Optimist Park / Belmont Projects

[Matthew.Brendan]

Seems reasonable enough if they do stick to opening in the next few weeks. Better for everybody if it’s more complete and not an active construction zone. 

[fortibus]

5 hours ago, markeckert said:

Hey. It was supposed to open in June. They were a week away from soft opening, all staff was hired / trained - and then the developer (at random) decided he wanted to wait a month to open mid July so they could wait for a few more shops to be built out. I heard this directly from the owner of Undercurrent Coffee who will have a shop there. It SHOULD be open later this month. 

I walked by last night -- see below for progress photos.

[jednc]

7 hours ago, markeckert said:

Hey. It was supposed to open in June. They were a week away from soft opening, all staff was hired / trained - and then the developer (at random) decided he wanted to wait a month to open mid July so they could wait for a few more shops to be built out. I heard this directly from the owner of Undercurrent Coffee who will have a shop there. It SHOULD be open later this month. 

Great news that it's getting close. Thanks for the info!

[HighRiseHillbilly]

While I would love for them to hurry up and open, I would rather them get as much done as possible beforehand.

Are we assuming or do we know for ure about Aix Rotisserie? 

[CLTProductions]

21 minutes ago, HighRiseHillbilly said:

While I would love for them to hurry up and open, I would rather them get as much done as possible beforehand.

Are we assuming or do we know for ure about Aix Rotisserie? 

Aix is still a go

Edited July 8, 2019 by Jayvee

[J-Money]

Their official website optimisthall.com now says "arriving late summer 2019" ... doesn't sound like July anymore!  Though I agree it would make a lot more sense for them to open once Parkwood is done being torn up for the sewer work.  At least 16th is re-opened now.

[CLTProductions]

It’ll be late August most likely and it won’t be a full open 

[XRZ.ME]

looks like it will be fall 2019

[grodney]

11 hours ago, Jayvee said:

It’ll be late August most likely and it won’t be a full open 

Fonta Flora?

[CLTProductions]

1 hour ago, grodney said:

Fonta Flora?

Def not fonta

[Matthew.Brendan]

I've been meaning to ask, with the road work being done on Parkwood is there any plan to widen the sidewalk down to the Parkwood train station? the existing sidewalk is very narrow, and the brush along the side could use some clean up and landscaping as well. Hopefully they take the opportunity to do it now....

[tozmervo]

28 minutes ago, Matthew.Brendan said:

I've been meaning to ask, with the road work being done on Parkwood is there any plan to widen the sidewalk down to the Parkwood train station? the existing sidewalk is very narrow, and the brush along the side could use some clean up and landscaping as well. Hopefully they take the opportunity to do it now....

I'm not sure what built outcomes are in process, but the study done a couple of years ago recommended reducing Parkwood to 1 lane ea. direction all the way to Hawthorne. That would certainly create the opportunity for much better sidewalks. 

https://charlottenc.gov/Projects/Pages/ParkwoodPlazaStudy.aspx

[SgtCampsalot]

1 hour ago, Matthew.Brendan said:

I've been meaning to ask, with the road work being done on Parkwood is there any plan to widen the sidewalk down to the Parkwood train station? the existing sidewalk is very narrow, and the brush along the side could use some clean up and landscaping as well. Hopefully they take the opportunity to do it now....

The most recent correspondence I've had is that the Parkwood Ave road diet (from the Caldwell bridge, up to Hawthorne) will at least be starting by late-Summer 2020, but I haven't heard back as to whether the utility work being done now will lead into the road diet work... it's one of those things that seems obvious to do, but is not always the case.

[KJHburg]

Finally Asheville based White Duck Taco has pulled permits for their location at 1020 E 10th St near Siegle Ave.

Now I won't have to make a bee line there everything I am up in Ashvegas. 

