Queen City, NC February 2026

POW ER COUPLES

CHA RLOTTE INFLUENTIAL PAI RS FEATURING NATALIE AND JONATHAN STEWART

PROUD PAST, FOCUSED FUTURE

SERVING CHARLOTTE & BEYOND FOR OVER 50 YEARS

W here Love Meets Luxury

Dilworth Facial Plastic Surgery, led by Dr. Andrea Garcia and Dr. Josh Surowitz, is the only practice in the greater Charlotte area to use a two-surgeon approach. This unique, teamoriented model ensures collaborative care at every step—from your initial consultation to your surgical procedure. The doctors specialize in surgical treatments like facelift, necklift, and rhinoplasty, delivering beautiful and natural results.

In addition to surgery, we offer a full suite of non-surgical options. Our skilled injectors, Morgan Nelson, NP and Cassie Smith, RN, provide personalized and natural results with injectables and fillers. For the foundation of a youthful look, our licensed medical esthetician, Allie Harris, offers a full range of skincare and laser treatments.

Puppy Love Starts Here

Social Pet has been locally and family owned since 2014 with three convenient locations in Pineville, Charlotte, and Northlake serving the greater Charlotte area. We are built on a mission to provide a healthier, safer, and more enriched alternative to traditional dog daycare and lodging.

At Social Pet daycare we balance enrichment combining structured play with mental challenges, and restorative rest. We offer small, intentional playgroups with meaningful interactions that rotate between play sessions, skill practice, sensory activities, one-on-one engagement, and rest, thus creating a healthier overall experience.

Our focus is not just play, but helping dogs live balanced, fulfilled lives — mind and body.

For the Love of Charlotte

More than 150 people are moving to Charlotte every day, according to the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance. That has meant new business opportunities, innovation and all-around buzz.

Charlotte now ranks as the nation’s second best city for headquarters, according to a 2024 Site Selection Magazine survey of CEOs. We recently welcomed Scout Motors’ new home base, which creates 1,200 jobs in Mecklenburg County.

Amid the unprecedented growth and momentum, it’s the local shops, artisans and tastemakers who continue to keep our city’s creative spirit thriving. Our February issue is a celebration of the small businesses at the heart of our community.

This month, we share the inspirational story of how Mike Griffin went from being homeless to opening Shoedio with his wife Emily in South End, where they design custom cleats for the Carolina Panthers and other celebrities and host hands-on workshops for the public.

Also in this issue, we introduce five power couples in Charlotte and explore what makes their relationships thrive—including a former Panthers superstar and his wife and the duo behind the restaurant group that opened Leluia Hall. Whitney Holofchak explains how the idea for Bonnie + Bud, her Eastover shop that creates curated gifts from local makers, came to her in a dream. Kayleigh Ruller shares her notes from the Food & Wine Classic in Charleston and what culinary trends we can expect this year in the Carolinas.

We’re excited to share our annual Love Local issue—a love letter to the city we are lucky to call home.

LIZ BROWN, PUBLISHER @QUEENCITYMAG

February 2026

PUBLISHER

Liz Brown | liz.brown@citylifestyle.com

EDITOR

Carroll Walton | carroll.walton@citylifestyle.com

EDITORIAL COORDINATOR

Jennifer Fenner | jennifer.fenner@citylifestyle.com

PUBLICATION DIRECTOR

Gillian Horn | gillian.horn@citylifestyle.com

COPY EDITOR

Matias Arredondo | matias.arredondo@citylifetstyle.com

PHOTO EDITOR

Seth Patrick

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Taylor Bowler, Elliott Harrell, Kayleigh Ruller, Carroll Walton

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Amanda Anderson, Victoria Moon, Carissa Rogers, Exploredinary

Corporate Team

CEO Steven Schowengerdt

President Matthew Perry

COO David Stetler

CRO Jamie Pentz

CoS Janeane Thompson

AD DESIGNER Rachel Otto

LAYOUT DESIGNER Adam Finley

QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Megan Cagle

Whether reconfiguring existing spaces, adding new rooms, or changing floor plans, our design and build process elevates your remodeling experience while transforming your house into a place you lovingly call home.

A ROUNDUP OF NEWS FROM LOCAL BUSINESSES

Renaissance, Romanticism, and Rebellion: European Art from the Smith-Naifeh Collection

On exhibit at the Mint Museum Uptown through Feb. 22 are more than 70 paintings, sculptures and works on paper from South Carolinabased collectors and scholars Gregory Smith and Steven Naifeh in the Renaissance, Romanticism, and Rebellion: European Art from the Smith-Naifeh Collection. Naifeh and his late partner, Smith, co-wrote the Pulitzer Prize-winning biography of Jackson Pollock, which was adapted to film. The duo also wrote the celebrated biography Van Gogh: The Life.

Jules Dupré (French, 1811–89). Last Mooring, 1870–75, oil on canvas. The Smith-Naifeh Collection.

