https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article315929864.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/a2bec2d2-62dd-4aec-b33f-b7ea03961277/1_th.jpg Tequila tops vodka in Mecklenburg County ABC stores For the first time in seven years, vodka was not the most popular drink, according to a new annual report from the county ABC board. https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article315929864.html/video-embed 24 2026-05-29T09:15:00Z no https://www.charlotteobserver.com/charlottefive/c5-food-drink/article312932569.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/bb768b50-ce4e-428d-8918-6cfc8662a5fd/3_th.jpg Manolo's Bakery closing for first time in 28 years due to Border Patrol activity Manolo Betancur, owner of Manolo's Bakery, said that he would be closing his bakery on Saturday and was not sure when he would re-open. He said the move was made to keep his customers safe as U.S. Border Patrol agents arrest people throughout Charlotte. This is the first time it has closed in 28 years. https://www.charlotteobserver.com/charlottefive/c5-food-drink/article312932569.html/video-embed 90 2025-11-15T21:07:01Z no https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article315931754.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/84150cb7-d040-4ae0-9259-109189a50d12/3_th.jpg Excelsior Club’s legacy: More than a nightclub, a historic hub for West Charlotte Founded in 1944 by Jimmie McKee in a seven-room house on Beatties Ford Road, the Excelsior Club was designed to mirror a country club—creating a place for Black community networking, idea-sharing and political outreach in West Charlotte. https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article315931754.html/video-embed 46 2026-05-29T15:43:28Z no https://www.charlotteobserver.com/charlottefive/c5-food-drink/article315910036.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/811469f1-e3a9-4af7-b499-2ec87cfd16c3/1_th.jpg South 21 Drive In: A Charlotte gem with great food, better prices I went to South 21 Drive In and tried the food for the first time. It's been around since 1955 and got glowing reviews from Guy Fieri, and I can see why it has a loyal customer base. Here's what I got, how much I paid for it. https://www.charlotteobserver.com/charlottefive/c5-food-drink/article315910036.html/video-embed 77 2026-05-29T10:00:00Z no https://www.charlotteobserver.com/charlottefive/c5-food-drink/article315924869.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/9f5072cb-7294-4e50-b354-1e508179d2fc/1_th.jpg Burgers, cheese and carbs: The best things we ate in May The CharlotteFive team had plenty of good eats during the month of May. Here are some of our favorites, including burgers loaded with cheese, cheesy mushroom fondue and handmade Italian pasta -- with cheese. I'm noticing a theme here. https://www.charlotteobserver.com/charlottefive/c5-food-drink/article315924869.html/video-embed 115 2026-05-29T10:30:00Z no https://www.charlotteobserver.com/charlottefive/c5-food-drink/article292696014.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/8c7e4355-aa44-4be4-a8d5-4524d49fc380/1_th.jpg Video: First look at Albertine, opening in uptown Check out Albertine, the newest fine dining restaurant from James Beard nominated team behind Kindred. Look for cuisine inspired by the Mediterranean and the South. https://www.charlotteobserver.com/charlottefive/c5-food-drink/article292696014.html/video-embed 59 2024-09-19T10:00:00Z no https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article315928201.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/70df920a-4d1c-48a0-8240-bd1672092d00/2_th.jpg 63 years later, these Good Samaritan Hospital nurses are still friends Shirley Chapman and Rosa Covington met at Good Samaritan Hospital more than six decades ago. They’ve stayed close ever since—and now they’re reflecting on the friendship that started on the job. https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article315928201.html/video-embed 93 2026-05-29T09:30:00Z no https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article315928805.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/a9daa0cd-6bac-4c0a-8fc4-76b893f6e49b/1_th.jpg Demolition work complete at mix-use space, Brooklyn & Church Construction teams redeveloping Duke Energy’s former headquarters into a $250 million mixed-use project marked the completion of demolition work Thursday. https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article315928805.html/video-embed 49 2026-05-29T09:00:00Z no https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article296174304.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/b0eddfa0-ee47-4c1a-af2b-4cf6bdb83653/2_th.jpg Unhoused In Charlotte: Hurricane Michael Survivor's Story Alicia Harvey, a hurricane survivor, finds herself homeless in Charlotte, struggling to find a home after losing everything in 2018. She and her teenage daughters are staying at the Lamplighter Inn on Eddleman Rd, Charlotte, N.C. https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article296174304.html/video-embed 117 2024-12-02T10:00:00Z no https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article315913638.