Within a few weeks, SouthPark diners will be yet again lunching and brunching in a familiar Charlotte space, although the view will be brand new, and the food will be, too.
Laurel Park, named after the cherry laurel tree native to North Carolina, is expected to open in early December. Owner Dan McCormick’s upscale yet casual restaurant is taking over the former Village Tavern space, which closed in October 2024 after 35 years of serving Charlotte. Its lease had run out, and negotiations proved unfruitful.
“We’re picking up where an iconic SouthPark restaurant left off. Village Tavern leaves a legacy that goes back decades,” the Laurel Park team shared via Instagram in August.
“They created a great culture for their employees and a great dining experience for their guests. We appreciate the great example they gave our industry, and we’re excited to bring hospitality back to this address for our guests.”
Soon, a top-to-bottom renovation began.
What to expect at Laurel Park
While Village Tavern fans will still recognize the layout of the restaurant, it’s now more bright and spacious., with higher ceilings and more natural light.
“We wanted to be very open and airy,” McCormick told CharlotteFive on a tour offering an early look of the updated space.
Now, greenery accents a dining room for 100 diners that’s awash in neutral tones of tan, rust and wood. Sturdy directors chairs with rattan backing pull up to marble tabletops. Cushioned circular booths along the wall face out toward the dining room, helping to bring people together.
The newly re-imagined bar is centered with a distressed mirror, imported from Italy, and artwork now in storage will soon hang on the walls.
When weather allows, plans call for opening the patio with space for 100 more diners. Highlights include an open-air bar, green space and fireside seating.
“We’re big on hospitality. We have a great venue, and we plan to have a high level of service, but not stuffy,” McCormick said.
Food and community at Laurel Park
As the transformation was underway, chef Brett Faldstein and his team set about exploring local food purveyors to help execute his vision for Laurel Park’s new American cuisine.
Much of the produce and protein hitting tables will be sourced from Charlotte-area farms and vendors, including hydroponic lettuce from Adrina Farms, tomatoes from Barbee Farms in Concord, mushrooms from Urban Gourmet and Fresno chilis from Boy and Girl Farms in Waxhaw. Brasstown Beef is supplying its beef, while Joyce Farms will supply the chicken.
“Similarly with the cuisine, we’ve got lighter fair,” McCormick said, referencing the restaurant’s lighter setting.
Diners will savor house-made pasta, pastries and breads during daily lunch and dinner service, plus weekend brunch.
“And then there’s a little bit of influence from around the globe,” McCormick said of the menu. “There’s a couple Latin dishes, a few Mediterranean, one or two Asian. So it’s really got some comfort food, and then some other stuff for people that are a little bit more adventurous when dining out.”
“It’s upscale casual, so you can come in and grab a big sandwich for lunch, and if you want to come back in the evening for a special occasion, certainly we’ve got a nice wine list and beautiful cocktails, as well,” he said.
Making an investment in community connections has also been important to McCormick and his staff.
As the renovation work stretched on, the kitchen team looked for ways to give back in Charlotte. Pastry chef Jennifer Evans organized outreach opportunities for the staff that included work to help keep people fed — particularly during the time of greater need during the long-lasting government shutdown — at Dilworth Soup Kitchen and the Bulb.
Location: 4201 Congress St., Unit 190, Charlotte, NC 28209 (opening early December)
Cuisine: New American
Instagram: @laurelparkclt
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This story was originally published November 21, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
Heidi Finley
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