Dancing with the Stars of Charlotte Celebrates 10-Year Milestone

Dancing With the Stars of Charlotte celebrates its 10th anniversary season culminating in the live ballroom dance competition on April 24 at the newly-restored Carolina Theatre. Dancing With The Stars of Charlotte pairs Charlotte-area community leaders with professional dancers to raise funds for local nonprofit organizations. The event, which has raised more than $7 million, will benefit the Katie Blessing Foundation, Go Jen Go Foundation and the Agnes Binder Weisiger Breast Health Center this year.

Photography by Dancing With The Stars of Charlotte

Fashion Breathes Life

The Fashion Breathes Life Gala features an Around the World theme on Saturday, Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. at the Revelry at Camp North End. The event is raising funds to support the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, aiming to reach $850,000. Guests will take a stylish global journey celebrating the vibrant cultures, colors, and creativity of international fashion and are invited to come dress in classic couture or something inspired by global elegance.

We are a premier luxury home builder in Charlotte, NC, specializing in crafting architecturally distinctive, high-end residences in the city’s most prestigious neighborhoods. From Myers Park and Eastover to SouthPark, Matthews, and Country Club Heights, we deliver one-of-a-kind custom homes tailored to our clients’ visions and lifestyles. Our team collaborates with some of Charlotte’s top architects, designers, and artisans.

Meet Our New Providers

PPSD brings together leading board-certified and board-eligible plastic surgeons and dermatology providers to offer world-class skin, aesthetic, and reconstructive care. With multiple locations throughout the Carolinas, our team delivers advanced treatments in a warm, professional environment. We are committed to helping every patient look and feel their best with confidence.

Ice Skating at Whitewater Center

Ice skating is not just a holiday event at the U.S. Whitewater Center. It continues through mid-February at the 24,000-square-foot outdoor rink on the upper pond of the Whitewater River, the largest ice rink in the Southeast. The Whitewater Center features four distinct skating areas including two ice trails, two free skate zones and an Airstream in the middle of the rink serving hot and cold beverages. Skate rentals are included.

Come to the Table 2026

Come to the Table will be held Feb. 4 and 5 at Quail Hollow Club, presenting a masterpiece of table settings curated by 12 of Charlotte’s premier designers. The event includes a cocktail reception as well as a luncheon featuring speaker Kimberly Schlegel Whitman, who has shared entertaining expertise in Vanity Fair, Vogue, Town & Country, Veranda and Southern Living. The event supports Beds for Kids, providing beds and essential furnishings for Charlotte families. Tickets can be purchased at ComeToTheTableNC.org.

The Independent Picture House to Host Oscars Viewing Party

For the fourth year, IPH is holding its annual Oscars Viewing Party & Fundraiser. On March 15, more than 200 community members passionate about art, film, and Charlotte’s thriving cultural landscape will gather to watch the 98th Academy Awards and participate in a night of connection and film appreciation. The evening will highlight local art, artists, and creatives, live music and entertainment, and an opportunity to support IPH.

Photography by Oblivious Media

Seemingly Overzealous Ice Cream to Expand to Matthews and Davidson

Seemingly Overzealous, Charlotte’s dairy-, egg-, and gluten-free ice cream shop founded by locals Jessica Berresse and Garrett Tichy, will open two new locations in Davidson and Matthews in 2026. The 1,000-square-foot shops will offer 12–16 rotating made-from-scratch flavors, gluten-free cones, cakes, pints, and new items like shakes and flights. Designed with playful décor, glitter floors, and local murals, both locations will be open seven days a week.

Photography Courtesy of Seemingly Overzealous

of local love A BOX

Bonnie + Bud, a Dream-Born Business Rooted in Family, Gratitude, and Local Makers

Whitney Holofchak was a mother of two toddlers at Christmastime when she recognized the need for a business that curated and delivered thoughtful gifts. Her idea to create Bonnie + Bud crystallized in a dream.

On her grandmother’s birthday, Dec. 28 in 2014, Holofchak dreamed she and her husband owned a stretch of lush land called Bonnie & Bud Farms. When she awoke, she knew what to do.

She would honor her grandmother, Bonnie, known for hosting Sunday dinners for two dozen family members in Louisville, Ky., and her husband Justin’s uncle Bud, a Southern Renaissance man of sorts, who loved to garden, cook and host in his hometown of Bedford, Va.

As the business grew, Holofchak left a banking job to run Bonnie + Bud. She has honored their legacy by turning gifting into an art form, “turning a feeling into action,” as Holofchak explains.

Her goal is tangible gratitude and making gifting easy, whether it’s for corporate clients, local celebrities, mom friends or solo customers, like the widower who called recently. He was looking for a gift after meeting a woman who made him feel like he’d been “struck by lightning” for the first time in a long time.

Holofchak and her team put together a gift of the woman’s favorite wine, a variety of chocolate, some Piedmont Pennies biscuit crackers and Elise Artisan Nuts cashews.

“We can’t wait to know if they’ll get together again,” Holofchak says.

She pays tribute to her family’s Southern hospitality by offering primarily local products. The shelves at Bonnie + Bud are lined with not only Piedmont Pennies, but pretzels from Queen City Crunch, popcorn and peanuts from Bear Food in Matthews, and more.

“We’ve always enjoyed going to farmers’ markets and other craft markets,” Holofchak says. “We’ve found so many beautiful products and met some really interesting people. I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to share these stories and these products with a broader audience?’”

