4 things you need to know to take your alcoholic drink on a walk in Plaza Midwood
The Charlotte City Council approved the city’s first social district Monday in the heart of a neighborhood known for its bustling social scene.
The new Plaza Midwood social district — a defined area, permitted by the city, within which people can carry alcoholic beverages in public — will run along Central Avenue and be managed by the Plaza Midwood Merchants Association.
The social district was approved by a vote of 9-2, with council members Lawana Slack-Mayfield and Renee Johnson voting against it.
Mayfield said she was concerned that the council hadn’t properly addressed questions she raised about the impacts of social districts on issues that can arise from drinking, such as indecent exposure, littering and public urination.
“We haven’t clearly identified what our plan is as a council to address the current issue that we’re seeing in Charlotte regarding drunkenness,” she said.
Other members of the council said that social districts and public intoxication concerns are two separate issues.
“This social district is highly organized … My bet based on what I’ve seen is it will probably be the cleanest, most organized and orderly operation around this front that we will ever see,” Councilman Tariq Bokhari said.
Here’s what to know about the Plaza Midwood social district:
When will Plaza Midwood social district launch?
Now that the Plaza Midwood social district has been approved, it will likely launch in the first two weeks of December, said Councilwoman Dante Anderson, whose District 1 includes the neighborhood.
That will be a “soft opening,” she told the Observer after Monday’s vote, so business owners can “pressure test” the new system.
And, Anderson added, that launch could be delayed if participating businesses face delays in getting some of the equipment needed to open the social district.
Amanda Cranford, owner of the restaurant Dish at 1220 Thomas Ave. in the neighborhood, told the Observer “people need to understand that the rollout process will be more complicated than it may seem.”
Other business owners in the neighborhood say they’ve got more planned to help accommodate the social district than just getting the required cups.
Manny Flores, owner of Que Onda Tacos + Tequila Bar, which opened in April at 1518 Central Ave., said that he wants to spruce up the area where people pick up their orders at his restaurant with benches and a platform “so it’s easy to walk up” to the window and order drinks.
Special cups for social districts
One of the pieces of equipment required for the social district will be special cups from which alcohol can be consumed within the district.
The merchants association said previously it will partner with Envision Charlotte to create “reusable stainless-steel cups with the required logos.”
The cup’s design, according to the group’s plan, “clearly identifies the permitted business from which the alcoholic beverage was purchased,” displays the district’s logo and “has a liquid capacity that does not exceed 16 fluid ounces.”
Signage will also be installed throughout Plaza Midwood alerting residents and visitors to the boundaries of the social district.
Hours for Plaza Midwood social district
Once launched, the Plaza Midwood social district will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
Cranford said she thinks those hours may pose issues for business owners who participate in the social district.
“The curfew will make it hard for small businesses to make money and not frustrate consumers who may not be informed about the laws and regulations,” Cranford said. “What I think will happen is that there will be a first-round vote to approve the social district, and, eventually, there will be a realization that other counties and areas that have adopted the social district model/laws allow for people to drink until 2 a.m. with less strict regulations, and there will be a revisement of some kind.”
What parts of Plaza Midwood are included in new social district?
Under the map approved Monday by the City Council, the Plaza Midwood Social District will run along Central Avenue, stretching east to west “from Louise Avenue/10th Street to Morningside Drive” and north to south “from Chesterfield Avenue to near Hamorton Place along Pecan Avenue.”
Flores said the prospect of being part of the social district was part of what drew him to Central Avenue for his restaurant.
“The site itself really is desirable in terms of walking up ordering a taco and a margarita to go,” he said. “So it’s like I say, that was one of the things that we specifically looked for in the Plaza Midwood location,” he said.
Observer editor Lisa Vernon-Sparks contributed reporting to this story.
This story was originally published October 23, 2023 at 8:59 PM.
