Salad Niçoise Tartines and Croque Monsieur sandwiches at Charlotte’s uptown French bistro are gone for now — but they’ll be back soon.
Coquette — owned Jill Marcus, the founder of Mother Earth Group — is making a quick move down the street.
The restaurant has closed town its location at 400 S. Tryon St., and has begun to move furniture and other equipment into its new space at 101 S. Tryon St., which formerly held Essex Bar & Grill.
“Welcome to the glamorous life of opening a restaurant,” the team posted via Instagram. “Check in for unexpected or last minute updates, ha …”
Coquette is moving into the Tryon Street space that formerly held Essex Bar & Bistro. Melissa Oyler CharlotteFive
Plans call for reopening in the new space for lunch on Tuesday, March 3.
The restaurant offers an assortment of pastries and desserts, along with a variety of brunch, lunch and dinner selections. There’s a raw bar with oysters and seafood towers, along with charcuterie and cheeses, small plates and entrees such as Cassoulet de Canard and Coquette Duck Fat Fried Chicken.
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. Support my work with a digital subscription
NBA star LaMelo Ball crashed his custom vehicle Wednesday.
The Charlotte Hornets guard was in his easy-to-distinguish Hummer when the collision happened. Ball is fine, a league source told The Charlotte Observer, but his bougie, shoe-inspired, tank of a car is missing a tire after the crash.
Here’s what to know about Ball’s car — and what sets it apart in a stream of traffic.
Ball’s custom 2022 GMX Hummer Ev Edition 1 is designed after the Puma LaMelo Ball MB.01, one of his exclusive Puma shoes, according to the shop.
The coloration matches the shoe’s design. Camouflage sets the base, with the entire body of the car decked out in a camo wrap. Bright orange accents circle the tire rims and meander around the vehicle.
The interior is upholstered in an explosion of orange leather.
Bell’s car is tricked out in LED and his own tattoos
Aside from its coloration, drivers are likely to see Ball’s Hummer coming for a couple other reasons.
For one, it makes unexpected noise. A train horn package “keeps other drivers aware” and a PA system “allows the driver to have a little fun,” according to Dreamworks Motorsports.
It’s decked out in LED lights, including under car seats and dashboard, on door panels, in seat logos, under the body and fenders, and behind the stereo.
The windows are tinted for privacy, and door jambs are adorned with some of Ball’s tattoos.
“It creates a cool look when the doors are open and adds a personal connection to the owner,” according to Dreamworks Motorsports.
Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball is able to still laugh after sustaining a cut above his right eye following a collision with head coach Charles Lee during first quarter action against the New Orleans Pelicans at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, NC on Monday, February 2, 2026. The Hornets defeated the Pelicans 102-95. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
Ball sports an extensive car collection
It’s not clear exactly how much Ball paid for his custom, shoe-inspired Hummer. The Sun, Britain’s largest newspaper, previously reported he’s cultivated an impressive collection of luxury vehicles worth $1.2 million.
He reportedly drove a $185,000 Lamborghini Gallardo to his 16th birthday party, which was a gift from his dad, according to The Sun. And he’s only continued to turn heads with extravagant cars since.
He also has a Ferrari F8 Tributo Coupe, which can go from 0-62 mph in under three seconds and reach up to 211 mph.
A neon yellow Lamborghini Urus, which The Sun said can sell for $225,000, is customized with 24-inch wheels and red calipers with “Rare” written on them.
Rounding out the fleet is a blacked-out Rolls-Royce Cullinan.
This story was originally published February 18, 2026 at 6:41 PM.
Nick Sullivan covers city government for The Charlotte Observer. He studied journalism at the University of South Carolina, and he previously covered education for The Arizona Republic and The Colorado Springs Gazette.
A Charlotte pizzeria slinging Jersey-style pies ranks among the top-rated women-owned small businesses in the nation, a recent analysis says.
Geno D’s Pizza in uptown landed at No. 8 on the Top 20 list after earning “consistently glowing reviews for its flavorful pies, quality ingredients and dependable, no-frills approach to great pizza,” according to OnDeck, an online business lender.
“Diners frequently call out the crisp crust, generous toppings and friendly service that keep locals coming back.”
The report, updated in February, looked at more than 12,500 women-owned small businesses across 431 U.S. cities, OnDeck said. It identified spots in the pizza category with at least a four-star Yelp rating, then ranked them based on customer rating and review volume.