She discovered Methodical Coffee at a farmer’s market in Greenville, S.C., and East Fork Pottery in Asheville, before it became trendy. She uses organic soaps and body care products from Whispering Willow, based in Denver, N.C., French Broad chocolate from Asheville, Shotwell caramels from Memphis, Tenn. and more.

CONTINUED >

“She pays tribute to her family’s Southern hospitality by offering primarily local products.”

After Hurricane Helene, Bonnie + Bud curated gift boxes filled with products from Western North Carolina and businesses that had been hard hit by the storm.

It was that attention to local small businesses that helped land her first big client: NASCAR. Holofchak was just six months into assembling gift boxes in her dining room when she got a request for 75 custom gifts for drivers at the end of the 2015 NASCAR season.

She started with flowers from Nectar, the local florist she still uses, and put together Moscow Mule kits, complete with copper mugs and ginger beer.

Holofchak still brings that thoughtful touch to her business 11 years later. She moved out of her garage five years ago and into a 1,000-square-foot standalone space tucked away on Fenton Place in Eastover. A year after that, they got their ABC license, adding wine and champagne to their gift boxes. They now have a bottle shop, where they host wine tastings and private events.

Sixty percent of their business is now corporate, including clients in small businesses like travel agencies, local boutiques and property managers.

What sets them apart, Holofchak says, is that every gift is customized. Every order has a section for notes to list if the recipient loves sweets, a good cocktail mix, the scent of lavender, or gardening.

“Our purpose is to spark joy and a sense of community,” she says. “And that’s where it really hasn’t changed, no matter what type of gift or service we’re providing.”

One recent customer was looking for a way to say, “I’m sorry for spilling red wine on a white rug.” Others have come looking for gifts for out-of-town families hosting their children who are off at boarding school or college.

“It’s a little bit of everything,” Holofchak says. “You see this little glimpse into people’s worlds and just how thoughtful they are.”

BONNIE + BUD

517 Fenton Pl.

BonnieandBud.com

POWER COUPLES of Charlotte

NATALIE AND JONATHAN STEWART

In a city that loves its power players, Natalie (“Nat”) and Jonathan (“Stew”) Stewart occupy a category all their own. He’s the former Carolina Panthers running back, who is coaching middle school football at Charlotte Christian alongside fellow Panthers alums Greg Olsen and Luke Kuechly. She’s the creative force behind their media company, Charlotte Lately, which spotlights the people and places shaping the Queen City. Together, they’ve turned storytelling into a family business, while also keeping up with daughters, Kaia Grey, 8, and Nora Cole, 4. Whether they’re building their community platform or watching their girls put on a show in their living room, the Stewarts do it with heart, humor, and a whole lot of hometown pride.

WHERE TO FIND HER MOST DAYS: Her schedule swings between on-camera hosting to school pickup.

WHERE TO FIND HIM MOST DAYS: When he’s not co-hosting their reality-style series, “Lately with Natalie & Jonathan Stewart,” he’s on the golf course or practicing his golf swing at home.

WHO MADE THE FIRST MOVE?

Natalie on Jonathan : “Stew. We first met in 2008 when a mutual friend tried to set us up. Life happened, and it wasn’t until 2015 that we reconnected—just as friends. One night after a Panthers game, we went out with a group to celebrate. At the end of the night, Stew walked me out, we hugged, and said something like, ‘Well, it was good bumping into you.’ I got into my Uber. And then he came back out. He yelled, ‘Nat!’ I turned around, thinking I’d forgotten something. Instead, he said, ‘I know God put you back in my life for a reason.’”

Jonathan on Natalie : “I’ll add that she was kind enough to hold my plate of chicken wings while I was trying to eat standing up that night after the game.”

IF YOUR RELATIONSHIP HAD A THEME SONG, WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY?

“Firm Foundation (He Won’t)” by Maverick City. “Our marriage is rooted in our faith, and that foundation is what we’ve worked hard to build,” Natalie says. “When everything stems from that truth, we are truly aligned. It’s in our weaknesses, our commitment to doing the work marriage requires and our willingness to grow that real strength is formed. That’s what we believe truly makes us—or anyone—a powerful couple.”

WHO IS THE CEO OF THE RELATIONSHIP? WHO IS THE HEAD OF HR?

“I’d say Stew is definitely the leader of our family, but we share a lot of the roles that come with being the CEO and head of HR,” Natalie says. “Life is busy, and we’ve learned the hard way what happens when we’re overextended, so we’re intentional about saying no more than we used to. Doing that takes a lot of mutual decision-making—being on the same page, agreeing on the choices we make and praying through decisions together before moving forward.”

WHAT TV SHOW ARE YOU CURRENTLY BINGEING?

“We’re bingeing football and rewatching old Dancing With the Stars with the girls,” Natalie says, “though the real show is them in costumes performing in the living room.”

WHO IS A BETTER GIFT-GIVER?

“We don’t really do traditional gifts anymore,” Natalie says. “Neither of us is a big gift person—we’d rather invest in experiences, memories, and trips together.”

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE WAY TO SPEND AN UNSCHEDULED DAY IN CHARLOTTE?

