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Tag: SouthPark Charlotte

  • SouthPark office tower plan moves forward, and could also land a HQ relocation

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    A long-proposed office tower in Charlotte’s SouthPark neighborhood has taken another step toward construction. And that could also mean a global insurance company already in SouthPark will be relocating or expanding its operations.

    A land development construction plan permit for 4415 Sharon Road was filed with the city of Charlotte Wednesday, according to city records. That’s Sharon Station, which houses Japanese restaurant BAKU and five vacant buildings.

    The permit’s description is labeled “Amwins Headquarters.”

    Amwins is a specialty insurance distributor headquartered in SouthPark at 4725 Piedmont Row Dr., at the Piedmont Town Center. In 2024, Amwins purchased the site from Childress Klein for $16.7 million, according to Mecklenburg County records.

    According to the land development plans, Amwins is looking to construct a single mixed-use tower with office space and ground floor retail. The existing buildings would be demolished. It’s unclear whether BAKU will move to a new location.

    It’s not yet know how many floors the building will have, but the height of the tower can’t exceed 225 feet, which is approximately at least 15 stories.

    In addition, there will be a seven-level parking deck. One level would be underground and another is at ground floor. It’ll have 782 parking spaces and 108 spaces for bikes. The plans also include a proposed amenity or open space area of 1,000 square feet.

    South Charlotte tower site history

    This tracks with what’s been proposed for the site for the last three years.

    In 2023, Childress Klein filed a site amendment rezoning for the 2.3 acre plot. Site plans indicated the construction of a mixed-use building and parking deck in the back if the property with the same height requirements.

    It’s unclear whether Amwins will be relocating its headquarters to the new site or expanding its operations. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday.

    But it appears that Amwins could be relocating less than a mile away. The Charlotte Ledger previously reported that Amwins would possibly relocate its headquarters.

    Amwins employs over 7,900 people in 138 locations worldwide, according to its website.

    Redevelopment near SouthPark Mall

    The Amwins office tower isn’t the only large scale development proposed near the booming SouthPark mall area

    In October, real estate group Hines filed a rezoning petition to transform almost 4 acres at Carnegie Boulevard in SouthPark. The two sites at 6601 and 6555 Carnegie Blvd. host The Pavilion, a single-story retail building. Tenants there include Rooster’s Wood-Fired Kitchen, Copain Bakery & Provisions and Garden Secrets.

    The rezoning would allow for a mixed-use project with apartments and commercial properties including office, retail, restaurant or fitness spaces.

    The building could also climb up to 275 feet. If each story of the building is 11 feet, which is the standard, the building could be about 25 stories high.

    Hines did not provide the city with site plans but said it would be primarily multi-family. The firm also included prohibited uses within its rezoning request such as no drive-through establishments, live performance venues or industrial uses.

    City Council will vote on that rezoning on Feb. 16.

    Related Stories from Charlotte Observer

    Desiree Mathurin

    The Charlotte Observer

    Desiree Mathurin covers growth and development for The Charlotte Observer. The native New Yorker returned to the East Coast after covering neighborhood news in Denver at Denverite and Colorado Public Radio. She’s also reported on high school sports at Newsday and southern-regional news for AP. Desiree is exploring Charlotte and the Carolinas, and is looking forward to taking readers along for the ride. Send tips and coffee shop recommendations.

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  • New restaurant + bar to replace shuttered SouthPark tavern. What to know

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    Charlotte foodies can look forward to a new neighborhood restaurant and bar coming soon to SouthPark.

    The Craic is set to open in the coming months, taking over the shuttered Rusty Bucket Restaurant and Tavern space, according to a news release sent to CharlotteFive.

    Meaning “good vibes” in Gaelic, the new concept strikes a balance between fine dining and a cozy neighborhood café experience. Customers can look forward to classic dishes like pot roast, pork loin and trout.

    The exterior of the restaurant shows a series of large black-framed windows set into a light tan stone building under several black awnings. The awnings are branded with “the CRAIC” and a four-leaf clover motif, overlooking a sidewalk with wooden planters.
    The Craic, a new restaurant and bar, will set up shop in Charlotte’s SouthPark neighborhood. Courtesy of NiceDay

    Burgers and wings are also on the menu alongside oven-fired pizzas, pretzels and other bar bites.

    “We wanted to create a restaurant and bar that feels welcoming from the moment you arrive,” Parker Starre, co-owner and general manager of The Craic, said in the release. “It’s a place where professionals can meet for brunch or lunch, families feel comfortable at dinner and regulars can settle in late at night and feel completely at home.”

    Starre, a former Rusty Bucket employee turned partner, is part of a larger Charlotte-based hospitality team that brought The Craic to life.

    Veteran operator Chris Healy will oversee the restaurant, with help from co-owener and former WBTV sports reporter Delano Little. Chef Danny O’Connell will head the restaurant’s culinary program, while Sarah Pinto will oversee the bar.

    A sprawling 4,622-square-foot space, The Craic seats up to 177 guests across its indoor, bar and patio areas, according to the release. It will also feature a “a semi-enclosed, drinks-only nook” accessed through a secret pass-through window.

    Other bar highlights include:

    • 30+ beers on tap
    • 8 temperature controlled wine dispensers
    • A curated bottle list
    • Craft cocktails made with house-made syrups

    The Craic will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. with brunch, lunch and dinner offerings.

    Location: 4810 Ashley Park Ln, Charlotte, NC 28210 (opening soon)

    Cuisine: American

    Instagram: @thecraic_clt

    A green square sign is posted on a glass door, prominently displaying the words “Coming Soon” above the name “the CRAIC” in white text. The sign is bordered by a white frame with stylized geometric accents at the top, bottom, and sides.
    The Craic will offer everyday classics like pot roast and pork loin alongside a curated selection of beer, wine and cocktails. Courtesy of NiceDay

    This story was originally published February 5, 2026 at 2:30 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.

