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Tag: coffee shop near me

  • An all-day coffee + cocktail bar is coming soon to Plaza Midwood. What to know

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    Grab your morning coffee or enjoy a drink with friends at a new bar concept coming soon to Charlotte.

    Plot Twist, an all-day coffee and cocktail bar, will set up shop near Trope Bookshop and Wiloe Home & Gift in Plaza Midwood, according to a news release sent to CharlotteFive.

    The bar is slated to open in April 2026, though an official date hasn’t been announced.

    “We’re flipping the script on everything you thought a coffee shop or a bar could be,” founder Nikki Velazquez wrote on Instagram.

    A full-length shot of a person with long dark hair, wearing a white hard hat, a black long-sleeved shirt, and ripped blue jeans, standing on a pile of dirt inside a room under construction, holding a shovel with one hand and smiling enthusiastically. The person is draped in a string of large, colorful Christmas lights that wrap around the torso and trail down onto the dirt. The background shows unfinished white walls with patches of brown plaster.
    Nikki Velazquez and her fiancé, Eric Flanigan, are opening Plot Twist, an all-day coffee and cocktail bar in Plaza Midwood. Courtesy of NiceDay

    Velazquez, a seasoned hospitality professional, will run Plot Twist alongside her fiancé and business partner, Eric Flanigan, according to the release. She’s had a hand in launching concepts including Charlotte Beer Garden and, more recently, Tipsy Pickle.

    Plot Twist marks her latest venture and first owner-operated concept.

    Once an old auto shop, the space will be transformed into “a flexible third space that works just as well for daytime coffee and remote working as it does for casual evenings with friends,” the release said. Beyond morning brews, customers can sip on cocktails, mocktails, seltzers and THC drinks.

    The interior of an unfinished industrial space featuring three large glass garage doors and a central glass entry door. Sunlight streams through the panes, casting long, geometric shadows across a raw concrete floor.
    Housed in a former auto shop, Plot Twist can seat up to 50 people inside and 30 on the outdoor patio. NiceDay

    Customers can look forward to beverages made with house-made syrups, seasonal and locally-sourced ingredients. Light bites including nuts and chips will also be available.

    The 1,627-square-foot bar can seat up to 50 people, plus an additional 30 on the outdoor patio.

    A dimly lit, modern bar featuring a long dark wood counter lined with chartreuse green velvet stools. Behind the bar, two white grid-style shelves flank a large, ornate gold-framed painting centered on a dark charcoal wall.
    Plot Twist, a woman-owned coffee and cocktail bar, is opening soon in Plaza Midwood. This rendering shows off the expected style of the bar. Chastaine & Company, courtesy of NiceDay.=

    Cuisine: Coffee, cocktails + mocktails

    Instagram: @plottwistclt

    This story was originally published January 22, 2026 at 9:41 AM.

    Related Stories from Charlotte Observer

    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.

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  • Concord native closes doors on downtown coffee shop. ‘I’m beyond grateful’

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    A Charlotte-area coffee shop is “officially closed” after nearly two years in business.

    High Grounds Coffeehouse on Monday, Oct. 6, announced it was shutting the doors on its spot along Barbrick Avenue in downtown Concord, according to an Instagram post.

    A reason for the closure wasn’t immediately clear.

    A wide, eye-level shot of a street in Concord, North Carolina. The asphalt road slopes uphill toward the background. At the top of the hill, a prominent light-blue water tower with the word “Concord” in red script is centered in the frame. The scene is flanked by brick buildings and vibrant green trees on a bright day with a blue sky and scattered clouds. A green lamppost and a pedestrian crossing sign are in the right foreground.
    High Grounds Coffeehouse officially opened in downtown Concord, NC, in January 2024. Alex Cason CharlotteFive

    “Owning this shop has been one of the greatest adventures of my life, and I’m beyond grateful for the love, support and encouragement I’ve received over the past two years,” owner Andrea Runyan wrote on Instagram.

    Opened in January 2024, High Grounds was “more than just a coffee shop but … a quaint sanctuary” for locals strolling the city’s downtown, officials wrote in a profile highlighting Runyan, a Concord native. The beloved coffeehouse found a home on the ground floor of the new Novi Lofts.

    Last summer, a major streetscape construction project aimed at drawing new visitors to the historic district made the area tough to navigate, CharlotteFive reported. Foot traffic was slow, and many local businesses struggled.

    It’s not clear if the heavy construction played a part in High Grounds’ closure.

    CharlotteFive reached out to Runyan for more information Tuesday and was awaiting a response.

    The coffee house used beans from Colorado, where Runyan lived for a few years after college, according to Concord officials. The name “High Grounds” was her way of bringing that chapter of her life back home.

    “From the regulars who became friends, to the new faces that brought joy through the door, each of you has been part of this journey and made it so meaningful,” she said via Instagram.

    Local love for High Grounds

    Runyan thanked the downtown Concord community for “being part of my dream,” adding: “I truly hope it’s not a goodbye but a ‘see you again.’”

    The sign-off prompted an outpouring of reactions from locals sad to see High Grounds go:

    • “You are the only coffee place I go to in downtown and I’m gonna miss you so much! Your coffee gets me through tough days in the office,” Instagram user @applepie0712 commented.
    • “I will miss hanging out and talking to you while you make some great coffee,” Mark Shropshire wrote. “Wishing you the best and can’t wait to hear what you do next.”
    • “Sending you all my love and support in your next journey Andrea! You will be missed,” The Downtown Dirty, which highlights business in downtowns across Cabarrus County, wrote.
    • “Forever my favorite coffee in Concord! ❤️ Best wishes for your next adventure!!,” wrote Babetta Popoff.

    High Grounds Coffeehouse

    Location: 25 Barbrick Ave SW Ste. 103, Concord, NC 28025

    Cuisine: Coffee

    Menu

    Instagram: @highgroundscoffeehouse

    This story was originally published October 7, 2025 at 11:35 AM.

    Related Stories from Charlotte Observer

    Tanasia Kenney

    Sun Herald

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

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    Tanasia Kenney

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