“For us, spending time together looks like finding a spot like Good Food on Montford and going on the early side when there’s not a crowd yet,” Jonathan says. “Then heading home to chill, going on long drives and just being together. When the weather’s good, we’ll sneak in a tennis or golf outing, too.”

An Intimate Look at Some of Our Favorite Powerhouse Pairs

ERIN McDERMOTT WHITE AND BRYAN WHITE

Erin McDermott White built one of the city’s most beloved jewelry brands, while Bryan White keeps Charlotte’s skyline buzzing in his role as executive managing director at Jones Lang LaSalle. Between her color-forward designs—now carried by Nordstrom— and his commercial real estate world, they juggle big careers, community ties, and the everyday whirlwind of raising three young daughters (Coco, 11; Georgia, 9; and Gwynnie, 7). In true Queen City fashion, they make it all look easy—and genuinely fun.

WHERE TO FIND HER MOST DAYS: In the studio or happily at home with her family. “I’m trying to be more extroverted,” she says, “but if I’m being honest, I really love being home.”

WHERE TO FIND HIM MOST DAYS: When he’s not working, you can almost always find him with one child tethered to him at a sports game, cheering loudly on the sidelines.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST IMPRESSION OF EACH OTHER?

Erin on Bryan : “I was a server at Mellow Mushroom in Charlottesville when Bryan came in and asked me on a date. A few weeks later, we finally went out, and I completely forgot I had to work later that night. Mid-date, I got a call, and he dropped me back at the restaurant. Around 11 p.m., I called to say I’d just gotten off work but still had to fold boxes for the next day’s lunch shift. Twenty minutes later, he showed up with his entire football team (he was a linebacker on the UVA team). We folded every single box in the restaurant, then went back out on our date. My first impression was that he was respectful, a total team player and someone who really got me.”

Bryan on Erin: “Hardworking, intriguing, curious. Like someone I had never met before and wanted to know more about!”

IF YOUR RELATIONSHIP HAD A THEME SONG, WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY?

“Still Crazy After All These Years” by Paul Simon. “It fits perfectly,” Erin says.

WHO IS THE CEO OF THE RELATIONSHIP? WHO IS THE HEAD OF HR?

“We truly share it all,” Erin says. “Between work, family and life, we operate as a team and don’t really have set roles. Team mentality all the way.”

WHAT TV SHOW ARE YOU CURRENTLY BINGEING?

“Shark Tank.”

WHO IS MORE LIKELY TO LEAVE A HALF-FINISHED COFFEE SOMEWHERE IN THE HOUSE?

“Erin, without question,” Bryan says. “And usually the milk, too.”

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE WAY TO SPEND AN UNSCHEDULED DAY IN CHARLOTTE?

Mornings often start with a bike ride: Erin on her beach cruiser, Bryan heading out for a longer road ride. Then they meet back up at Laurel Market for breakfast sandwiches.

“Our kids are always on the move, so there’s often a sports game involved, but we also love hanging out on the Queens campus, finding whatever event is happening, and ending the night at Stagioni,” Erin says. “We’re lucky to have a great sitter, so a date night is always the perfect finish.”

NATHALIE AND CARLOS JORGE

Nathalie and Carlos Jorge are the husband-and-wife team behind Companion Health, a concierge medical practice that pairs high-tech medicine with personal coaching. Nathalie runs the business and guides clients through everything from nutrition to stress, while Carlos—a triple board-certified physician—handles the medical side with a holistic, root-cause mindset. Outside the office, they’re parents to two grown daughters, Leah and Sophie, and their King Charles Spaniel, Hermes. No matter how busy life gets, they keep one rule front and center: their marriage comes first, the business second.

WHERE TO FIND HER MOST DAYS: After a 7 a.m. run, she’s in the office she calls “Optimist Hall” as a nod to her general operating philosophy.

WHERE TO FIND HIM MOST DAYS: At Companion Health, taking care of clients and playing office DJ.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST IMPRESSION OF EACH OTHER?

Nathalie on Carlos : “Carlos and I met as undergraduates at the University of Virginia. During my first year, a friend introduced me to Carlos and his then-sidekick, Rory. My first impression? Not stellar. They both had a ‘too cool for school’ vibe. I didn’t think about Carlos again until two years later, when we ended up in a Zen Buddhism class together.”

Carlos on Nathalie : “She was ‘too cool,’” he says. “Didn’t talk to me.”

WHO MADE THE FIRST MOVE?

“Carlos asked me to a Bahamas party at his fraternity, but I genuinely didn’t think it was a real date,” Nathalie says. “The first thing I saw was one of his fraternity brothers guzzling a pitcher of beer. A week or two later, he asked me to lunch at The Virginian, a Charlottesville icon, and then to dinner and jazz at Miller’s. That’s when things started to click.”

IF YOUR RELATIONSHIP HAD A THEME SONG, WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY?

Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together.” “It’s a reminder that good and bad days happen, and we always reconnect and are on the same page,” Carlos says.

WHO IS THE CEO OF THE RELATIONSHIP? WHO IS THE HEAD OF HR?