Geno D’s Pizza scored an overall rating of 4.75 out of 5 stars, results show. All data was collected in September 2025.
Local love for Geno D’s Pizza
Geno D’s opened at the 7th Street Market in 2021 and has cemented itself as a must-visit spot. It’s no stranger to accolades either; it was one of two North Carolina eateries named on Yelp’s “Top 100 Places to Eat in the U.S.” in 2023, CharlotteFive previously reported.
“It’s such an honor. I try very diligently to do my best, to put out a fantastic product and follow in my father’s footsteps,” owner Gena DiPaolo told CharlotteFive in a phone interview. “It’s just wonderful.”
Gena DiPaolo, owner of Geno D’s Pizza in Charlotte. Gena DiPaolo
The beloved pizza restaurant had an average Yelp rating of 4.75 and 300 reviews as of Feb. 10. Popular dishes include the hot honey pizza and hot Italian sandwiches, and pizza lovers gushed about the bold pizza sauce.
Customers weren’t shy about sharing what else they loved:
“Garlic knots to die for made this experience spectacular. Plenty of seating, cute interior. The whole food market looked delicious, and I’d love to come back and try some of the other spots.” — Beatrice C. from Gotland, Sweden
“Only got the grandma pie with pepperoni, but it was amazing. The sauce is on point, crust perfectly crispy and soft and the flavors blend so well together.” — Kaitlin L. from Chapel Hill
“Perhaps like most New Yorkers here in Charlotte, we are always on the lookout for good food, including bagels, Italian dishes, steaks, and pizza. Geno D meets the mark for my good pizza search!” — Jacob K. from Manhattan, New York
“BEST SAUCE IN CHARLOTTE!!! The margarita pizza and white pie were delicious!!! We got 2-10inch pies with a house salad. You can tell they did not cheap out on ingredients!!! From the sauce to the cheese to the dough; ALL fantastic!!” — Christin N. from Charlotte
DiPaolo mentioned the restaurant will soon undergo remodeling and will add a second pizza oven to “get the food out as fast and as hot as possible.”
Father-and-daughter Geno and Gena DiPaolo, owners of Geno D’s Pizza at 7th Street Public Market. Geno D’s Pizza
“Just to keep people happy: that’s our main goal,” she said.
What are the top-rated women-owned pizzerias in the US?
These pizza places led the pack when it came to turning out good pies, according to the OnDeck analysis.
Florish / Tampa, Florida / Rating: 4.93
Ollie Olive Pizza / Ft. Lauderdale, Florida / Rating: 4.86
Old Dayton Pizza at Riverside Hideaway / Dayton, Ohio / Rating: 4.81
Manizza’s Pizza / Las Vegas, Nevada / Rating: 4.81
Geno D’s Pizza pies are thin crust, without being a cracker, crispy, without being rock hard, and tangy, without being overly acidic. Sam Hart CharlotteFive
This story was originally published February 11, 2026 at 9:19 AM.
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.
Charlotte just added another authentic Indian restaurant to its dining scene.
Nawabi Hyderabad House, known for its biryanis, is now open at The Alley at Latta Arcade in uptown. The Indian restaurant chain has more than 30 locations nationwide, including two in North Carolina.
The new location opened Oct. 23, its first in the Queen City. The other restaurants are in Concord and Morrisville.
The menu at Hyderabad House includes chicken tikka masala, lamb chops and butter chicken. Plus, there are plenty of dessert offerings. Hyderabad House
At Hyderabad House, customers will find “a wide variety of Indian cuisines,” Nagarjuna Gummadi, managing partner at the restaurant, told CharlotteFive. The menu highlights the flavors of Hyderabad, an Indian city famous for its fragrant biryanis.
“You’ll find 52 types of biryanis here,” Gummadi said, noting vegetarian options are also available. The flavorful rice dish is made with fish, meat or vegetables and is typically served with a yogurt-based sauce and tangy curry.
Nawabi Hyderabad House has two Charlotte area locations, including one in Concord. Hyderabad House
Chicken tikka masala is on the menu, alongside lamb chops, butter chicken, garlic naan and other traditional Indian dishes. Appetizers include the chicken masakali, mutton pepper roast and garlic paneer.
Charlotte has seen an explosion of new restaurants offering authentic Indian food in recent months.
Krazy Curry, specializing in Indian-Nepalese cuisine, expanded from Pineville and opened its first Charlotte location in October, CharlotteFive previously reported.
