted shopping and dining habits.

Epic Times jewelry store was the latest business there to permanently close its ground-floor shop on Aug. 31.

Epicentre’s dining directory currently lists four restaurants and a cookie shop. Other businesses include Bowlero bowling center, CVS, a dentist’s office and Tailored Smoke cigar shop.

This story was originally published September 27, 2022 at 10:00 AM.