“Our 11-year-old dog, Hermes,” Nathalie says. “He runs the show and keeps the peace.”

DO YOU ROOT FOR THE SAME TEAM, OR ARE YOU A DIVIDED HOUSEHOLD?

“Nathalie is a huge Saints fan, so that’s an issue,” Carlos says. “For college, we’re on the same page—UVA and Chapel Hill.”

WHAT TV SHOW ARE YOU CURRENTLY BINGEING?

“The Bear.”

WHO IS THE BETTER GIFT-GIVER?

“I think we both do a pretty good job,” Nathalie says. “This year, for Carlos’ birthday, I surprised him with Stephen Wilson’s artwork. And he surprised me with a necklace out of the blue this November after I leaned into a professional fear and came out the other side.”

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE WAY TO SPEND AN UNSCHEDULED DAY IN CHARLOTTE?

Their ideal weekend morning starts with a run, followed by breakfast and the New York Times crossword puzzle. Nathalie loves to visit the Cotswold Farmers Market when it’s in season. “After that, I love putzing around the kitchen,” she says. “I adore cooking and trying new recipes when I have the time.”

JAMIE BROWN AND JEFF TONIDANDEL

Jamie Brown and Jeff Tonidandel don’t just open restaurants—they preserve a part of the city’s history. The spouses and business partners behind six beloved Charlotte restaurants, including Supperland, Ever Andalo, and Leluia Hall, have built their culinary empire in the bones of historic buildings. It’s a signature move that’s earned them national attention, a spot in the Michelin Guide and now their own TV show, Fork & Hammer. Between filming, managing packed dining rooms and raising three kids (Isabella, 16; Eli, 13; and Isaac, 10), the pair still manages to make it look effortless.

WHERE TO FIND HER MOST DAYS: After a morning workout, she makes the rounds at their restaurants until about 3 p.m., when she goes home to cook dinner and shuttle the kids to activities.

WHERE TO FIND HIM MOST DAYS: Playing tennis in the morning and bouncing from one restaurant to another the rest of the day. He’s usually home by 4 p.m. to work from home before dinner and carpools.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST IMPRESSION OF EACH OTHER?

Jamie on Jeff : “He was so jovial and always lighthearted.”

Jeff on Jamie : “It was actually through the lens of her twin sister, Kerry.” (“He was good friends with her before he met me,” Jamie explains.)

IF YOUR RELATIONSHIP HAD A THEME SONG, WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY?

“I’m Still Standing” by Elton John. “Life can be challenging in a lot of ways, but we keep going,” Jamie says. “Through business, difficulties in our personal lives, failures, coping with loss—all the things life brings—we keep getting up, we keep showing up for each other, and just as important, we keep showing up for ourselves.”

WHO IS THE CEO OF THE RELATIONSHIP? WHO IS THE HEAD OF HR?

“Jeff is the CEO, mostly because I don’t like to do taxes,” Jamie says.

“Jamie is the head of HR,” Jeff adds, “mostly because if there’s an injury or tears or a brawl, she’s the one to break it up or mend the situation.”

DO YOU ROOT FOR THE SAME TEAM, OR ARE YOU A DIVIDED HOUSEHOLD?

“I’m from Cleveland and continue to cheer on the rebuilding decade(s) of the Browns,” Jeff says. “Jamie is from Pittsburgh, and you can’t take the steel out of her blood.”

WHAT TV SHOW ARE YOU CURRENTLY BINGEING?

“I love ‘Nobody Wants This because it’s lighthearted and easy to watch,” Jamie says. “Jeff’s isn’t a TV person; he likes the podcast The Rest is History.”

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE WAY TO SPEND AN UNSCHEDULED DAY IN CHARLOTTE?

They love a leisurely walk to breakfast, reading on the porch while the kids run around outside with their friends, and grilling out for dinner. “We just have one pan, one plate and simple seasonings like salt and pepper,” Jamie says. “It’s easy to make and easy to clean. We then move the hot embers to the fire pit and sit around the fire, with the sounds of kids playing some sort of hiding game all around the neighborhood.”

JENNY AND DAVE CALLAWAY

In a city full of high achievers, Dave and Jenny Callaway still manage to stand out. Dave, an emergency physician and nationally-recognized leader in disaster and crisis response, spends his days preparing communities for the moments they hope never come. Jenny, an emergency physician and wound care specialist, is also a two-time cancer survivor. Together, the pair balances demanding careers, a shared commitment to public health, and the messy magic of raising 12-year-old Ellie and 10-year-old Lily.

WHERE TO FIND HER MOST DAYS: Working at the Wound Care Clinic, caring for some of the most vulnerable people in our community, volunteering at their daughters’ school, or shuttling the kids around town for their activities.

WHERE TO FIND HIM MOST DAYS: At various offices working to solve complex problems that our community faces—disaster response, national security, social inequity—or caring for patients in the Emergency Department at Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center (CMC Main).

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST IMPRESSION OF EACH OTHER?

Jenny on Dave : “He walked into the resident education conference room on his interview day, and I thought, ‘Hm, I’ve never seen that cute guy before.’ After a couple of dates, I knew I was in trouble. Not only was he cute, but he was also super funny, thoughtful and had a huge heart.”