Utsav Supermarket + Food Hall opened a week later, offering South Asian groceries, a food court and private event space all under one roof.
Gummadi said the “consistency of our biryanis” is what sets Hyderabad House apart from the rest.
“The taste of the biryani doesn’t change, it will be the same” no matter which location you visit, he told CharlotteFive.
Hyderabad House first teased the uptown location in October, inviting customers to indulge in classic dishes from “sizzling biryanis to mouthwatering curries.”
Gummadi said he hopes to replicate the success of the Concord restaurant and mentioned the possibility of more Charlotte-area locations.
“Maybe in the future, if people demand more,” he said.
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. Support my work with a digital subscription
A Charlotte lounge known for serving signature cocktails and small bites against the dazzling backdrop of the city’s skyline is among the nation’s best rooftop bars, a new report says.
Aura Rooftop, perched on the 5th floor of the JW Marriott in uptown Charlotte, was ranked No. 5 on Mandoe Media’s list of the Top 10 overall best rooftop bars in the U.S. for 2025.
It was the only North Carolina lounge on the list of top-notch venues recognized for combining “world-class service with uniquely American experiences,” the digital signage company said.
Aura Rooftop is located on the 5th floor of the JW Marriott in Uptown Charlotte. Alex Cason CharlotteFive
Drawing on the “regal aura of Queen Charlotte herself,” Aura Rooftop is decorated with lush greenery and florals, CharlotteFive previously reported. Plus, there’s a pool for the ultimate tropical vibe.
Here’s why it’s so popular among locals and visitors alike.
Aura: A ‘botanical rooftop experience’
Aura Rooftop’s lush garden design sets it apart as “Charlotte’s premier botanical rooftop experience,” Mandoe Media said in its report, published Sept. 29.
The bar had an overall score of 0.6878 and a 4.9/5 star rating, the report said. It earned high marks for its spectacularviews of uptown Charlotte, garden-style setting and poolside dining options.
Other “don’t miss” features included Aura’s botanical-inspired cocktails and small plates such as ahi tuna tacos, spicy guacamole and brisket sliders, just to name a few.
Aura Rooftop is on the fifth floor of the JW Marriott in uptown. Visit for botanical craft cocktails, boutique wines and small bites. Joe Ciarlante/Ciarlante Photo
For the list, Mandoe Media said it analyzed rooftop bars across the U.S. and scored each based on multiple factors including “world-class service, uniquely American experiences, and distinct personality that captures each city’s character.”
It’s not the first time Aura has earned high praise. The lounge was an OpenTable Diner’s Choice Award recipient in 2024 and was voted Best in the Nest by Queen City Nerve that same year, according to its website.
CharlotteFive reached out to Aura Rooftop for comment Tuesday and was awaiting a response.
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.
Those in search of authentic Indian fare can find it at a new spot in uptown Charlotte.
The doors opened at Krazy Curry-Uptown on Thursday, Oct. 9, inside District One on South Tryon Street, marking the restaurant’s second Charlotte-area location, according to a recent Instagram post. It’s in the same street-level retail area as burger joint Ace No. 3, which also opened this week.
The Indian-Nepalese eatery first opened in Pineville, CharlotteFive previously reported. Now, it’s bringing traditional, scratch-made offerings to the heart of the Queen City.
Krazy Curry offers a variety of Indian curries, including chicken curry Krazy Curry
Classics such as vegetable samosas, tikka masala and lamb vindaloo are on the menu, as is Momo — a Nepalese dumpling. Crowd favorites include the bread basket featuring garlic naan, chicken curry and paneer dishes.
Vegan and vegetarian options are also available.
Krazy Curry’s vegetable samosas. Krazy Curry
“Come experience authentic Indian flavors from rich curries to fresh tandoor naan and let us serve you a meal you’ll love,” Krazy Curry wrote on Instagram, announcing its new location.
The restaurant teased its plans to expand to uptown late last year, CharlotteFive reported.
“Before we opened our restaurant in Pineville, we operated a takeout-only business in uptown near South End,” the owner said in a news release at the time. “When we closed that location to focus on the Pineville restaurant, we knew we wanted to return to uptown when the right opportunity came along.”
Krazy Curry hosts a daily lunch buffet from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., followed by a la carte dinner from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m., according to its website.
Take out and delivery options are also available.
Krazy Curry’s menu features classic dishes like tandoor chicken. Krazy Curry
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.
