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3rd & Fernwood owner: Closed eatery faced ‘same issues’ most restaurants do

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Charlotte’s 3rd & Fernwood has closed, and its owner is citing financial and staffing troubles as the cause.

The restaurant known for modern Southern cuisine owes $203,859.97 in back rent, Charlotte Business Journal reported, citing a complaint filed in Mecklenburg County court.

NW Met LP, owner of the Metropolitan shopping center development in Midtown, is pushing to evict the eatery from its space at 1100 Metropolitan Ave., according to CBJ.

A top-down view shows a wooden table laden with various dishes in brown bowls. In the top row, from left to right, there’s a salad with greens and what looks like fried onions, a creamy white dish sprinkled with green herbs, a dark stew or grain dish, and a plate with a burger and potato chips. In the middle row, there’s a small glass vase with a single light orange flower and green leaves. Surrounding it are smaller bowls: one with roasted orange chunks (possibly sweet potatoes), and another with a bean or lentil stew. In the bottom row, from left to right, there’s a vibrant green salad with a yellow crumbly topping, a bowl with what appears to be macaroni and cheese or a similar pasta dish, a grain salad with green vegetables, and a slaw or salad with shredded vegetables. The table is light wood, and dark brown chairs are partially visible at the bottom of the frame.
“We aim to delve into the foodways of the African diaspora and its connection to the American South,” Chef Greg Collier said. “In doing so, we will take on a fresh but elevated perspective that acknowledges the substantial influence of the South and its culinary traditions, specifically the renowned ‘meat and three’ meals.” Jonathan Cooper

Chef Gregory Collier, a four-time James Beard Award-nominated chef, and his wife, Subrina Collier, opened 3rd & Fernwood in August 2024.

The couple hasn’t previously addressed the 3rd & Fernwood closure publicly, although Gregory Collier pointed to high rent, staffing issues, cost-conscious customers and other challenges for the restaurant’s woes in a brief text exchange with CharlotteFive on Wednesday, Dec. 10.

“Same issues most restaurants are dealing with right now,” he said.

A family portrait against a bright orange background. A person smiling and wearing an olive green apron holds a baby looking to the side. Another person in a gray sweatsuit stands closeby, holding the other person’s arm and smiling at the camera.
Greg and Subrina Collier and their daughter, Seleah. Greenwood Ave

The acclaimed chef said he’s actively working with the landlord to settle the back rent.

3rd & Fernwood stopped accepting reservations several weeks ago, and its website went dark soon after, Unpretentious Palate reported last week.

The restaurant’s windows are now covered over, and “a call to the development’s leasing agent confirmed that 3rd & Fernwood is no longer a tenant,” according to the outlet.

3rd & Fernwood opened at Metropolitan Charlotte in August 2024. The mural is by Georgie Nakama.
3rd & Fernwood opened at Metropolitan Charlotte in August 2024. The mural is by Georgie Nakama. Jonathan Cooper

Chef Collier draws national attention

In 2019, Collier was a semifinalist for the James Beard Award’s Best Chef Southeast distinction at the now closed Loft & Cellar, and he was again honored in 2020 for the Colliers’ first venture, Uptown Yolk.

That restaurant opened first in Rock Hill, then closed for a move to Charlotte. Uptown Yolk remains open, serving upscale brunch options such as mojo hash, sweet potato waffles and a fried chicken thigh sandwich called A Bird in the Hand.

In 2022, Collier was a James Beard Award finalist for Best Chef Southeast for his work with Leah & Louise and was again named as a James Beard Award Outstanding Chef semifinalist the next year.

Despite critical acclaim that included Esquire naming Leah & Louise one of the Best New Restaurants in America in 2020, the restaurant closed at Camp North End in 2024 with plans to move to a new location in the future.

Since then, the Colliers have faced multiple lawsuits involving unpaid funds, along with state and federal tax liens, the Charlotte Observer has reported.

A smiling chef wearing a dark green baseball cap, an apron, and a wedding ring, holds two white, curved bowls of food. The bowl on the left contains pieces of fried chicken, and the bowl on the right holds a white dipping sauce. The chef is looking directly at the camera in a brightly lit commercial kitchen.
Chef Greg Collier in the kitchen. John D. Simmons The Charlotte Observer

3rd & Fernwood

Location: 1100 Metropolitan Ave #170, Charlotte, NC 28204 (closed)

Cuisine: Modern Southern

Instagram: @3rd_and_fernwood

This story was originally published December 10, 2025 at 12:48 PM.

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Tanasia Kenney

Sun Herald

Tanasia is a service journalism reporter at the Charlotte Observer | CharlotteFive, working remotely from Atlanta, Georgia. She covers restaurant openings/closings in Charlotte and statewide explainers for the NC Service Journalism team. She’s been with McClatchy since 2020.

Tanasia Kenney

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