Dave on Jenny: “The first time I saw her, there was literally a glow around her. Everything else blurred, like an iPhone photo in portrait mode. Then I actually talked to her and knew she was the one—smart as a whip, fearless, funny, beautiful and full of life.”

WHO MADE THE FIRST MOVE?

“Over the past 20 years, the story has evolved, and I like Dave’s version the best,” Jenny says. “Witty one-liners, playing dominoes and enlisting a former bouncer to clear a room of people so we could dance alone. Though I did lock it down by grabbing his hand for the first time as we crossed (Boston’s) Beacon Street, heading to 4th of July fireworks a couple of weeks after we met. Sort of like a tornado meeting a hurricane.”

IF YOUR RELATIONSHIP HAD A THEME SONG, WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY?

“The Story” by Brandi Carlile. “She is dope and the song rings true,” Dave says. “No matter the experience, it is empty without family and friends with whom to share.”

WHO IS THE CEO OF THE RELATIONSHIP? WHO IS THE HEAD OF HR?

“Not sure who is the CEO,” Dave says, “but Jenny is definitely the COO, CTO, CIO and head of HR.”

DO YOU ROOT FOR THE SAME TEAM, OR ARE YOU A DIVIDED HOUSEHOLD?

The whole family roots for Charlotte FC.

WHAT TV SHOW ARE YOU CURRENTLY BINGEING?

“The Diplomat.”

WHO CONTROLS THE THERMOSTAT?

“Jenny,” Dave says, “You can’t take the Cuban out of Miami.”

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE WAY TO SPEND AN UNSCHEDULED DAY IN CHARLOTTE?

“In the magical world where we might have an unscheduled day, first I would put the unicorns back into their candy cane stable,” Jenny says. “Then Dave would probably take our daughters on a secret mission in the tunnels below Charlotte, and then we would do a family trip to the Whitewater Center with whatever friends are around.”

Luxury Remodeling, No Compromises

Timeless design, refined craftsmanship, and flawless delivery. Remodeling without shortcuts—and without compromise. We invite you to experience the difference.

trisquarebuilders.com

7043348850

V @trisquarebuilders 1906 East Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28203

CHARLOTTE’S NEW DESTINATION FOR TIMELESS CONSIGNMENT

“CLIENTS NEVER HAVE TO WONDER HOW TO WEAR SOMETHING OR WHAT TO PAIR IT WITH.”

Maria Lumb has loved clothes since she was a little girl, and recently turned her passion into the new ‘it’ place to shop in town. Eternal, an upscale designer consignment store, opened a few months ago in the Kings Court Shopping Center near Myers Park and has been busy ever since.

Lumb was born in Europe and moved to the United States when she was 23. She worked for fashion brands in Miami and New York before moving to Charlotte to make her vision of opening her own store a reality.

“I always dreamed of creating a space where styling and shopping felt deeply personal, intentional and even a little magical,” she says. “I’ve been completely overwhelmed [by the response] in the most beautiful way.”

Eternal is a traditional consignment store focused on quality and timeless style. Lumb carefully hand-selects each piece for the store. You’ll find popular labels like Isabel Marant, TOTEME, The Row, Nanushka, KHAITE and elevated staples from the likes of

JOSEPH and FRAME, as well as a host of designer handbags, shoes and accessories.

But what sets Eternal apart from similar retailers is Lumb’s focus on styling each selection into a complete look.

“Clients never have to wonder how to wear something or what to pair it with,” she says.

You’ll often see her on Eternal’s social media pages showing off complete outfits from pieces in the store. Lumb also offers in-home styling sessions, where she helps clients put together outfits with a mix of their own clothes and new ones.

“At Eternal, we show women how to make even their most functional outfits feel intentional and styled,” she says, noting that while Charlotte’s style is more rooted in wearability versus cities like Miami and New York, the appetite for creativity is growing.

“I love being part of that shift,” she says, “helping women explore looks that feel authentic to them, just a little more refined.”

Clarity Clarity Commitment Commitment

HOW TH E CAROLINAS ARE SETTING THE TABLE FOR WHAT’S NEXT

ARTICLE BY KAYLEIGH RULLER

TRENDING

IN TASTE

Restaurant trends, be they sensational, viral, and possibly paradigm-shifting, have a reputation for beginning in New York or Los Angeles. After a few laps around the sun, they finally filter their way down to mid-sized cities like Charlotte, creating a washed-out version of the original.  But not in the Carolinas. At least, not anymore.

Spending a weekend at The Food & Wine Classic in Charleston proved that regional, local and place-based trends are making waves in dining culture.

The seminars and off-the-cuff conversations at this star-studded Carolina-based food festival made clear that this region is not a secondhand, copycat New York but its own trend-setting entity. Chefs who embrace the Carolinas’ Piedmont, Lowcountry, or Appalachian identity are ushering in a new era of dining.

The recent Michelin Guide recognized Asheville’s Ashleigh Shanti from Good Hot Fish, and Graham House from Luminosa for their Appalachian technique and western North Carolina ingredients. Vern’s in Charleston, one of the few one-star recipients, is, at its core, a neighborhood bistro. Here in Charlotte, Supperland’s Michelin nod is a testament to the timeless allure of a southern steakhouse that isn’t pretending to be anything but itself— grand, decadent and Charlottean.

