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Historic West End neighborhood guide: Black history, restaurants, landmarks

Welcome to the Historic West End and the Beatties Ford corridor in Charlotte. The community is home to historic sites, such as The Excelsior Club and the United House of Prayer. The Deltas of Charlotte Foundation, the headquarters of the storied Black sorority’s local chapter, call the Historic West End home. Nearby is the Kappa Hall, a hub for the historic Black Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.

Why it’s called Historic West End

Anchored by Johnson C. Smith University, a historically Black university, the Historic West End is home to some of Charlotte’s oldest Black communities: McCrorey Heights, Washington Heights, Hyde Park, sville, Oaklawn, Northwood Estates/University Park and Lincoln Heights.

The corridor stretching more than 8 miles is located near the edge of Uptown.

The Bulls go to 7-0 as they defeat Shaw University 21-14 Saturday October 19, 2024.
The Bulls go to 7-0 as they defeat Shaw University 21-14 Saturday October 19, 2024. jonathan aguallo

Average priced single-family home

The median home price in Historic West End is around $480,000 according to Redfin.com.

Apartment Rents

The median rent price is is $1,819 per month.

Motorists drive along Beatties Ford Rd. in front of the Mosaic Village.
Motorists drive along Beatties Ford Rd. in front of the Mosaic Village. TODD SUMLIN tsumlin@charlotteobserver.com

Who lives in West End

The Historic WestEnd has a population of more than 44,000 people according to Flyhomes, Inc.

It’s main zip code is 28208. The area’s diverse population is: 61% Black, 16% White, 14% Hispanic, and 4% Asian, according to unitedstateszipcodes.org.

Some properties and rental listings within the area may also fall under 28216, according to Redfin.com.

Restaurants

West End has a variety of fast-food and popular chains. There also are plenty of locally-owned restaurants and international options.

A & C Chinese Fast Food, 2200 Beatties Ford Road E, Charlotte

American Deli, 2004 Beatties Ford Road, Charlotte

Chicken King, 1740 W Trade St., Charlotte

House of Prayer Cafeteria, 2321 Beatties Ford Road, Charlotte

Jet’s Pizza, 1800 Rozzelles Ferry Road, Charlotte

Little Caesars, 5009 Beatties Ford Road, #102, Charlotte

Mama Gee’s, 509 Beatties Ford Road, Charlotte

Niki’s Food Shop, 2200 Beatties Ford Road, Charlotte

Original Chicken & Ribs, 1100 Beatties Ford Road, Charlotte

Subway, 5009 Beatties Ford Road, #101, Charlotte

Sunset Seafood & Soul Food, 5009 Beatties Ford Rd #112, Charlotte

Tops China Restaurant, 2127 Beatties Ford Road, Charlotte

Tropical Goodies Caribbean Restaurant, 2316 Lasalle St., Charlotte

West End Fresh Seafood Market, 2206 Beatties Ford Road, Charlotte

WestEnd Tavern, 2817 Rozzelles Ferry Road, Charlotte

Johnson C. Smith University along Beatties Ford Road on October 20, 2020.
Johnson C. Smith University along Beatties Ford Road on October 20, 2020. David T. Foster III dtfoster@charlotteobserver.com