Attendees snap photos with actors Paras Patel (Matthew) and Elizabeth Tabish (Mary Magdalene) during ChosenCon 2024.
Courtesy of ChosenCon
The highly anticipated ChosenCon 2026 is set to take place at the Charlotte Convention Center in uptown Charlotte next year.
The event will feature special programming tied to “The Chosen: Last Supper,” a multi-part film depicting the final days of Jesus’ life released by showrunner Dallas Jenkins earlier this year.
“The Chosen,” the hit multi-season series that tells the story of Jesus through the eyes of those who knew him, has already reached more than 280 million viewers in 175 countries, Deseret News reported.
Here’s what you need to know.
What to Expect at ChosenCon 2026
Attendees can look forward to a variety of activities and attractions, including:
Meet & greets with cast and crew: Fans will have the opportunity to meet and take photos with cast members and creators, including the show’s creator, Dallas Jenkins.
Insider panels and Q&A sessions: Engage with the team behind the show through exclusive panels and Q&A sessions, offering behind-the-scenes insights.
Exclusive screenings and sneak peeks: Be among the first to view new content and upcoming episodes from “The Chosen” and other projects from 5&2 Studios.
Immersive fan experiences: Explore recreated sets, interactive displays and hands-on activities inspired by the show.
Special performances: Enjoy live performances and entertainment throughout the event.
Exclusive merchandise: Shop for limited-edition gifts and ChosenCon-only items.
Courtesy of ChosenCon
How to get ChosenCon 2026 tickets
ChosenCon 2026 offers three ticket packages for the three-day event:
Experience Package ($499): Includes access to mainstage sessions, breakout sessions, special screenings, meet & greets, exclusive merchandise and two catered lunches.
Impact Package ($979): All benefits of the Experience Package, plus early access to registration and the Expo Hall, priority seating and additional meals.
Impact Plus Package ($1499): All benefits of the Impact Package, plus reserved seating, exclusive sneak peeks and a collector’s keepsake.
Children aged 2 and under are free with a lap seat, while children aged 3-17 receive a 20% discount on the Experience Package.
Jonathan Roumie, who portrays Jesus in “The Chosen,” addresses fans during a panel discussion at ChosenCon 2024. Courtesy of ChosenCon
Getting to uptown Charlotte for ChosenCon 2026
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) is the nearest major airport, approximately 15 minutes from the convention center. The Charlotte Convention Center is also accessible via public transportation and offers nearby parking options.
If you want to avoid driving, the LYNX Blue Lineruns between uptown Charlotte and I-485 along South Boulevard, with convenient stops at the Convention Center, and at the Carson and Brooklyn Village stations. You can buy tickets at vending machines on the platform or through the CATS-Pass app.
For rideshare, such as Uber or Lyft, you should plan to get dropped off or picked up outside the convention center entrance on South College Street.
Ask the North Carolina Service Journalism Team
Questions about life in North Carolina? Or have a tip or story idea you’d like to share? The service journalism teams at The News & Observer and The Charlotte Observer want to hear from you.
Evan Moore is a service journalism reporter for the Charlotte Observer. He grew up in Denver, North Carolina, where he previously worked as a reporter for the Denver Citizen, and is a UNC Charlotte graduate.
Jarius Jackson has been charged with shooting and killing Jahday Humphrey in Uptown Charlotte last Thursday.
The incident occurred at Brevard Court, across from Romare Bearden Park, and was captured on video showing two men before one of them pulls the trigger.
Abby Rangel, a hair stylist and friend of Jackson, described him as a non-violent person and suggested the shooting might have been in self-defense.
“It makes it look bad, and it was bad, but it doesn’t show the context,” said Rangel.
Rangel has known Jackson for four years as a customer and considers him more like family.
“I don’t see flex out here just shooting at anybody, that’s not in his character,” said Rangel.
On the day of the shooting, Jackson was reportedly on his way to see Rangel for a hair appointment.
Members of Humphrey’s family stated that he suffered from mental illness, including bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, and court documents indicate he initiated the altercation.
An affidavit describes Humphrey starting a verbal altercation and punching Jackson multiple times before the shooting occurred.
Rangel expressed concern about security issues in the area, suggesting both Jackson and Humphrey were shortchanged by the situation.
Jackson is currently held in jail without bond, and his next court date is set for Oct. 10.
VIDEO: ‘Out of nowhere’: CMPD investigating deadly Uptown shooting in broad daylight
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