While attending the festival, I heard local chefs and food personalities who take pride in Southern cuisine. Award-winning Rodney Scott, one of South Carolina’s most notable pitmasters, walked guests through how to build the ultimate meat n’ three plate, while Manheet Chauhan, a recognizable chef and Chopped judge, taught attendees how to fuse Indian spice with Lowcountry cuisine.

Leaving the festival, I didn’t just have a full stomach. I had a sharper understanding of the drinking, dining and hospitality trends bubbling up in the Carolinas. Here are four trends shaping how locals will eat and drink in 2026—and maybe, just maybe, New York or LA will catch on soon.

TREND ONE: THE REIMAGINED OYSTER

At the festival’s Grand Tasting, oyster dishes dominated. Some were garnished with tuna crudo, green onions and fried shallots, others with a simple shallot mignonette like those at the Lowcountry Oyster Company stand.

But the oyster iteration that caught me in my tracks came from Chef Bailey Campbell at

167 Raw in Charleston: a clean, meaty bivalve doused with a Guinness mole mignonette. It was unexpected—smokey, rich, bitter, bright and salty all in one slurp, a full meal’s worth of flavors in a singular oyster.

Chefs are exploring new ways to prepare oysters, I learned, because there are both more oysters available and more discerning customers.

“Advancements in oyster farming technologies have sprung a wide variety of grow-out methods and helped produce higher quality oysters,” Campbell says. “As chefs, we have triple the oyster variety to choose from.”

Interacting with guests daily, he notices more educated consumers opting for oysters, too.

“They’re understanding the differences in flavor,” he says. “And they appreciate the sustainability and importance of oyster farming.”

Fanciful twists on oysters exist beyond Charleston, too. At Michelin-recognized Nanas in Durham, a buttery, green onion foam floats atop wood-grilled oysters. At Seraphine, also in Durham, Dragos-style oysters arrive by the trayful, swimming in garlic butter and Parmesan with bread for sopping.

Even oyster and drink pairings are evolving. At the festival, beer educator Anne Becerra and Lowcountry Oyster Company’s Trey McMillan showcased how Belgian saisons, witbiers and even stouts can amplify briny, creamy or mineral notes.

As oysters prove to be a promising canvas for culinary experimentation, diners can expect the rise of the reimagined oyster in 2026 across the Carolinas.

TREND TWO: THE RETURN TO NOSTALGIA

The most impactful moment at the festival this year was listening in on a live recording of the Tinfoil Swans podcast, featuring Phil Rosenthal of Somebody Feed Phil on Netflix.

Rosenthal discussed the opening of his first dining concept—a retro diner named “Max & Helen’s”  in honor of his parents. His feelings of nostalgia shone through as he recounted trying every milkshake in LA and developing his late father’s “fluffy eggs” for the menu.

And with a packed diner every day since its opening, nostalgia has proven to be a powerful tool for the restaurant’s success, too.

Nostalgia is manifesting across the Carolinas as well in taste, design and feeling.

At Hello, Sailor in Cornelius, the mid-century design and playful menu of popcorn shrimp and blackened catfish evokes the feel of a day by the water as a child. In Asheville, Ashleigh Shanti at Good Hot Fish makes the type of Appalachian food her grandmother and aunts made for her as a child—chow-chow. The restaurant space, with vintage magazines and art stringing the walls, is a warm nod to the past, too.

At Nanas in Durham, chef-owner Matt Kelly redesigned the 1992 institution in 2023, paying homage to the restaurant’s namesake: a nana. With warm, woodsy tones, low ceilings and midcentury flair, this homestyle Americana restaurant “is designed to make the guest feel comfortable and special,” Kelly says.

Walk into the women’s bathroom and you’ll see a collection of vintage pearls, glasses and postcards. It’s impossible not to smile.

“Nanas is a place that welcomes you back to the basics of close community and an incredible meal,” Kelly says. “That’s what we want to honor here.”

TREND THREE: THE MARTINI AS A PERSONAL PREFERENCE

At the festival, Tiffany Barriere, a renowned master mixologist seen on Netflix’s Drink Masters, hosted a “Decoding the Martini” seminar. The takeaway: the martini is personal, sometimes a rite of passage and relevant as ever.

“It’s whatever you like,” Barriere told the crowd. “There are no dos and don’ts to a martini.”

Casey Raven Swanson, lead mixologist at Table in Asheville, sees this comeback as “a return to the basics, the classic gin or vodka martini, a slightly dirty as opposed to a filthy martini,” Swanson says, referring to the intensity of olive flavor.

Swanson serves a Mojo Martini at Table. It’s a savory, herbal, even garlicky martini with vodka, mojo vermouth and extra-virgin olive oil.

“My goal with the Mojo Martini was always to bring a little bit of my culture to Table… but to also create something that could be a bridge for the filthy martini drinker to find something new,” Swanson says.