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/5fd71068-bbb9-4fad-8559-1ff700eddf0c/2_th.jpg Nana Morrison’s wins CharlotteFive Readers’ Choice poll for best soul food Nana Morrison’s has been voted CharlotteFive readers’ pick for the best soul food in Charlotte, drawing fans with fried chicken, collards and generous, family-recipe portions. https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article315913638.html/video-embed 26 2026-05-28T08:45:00Z no https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article290364989.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/26d3e783-0535-47f6-bee2-b847d033bf99/1_th.jpg Supportive housing in Charlotte leaves tenants hopeless The Lamplighter Inn was supposedly the site of a supportive housing operation called "Vermelle's Place." After many broken promises, residents soon found out that "Vermelle's Place" doesn't exist and have been left to find housing elsewhere. https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article290364989.html/video-embed 113 2024-07-25T10:00:00Z no https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nfl/article315901726.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/4c810267-a935-4895-86ad-c7f64a9bccf5/1_th.jpg Dave Canales explains how Panthers QB Bryce Young's leadership is visible heading into Year 4 Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young used "colorful" language on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. Head coach Dave Canales explains why he "loved it." https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nfl/article315901726.html/video-embed 34 2026-05-27T02:12:02Z no https://www.charlotteobserver.com/charlottefive/c5-food-drink/article295918089.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/75d8edf0-79b5-4162-a3de-f030634bdc59/3_th.jpg Video: How Charlotte's Pizza Baby makes bread Get an inside look at how Pizza Baby in Charlotte makes its bread, including ciabatta and filone. https://www.charlotteobserver.com/charlottefive/c5-food-drink/article295918089.html/video-embed 95 2024-11-22T10:00:00Z no https://www.charlotteobserver.com/charlottefive/readers-choice/article315861628.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/3551aac2-47e1-4fdc-88c3-d5f84a38f155/1_th.jpg CharlotteFive Reader’s Choice Best Soul Food finalist: Home Style Kitchn Home Style Kitchn in uptown Charlotte has been voted the finalist in the CharlotteFive Readers' Choice Best Soul Food poll. https://www.charlotteobserver.com/charlottefive/readers-choice/article315861628.html/video-embed 39 2026-05-28T08:45:00Z no https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/fifa-world-cup/article315744165.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/1bb6bf7c-b93c-49f6-bad0-6571a16984b7/1_th.jpg Charlotte FC and USMNT player Tim Ream playing in final World Cup Charlotte FC and USMNT defender Tim Ream is preparing for his final World Cup. Ream sat down with The Charlotte Observer's Alex Zeitlow to discuss his career and plans on Tuesday, May 13, 2026 at Bank of America Stadium. https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/fifa-world-cup/article315744165.html/video-embed 48 2026-05-28T09:30:00Z no https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nfl/carolina-panthers/article315896720.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/1cd9ab80-d08e-42f4-a461-094b65d0c0b1/2_th.jpg Panthers' Devin Lloyd on being on a new team Carolina Panthers linebacker Devin Lloyd is on a new team after four years in Jacksonville. He discussed that with the media today. https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nfl/carolina-panthers/article315896720.html/video-embed 46 2026-05-26T19:43:41Z no https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article315900881.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/e72e7a99-aabd-47ca-9762-3741c8464851/1_th.jpg Residents of an Charlotte neighborhood mourn the impending loss of trees A memorial service was held for a 6.6 acre wooded lot in an east Charlotte neighborhood that was rezoned by the city for housing. https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article315900881.html/video-embed 57 2026-05-27T00:36:09Z no https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nfl/carolina-panthers/article315898532.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/e80bd051-8cc1-4266-b514-a2f69aa97f03/1_th.jpg New Panther AJ Dillon talks about his Charlotte adventures As a new resident to Charlotte, Panthers running back AJ Dillon is seeking new adventures off the football field. https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nfl/carolina-panthers/article315898532.html/video-embed 87 2026-05-27T09:30:00Z no https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article299847819.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/838b081b-1a5c-4d89-b895-3ed912d218be/5_th.jpg Affordable housing to be primary focus of Brooklyn Village project The first phase of the Brooklyn Village mixed-use project in Charlotte will include 250 apartments, all of which are affordable housing units. https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article299847819.html/video-embed 83 2025-02-06T16:57:55Z no https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article315906138.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/8645d1d4-ee49-47ab-9bc8-338289b8c450/2_th.jpg CMPD, FBI make arrests on Reagan Drive in north Charlotte CMPD and FBI agents made arrests on Wednesday morning on Reagan Drive in north Charlotte, where militarized vehicles were seen, and people were placed in handcuffs. https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article315906138.html/video-embed 60 2026-05-27T14:09:17Z no