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  • Local flavors with global influences arriving soon at former Village Tavern restaurant

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    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.

    An eye-level shot of a restaurant dining room featuring light-colored upholstered booths and wooden tables. The central seating area is dramatically divided by a long planter box containing a line of tall, leafy artificial trees, with large windows visible behind the greenery.
    Greenery accents the dining room at Laurel Park. Heidi Finley CharlotteFive

    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.

    A wide, eye-level shot of a spacious outdoor dining terrace covered in artificial green turf. The patio is furnished with many light wood-topped tables and black woven rope chairs. A black covered structure with a wood plank ceiling is on the left, and the terrace overlooks trees with yellow autumn leaves under a bright blue sky.
    The patio at Laurel Park. Heidi Finley CharlotteFive

    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.

    A wide, eye-level shot of a modern restaurant dining room featuring small tables and dark wooden chairs positioned by large, floor-to-ceiling windows. The view outside shows a spacious patio with covered seating and a backdrop of trees with autumn foliage under a bright sky.
    Sturdy director’s chairs pair with tables along the window at Laurel Park. Heidi Finley CharlotteFive

    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.”

    A beautifully plated Fried Green Tomato Caprese sits on a wooden board. On the speckled blue plate, a swirl of orange tomato sauce and a dollop of creamy white burrata form the base for several golden-fried green tomatoes. The stack is topped with a chunky tomato relish, large fresh basil leaves, and a drizzle of dark balsamic.
    Laurel Park’s Fried Green Tomato Caprese. Laurel Park

    “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.

    A beautifully composed brunch dish of French toast bake on an oval plate. The dish is a riot of color, decorated with translucent, star-shaped slices of starfruit, cubes of white dragon fruit, blueberries, strawberries, and caramelized plantains, all interspersed with piped dollops of a rich purple cream.
    French Toast Bake with tropical fruit and whipped ube butter at Laurel Park. Laurel Park

    Location: 4201 Congress St., Unit 190, Charlotte, NC 28209 (opening early December)

    Cuisine: New American

    Instagram: @laurelparkclt

    An inside look at Charlotte: The Charlotte Observer takes you behind the scenes of your favorite Charlotte teams, landmarks, businesses and more to show you how it all works. Follow along to see where we’re going next.

    An eye-level, angled shot of the main entrance of the multi-story Laurel Park building. A black awning with the white “LAUREL PARK” text and logo covers the entrance, which is accessed by a long, black-railed accessibility ramp. The building has a light-colored stone facade and large reflective windows.
    Laurel Park is located at the former Village Tavern site at 4201 Congress St., Unit 190 in Charlotte’s SouthPark neighborhood. Heidi Finley CharlotteFive

    A wide, eye-level shot of a modern outdoor patio, partially covered by a black roof with a wood plank ceiling. The terrace features an outdoor bar area and lounge seating furnished with contemporary rope-style chairs and stools. The patio overlooks a dense line of trees displaying brilliant autumn foliage.
    The semi-covered patio space at Laurel Park includes a fire place and fire tables for warmth and ambiance. Heidi Finley CharlotteFive

    An inside look at Charlotte: The Charlotte Observer takes you behind the scenes of your favorite Charlotte teams, landmarks, businesses and more to show you how it all works. Follow along to see where we’re going.

    This story was originally published November 21, 2025 at 5:00 AM.

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    Heidi Finley

    The Charlotte Observer

    Heidi Finley is a writer and editor for CharlotteFive and the Charlotte Observer. Outside of work, you will most likely find her in the suburbs driving kids around, volunteering and indulging in foodie pursuits.
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  • Nearby Charlotte mall owner buys Phillips Place in SouthPark expansion move

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    Phillips Place, the mixed-used shopping plaza in SouthPark, has a new owner. One who’s very familiar with the neighborhood.

    Simon Property Group completed its purchase of Phillips Place, Simon announced Tuesday in a news release. It’s unclear how much the real estate investment firm paid for the site.

    The acquisition adds more SouthPark property to Simon’s belt.

    Simon owns SouthPark Mall, Charlotte’s largest shopping center. And in 2023, Simon purchased Hampton Inn & Suites at Phillips Place for $42 million. The 124-room hotel is steps away from SouthPark Mall.

    Simon also owns Concord Mills and Charlotte Premium Outlets in Charlotte’s Steele Creek area.

    It’s unclear what Simon’s plans are for Phillips Place. A spokesperson for the mall could not immediately be reached for comment.

    But according to the news release, Simon will eventually “elevate” the site with possibly new shops and “ongoing investments.”

    About Phillips Place

    The retail, residential and entertainment plaza opened in 1997. It’s an open-air European village-style retail center with over 134,000 square feet of space.

    In recent years, Phillips Place has pushed to bring more luxury brands to Charlotte.

    Ralph Lauren opened its first North Carolina store at the center in 2023. Other high-end stores include Alice + Olivia, Veronica Beard and RH Gallery, which has a rooftop restaurant.

    This is a developing story

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    Desiree Mathurin

    The Charlotte Observer

    Desiree Mathurin covers growth and development for The Charlotte Observer. The native New Yorker returned to the East Coast after covering neighborhood news in Denver at Denverite and Colorado Public Radio. She’s also reported on high school sports at Newsday and southern-regional news for AP. Desiree is exploring Charlotte and the Carolinas, and is looking forward to taking readers along for the ride. Send tips and coffee shop recommendations.

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