Schools

Ashley Park Pre K-8 School, 2401 Belfast Drive, Charlotte

Bruns Avenue Elementary, 501 S Bruns Ave., Charlotte

Irwin Academic Center, 329 N. Irwin Ave., Charlotte

Northwest School of the Arts, 1415 Beatties Ford Road, Charlotte

Oaklawn Language Academy, 1810 Oaklawn Ave., Charlotte

West Charlotte High School, 2219 Senior Drive, Charlotte

Houses of worship

Church in the City, 118 S Bruns Ave., Charlotte

Clinton Chapel AME Zion, 1801 Rozzelles Ferry Road, Charlotte

East Stonewall AME Zion, 1729 Griers Grove Road, Charlotte

First Baptist Church - West, 1801 Oaklawn Ave., Charlotte

Friendship Missionary Baptist, 3400 Beatties Ford Road, Charlotte

Friendship Primitive Baptist, 2015 Kennesaw Drive, Charlotte

Gethsemane AME Zion, 531 Campus St., Charlotte

Glorious Full Gospel Tabernacle, 2300 Sanders Ave., Charlotte

Jerusalem House of God, 1704 W Trade St., Charlotte,

Macedonia Baptist, 1300 Hateras Ave., Charlotte

Memorial Presbyterian, 2600 Beatties Ford Road, Charlotte

New Emmanuel Congregational, 3546 Beatties Ford Road, Charlotte

Prince of Peace Lutheran, 3001 Beatties Ford Road, Charlotte

Reeder Memorial Baptist, 3725 Beatties Ford Road, Charlotte

Smallwood Presbyterian, 101 S Gardner Ave., Charlotte

Simpson Gillespie United Methodist, 3545 Beatties Ford Road, Charlotte

The Park Ministries, 6029 Beatties Ford Road, Charlotte

The Heights Ministries, 2137 B Ave., Charlotte

Trinity Park Baptist, 9115 Trinity Park Road, Charlotte

Trinity United Methodist, 6230 Beatties Ford Road, Charlotte

True Holiness of Jesus Christ, 321 Mill Road, Charlotte

United House of Prayer, 601 Beatties Ford Road, Charlotte

United House of Prayer for All, 2321 Beatties Ford Road, Charlotte

Williams Memorial Presbyterian, 4700 Beatties Ford Rd, Charlotte

The Ritz at Washington Heights is a park named after the former Ritz Theater, which was exclusively for Black people during segregation.
The Ritz at Washington Heights is a park named after the former Ritz Theater, which was exclusively for Black people during segregation. Ritz at Washington Heights Park

Parks

Biddleville Park, 500 Andrill Terrace, Charlotte

Firestone Park, 3501 Firestone Drive, Charlotte

Five Points Park, 200 French St., Charlotte

Fred Alexander Park, 1832 Griers Grove Road, Charlotte

Hornet’s Nest Park, 6301 Beatties Ford Road, Charlotte

L.C. Coleman Park, 1501 McDonald St., Charlotte

Lincoln Heights Park, 1819 Catherine Simmons Ave., Charlotte

Martin Luther King Park, 2600 Ravencroft Drive, Charlotte

The Ritz at Washington Heights Park, 1201 Beatties Ford Road, Charlotte

Seversville Park, 530 S Bruns Ave., Charlotte

Waddell Street Park, 1505 Waddell St., Charlotte

West Charlotte Park, 2401 Kendall Drive, Charlotte

Vanessa Meyers, Titiana Peters and LaMaria Taylor enjoy a quiet afternoon on a swing at Five Points Plaza in this file photo. The $5.5 million plaza sits close to Johnson C. Smith University and city leaders see it as a place to grab a bit to eat or sit and work.
Vanessa Meyers, Titiana Peters and LaMaria Taylor enjoy a quiet afternoon on a swing at Five Points Plaza in this file photo. The $5.5 million plaza sits close to Johnson C. Smith University and city leaders see it as a place to grab a bit to eat or sit and work. Jeff Siner jsiner@charlotteobserver.com

City Council/District representative

Malcolm Graham, District 2, Malcolm.Graham@ci.charlotte.nc.us, 704-336-6105

Dimple Ajmera, at-large, Dimple.Ajmera@charlottenc.gov, 704-336-2777

LaWana Mayfield, at-large, LaWana.Mayfield@charlottenc.gov, 704-336-3433

James Mitchell Jr., at-large, James.Mitchell@charlottenc.gov, 704-336-3430

Victoria Watlington, at-large, victoria.watlington@charlottenc.gov, 704-336-3435

Precincts

Precinct 11 — Polling Place: Greater Mount Moriah Baptist Church, 727 W. Trade St., Charlotte

Precinct 12 — Polling Place: Bruns Avenue Elementary, 501 S. Bruns Ave., Charlotte

Precinct 16 — Polling Place: East Stonewall AME Zion Church, 1729 Griers Grove Road, Charlotte

Precinct 24 — Polling Place: Bette Rae Thomas Recreation Center, 2921 Tuckaseegee Rd Charlotte

Precinct 25 — Polling Place: West Charlotte Recreation Center, 2401 Kendall Drive, Charlotte

Precinct 41 — Polling Place: Hoskins Avenue Baptist Church, 101 S Hoskins Road, Charlotte

Precinct 54 — Polling Place: Oaklawn Language Academy, 1810 Oaklawn Ave., Charlotte

Precinct 55 — Polling Place: Lincoln Heights Montessori School, 1900 Newcastle St., Charlotte

Precinct 210 — Polling Place: McCrorey YMCA, 3801 Beatties Ford Road, Charlotte

Crime stats

Attractions

Five Points Plaza, a public space hosting Savory Saturdays, a breakfast food truck rally and other events. The plaza is located at 1803 W. Trade St., Charlotte.

LATIBAH (Life and Times in Black American History) Collard Green Museum, 1803 W. Trade St. It features life-size installation exhibits and interactive educational programs about Black history.

Johnson C. Smith University. The campus is home to several historic landmarks such as the Davis Home, home of educators Dr. George E. Davis and Marie G. Davis. George was the university’s first Black professor.

Irwin Belk Complex, an athletic facility with an Olympic-sized track for major events and other games for the Golden Bulls of JCSU.

Sources: The James B. Duke Memorial Library, www.westendcharlotte.org, Historic West End Partners

This story was originally published July 1, 2025 at 6:00 AM.

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