Edited July 13, 2019 by KJHburg

[KJHburg]

First Optimist Mill tenants opening August 1 finally.

https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2019/07/17/heres-when-the-first-food-stall-tenants-will-open.html

[KJHburg]

Optimist  Mill opens this week and here is an Agenda story about it.   Their will be openings ongoing through the fall of the food hall and other retail tenants. 

https://www.charlotteagenda.com/142625/everything-we-know-so-far-about-optimist-halls-food-and-drink-tenants/

[Madison Parkitect]

31 minutes ago, KJHburg said:

Optimist  Mill opens this week and here is an Agenda story about it.   Their will be openings ongoing through the fall of the food hall and other retail tenants. 

https://www.charlotteagenda.com/142625/everything-we-know-so-far-about-optimist-halls-food-and-drink-tenants/

Super pumped about this. Ponce City Market is one of my favorite parts of Atlanta and if this is anything like it, it'll be the coolest spot in town.

[Guest]

44 minutes ago, Madison Parkitect said:

Super pumped about this. Ponce City Market is one of my favorite parts of Atlanta and if this is anything like it, it'll be the coolest spot in town.

Its more like Krog. Ponce has way more destination retail. 

1 hour ago, KJHburg said:

Optimist  Mill opens this week and here is an Agenda story about it.   Their will be openings ongoing through the fall of the food hall and other retail tenants. 

https://www.charlotteagenda.com/142625/everything-we-know-so-far-about-optimist-halls-food-and-drink-tenants/

RIP KJ's Superica loyalty

[Madison Parkitect]

1 hour ago, ricky_davis_fan_21 said:

Its more like Krog. Ponce has way more destination retail. 

You're right in terms of size and the fact it's food-centric. I was thinking more of style, I think it matches PCM's look better than Krog. Krog is super cool too, I'm glad Charlotte is getting something like this.

[Guest]

17 minutes ago, Madison Parkitect said:

You're right in terms of size and the fact it's food-centric. I was thinking more of style, I think it matches PCM's look better than Krog. Krog is super cool too, I'm glad Charlotte is getting something like this.

Its true. Its a little less piecemeal than Krog. I LOVE the Krog vibe tho. Can't wait for the xCLT trail to run this way, I wish it felt quite as complete as the Belt Line does.

[Madison Parkitect]

7 minutes ago, ricky_davis_fan_21 said:

Can't wait for the xCLT trail to run this way, I wish it felt quite as complete as the Belt Line does.

It's nice to be at the point in Charlotte where we're able to look at things other cities have done really well and make a good bet we'll get something like it in the future.

[KJHburg]

I have a new food triangle:   Superica in Southend, Noble Smoke in FreeMore West and Optimist Mill once all the places are open.  I am looking forward to their Mexican offerings.   Just look for me with my truck and parking hut in the bed around town.

 

I agree this is more like Krog St Market than Ponce mainly due to massive size of Ponce City Market.   This is another big winner for Charlotte and I would expect more food halls will be in the works.  

[KJHburg]

I reported this a while back when I saw the building permit but here you go White Duck Taco from Ashvegas is on its way and maybe more than 1 store!

https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2019/07/30/charlottes-first-white-duck-taco-to-open-this-fall.html

[Crown]

Former Penguin owner Brian Rowe reviving his iconic restaurant in a century-old home in Optimist Park
 

Love the name. Love the location. Nice scoop by the Agenda: https://www.charlotteagenda.com/174316/former-penguin-owner-brian-rowe-reviving-his-iconic-restaurant-in-a-century-old-home-in-optimist-park/?fbclid=IwAR3XysaMUjwx1b1Ucl3emu412EdnDT7CRLEYLAzgiDMF5jQjns7q7EC-ITE

Rowe’s new restaurant is named Bird Bones Cafe, a play on the remnants of the death of the Penguin, and will feature a skeleton penguin logo in honor of the iconic sign that still stands at the original building.
It’s taking shape in a century-old home on the property at Area 15, an eclectic small business hub just outside Uptown and across the street from Optimist Hall. Charlotte coffee heavyweight Not Just Coffee, now boasting a stacked lineup of six locations, got its start here back in 2011.

Rowe wants to replicate the original restaurant as closely as possible. “When you walk in here, you’re gonna think you’re in the Penguin,” he said. “It’s gonna be identical.”

Edited July 31, 2019 by Crown

[Madison Parkitect]

Remind me, is Rowe the guy that bought the original Penguin and started that whole huge controversy a few years back or is he the guy who sold the Penguin? Or am I thinking of a different Plaza Midwood restaurant?