What’s got us talking in Charlotte? Sausage, sunsets and a sold-out 5K

· Charlotte, North Carolina Local News · By ReportWire
What’s got us talking in Charlotte? Sausage, sunsets and a sold-out 5K

A beloved North Carolina sausage brand is back on shelves, a rooftop just got crowned the state’s best sunset spot, and a Charlotte 5K sold out faster than most concert tickets.

If you missed this morning’s CharlotteFive newsletter, here are the latest headlines from around the Queen City.

Neese’s Country Sausage is returning to more than 500 Food Lions across North Carolina and Virginia this month, with a chainwide rollout planned for later this fall. Regular, Hot and Extra Sage varieties will sport new packaging but keep the original recipes.

The Neese’s comeback follows a rough year: Raleigh-based White Packing acquired the family-owned brand in June after the USDA’s Food Inspection Service partially shut down its Greensboro facility in September 2025 over positive listeria tests. 🐷 Livermush lovers, stay tuned with Heidi.

Neese’s Country Sausage is returning to store shelves in North Carolina. White Packing

🍨 Melt N Dip opened its first Charlotte shop at The Arboretum over the weekend. It’s the global dessert boutique’s debut in North Carolina.

Expect crêpes, waffles, gelato, Belgian chocolate and Turkish coffee. 📍 8036 Providence Road #200, Charlotte.

🍓 Tanasia tells you what to expect.

A top-down view of a large dessert crepe served on a round white plate. The crepe is completely covered in a vibrant green pistachio sauce and intricately drizzled with a white chocolate pattern. One half is further topped with a generous layer of crushed pistachios. Two small glass jars containing additional green and white sauces are visible in the background on a dark wooden table.
Melt n Dip’s Arboretum location is the first in North Carolina. Courtesy of American Asset Corporation

The Neighborhood Theatre in NoDa reopens Aug. 11 after eight weeks of renovations, kicking things off with a sold-out Franz Ferdinand show.

Upgrades include new lighting and sound on both stages, a renovated balcony and a new draft beer bar. 📍 511 E 36th St., Charlotte.

🎶 Claire has the concert lineup.

The Neighborhood Theatre at 511 E. 36th St. will reopen on Aug. 11, following renovations to its space. The updates include new lighting and sound systems and a renovated backstage area for performers.
The Neighborhood Theatre at 511 E. 36th St. in Charlotte’s NoDa neighborhood. Melissa Oyler CharlotteFive file photo

The Runway 5K at Charlotte Douglas International Airport sold out in 15 minutes, with all 1,650 spots claimed by 7:45 a.m. on registration day. The Oct. 17 race has grown in popularity from failing to sell out in 2022 to gone in minutes this year.

Why the frenzy? Théoden’s story explains the course runs 3.1 miles across the airfield at sunrise, with planes as scenery, just 1.2 inches of elevation and an American Airlines Boeing 777 parked so that runners pass under its wing.

🛬 Théoden explains it all.

Runners cruise along the runway during a past Runway 5K event at Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
Runners cruise along the runway during a past Runway 5K event at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Courtesy of Charlotte Douglas International Airport

🍽️ Foodie news to know this week

  • 🥓 Bojangles has rolled out two limited-time breakfast sandwiches. Tanasia reports that the Carolina Crunch stacks eggs, cheese and Applewood-smoked bacon between two Bo-Tato Rounds starting at $4.39, while the Cajun Bacon Ranch chicken filet biscuit is $6.19.
  • 🌇 The cocktails and sushi haven Fahrenheit was named the top urban sunset spot in North Carolina by A Mission for Michael, based on a survey of 3,042 people. Evan tells us about the rooftop bar, 21 stories above uptown, with panoramic skyline views. 📍 222 S Caldwell St., 21st Floor, Charlotte.

A cocktail with a skyline view on Fahrenheit’s rooftop patio.
A cocktail with a skyline view on Fahrenheit’s rooftop patio. Heidi Finley CharlotteFive

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This report was produced with the assistance of a proprietary tool powered by artificial intelligence and using our own originally reported, written and published content. It was reviewed and edited by our journalists. To learn more about how The Charlotte Observer is using AI in our newsroom, see our policy here.

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