More than a trend, the martini and its many iterations—be it dry, dirty, savory, shaken,

“THE CAROLINAS ARE NO LONGER INHERITING DINING CULTURE, THEY’RE CREATING IT. ACROSS THE REGION, CHEFS, BARTENDERS AND RESTAURATEURS ARE LOOKING AT WHAT IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM: LAND, LINEAGE AND COMMUNITY, AND LEADING WITH THAT.”

stirred or caffeinated—are reflections of personal identity and taste.

Barriere referenced that at her seminar, too. She said her martini-loving grandmother told her: “When you become a woman, you’re going to order a martini because you’re ready to know yourself.”

Around the Carolinas, we are seeing personal, whimsical, confident takes on martinis. In Durham, try Alley Twenty Six’s clean martini with a twist paired with their signature caviar tater tots. In Charlotte, sip Rada’s San Sebastian martini, with a Basque pepper and anchovy oil.

TREND FOUR: THE DYNAMIC DUO: PIZZA AND NATURAL WINE

Proving it’s never too early for pizza and wine, Charleston restaurateurs Miles White, Femi Oyediran and Anthony Guerra hosted a seminar at 10 a.m., where they unpacked how natural wine and pizza have become one of the most magnetic pairings in the Carolinas. White and Oyediran own Graft, a beloved bottle shop and wine bar, in Charleston. And with Guerra, they just opened the adjacent pizzeria Tutti, creating a natural-wine-and-pizza corridor on Upper King Street.

While Guerra clarified that “natural wine has never really been defined… it’s a very hip, modern term,” he distilled its appeal: minimal intervention, no overload of fake dyes, limited sulfur. It can be a high-acid, chuggable Beaujolais or a nutty, minerally skin-contact wine.

There’s a simple formula as to why this combination is so enticing.

“Wine and carbohydrates are great,” Guerra says. “Wine and cheese are great. Therefore, wine plus carbohydrates, plus cheese are great.”

And this delicious mathematical formula is proving itself across North and South Carolina.

Guerra also serves this dynamic duo at the Oakwood Pizza Box and St. Pierre Wine Shop and Bar he founded in Raleigh. Here in Charlotte, you’ll see it at Pizza Baby, with its funky wine list and easy-eating pies. You can find it in the Belmont neighborhood, too, where locals order Bird Pizzeria takeout and head over to Substrate, a true neighborhood wine bar that spins vinyl and hosts DJs on the front patio. The Bird-to-Substrate pipeline is the real deal—a one-size-fits all solution for date night, girls night and even a solo night.

“Pizza always attracts these trendy things as if they’re brand new,” Guerra says. “2Amys [in DC] has been doing this for almost 25 years. It’s only new that people are paying attention to it.”

The rise makes sense. As dining gets pricier, diners are gravitating toward what is accessible, and at the end of the day, pizza is food for the people.

If there’s a unifying thread running through these trends, it’s this: the Carolinas are no longer inheriting dining culture, they’re creating it. Across the region, chefs, bartenders and restaurateurs are looking at what is right in front of them: land, lineage and community, and leading with that.

So whether it’s at a jam-packed, foodie-weekend in Charleston or a long road trip through the Carolinas, these restaurant trends are building Carolinian food culture one oyster, one martini, one slice and one bit of nostalgia at a time.

SOLE MATES

In early November, Shoedio owners Mike and Emily Griffin had a gender reveal worthy of their business’s name. As the Carolina Panthers players emerged from the locker room to take on the New Orleans Saints at Bank of America Stadium, they wore cleats painted in UV-reactive paint. When the team sprinted onto the field, their shoes changed from white to blue, revealing the surprise: “It’s a boy!”

“I thought, ‘If we’re going to win, we’ll win together, and if we lose, we’ll lose together.’”

The Griffins, already parents to 8-year-old son Max, were delighted.

“We can afford to have another child because of that team,” Mike says. “Some of these players have turned into good family friends of ours.”

Since 2023, the spouses and business partners have created colorful cleats worn by the players in pre-game warm-ups and special events, adding creative, hometown flair to the Panthers’ gear. Today, players from the Charlotte Hornets, Charlotte FC and several NFL teams sport their personalized footwear, too. They’ve also designed custom kicks for musical superstars Nicki Minaj and Morgan Wallen.

At the Griffins’ South End studio, people can commission custom sneakers or participate in workshops

to design a pair. Workshops are open to all ages, and participants supply their own shoes.

“We recommend new, all-white leather sneakers because the paint holds better,” Emily says. “Nike Air Force 1s make a great canvas for beginners.”

The Griffins are there to offer tips and tricks, but participants are free to take their design in any direction they choose. Some opt for color blocking or a traditional floral aesthetic; others might do anime characters or go full-on Pollock with a burst of paint splatter. As the paint-covered tables and walls show, mess is welcome.

Their lives—and Instagram pages—are full and colorful now, but the Griffins’ path to small business ownership wasn’t easy.

“Before I met Emily, I was homeless and an alcoholic, like, sleeping-on-a-park-bench homeless,” Mike says. “I got in trouble at age 16, and society told me the only thing available to me was flipping burgers.”

They met in Wilmington when Emily was studying medical sonography at Cape Fear Community College. By the time Max arrived, they were living in a shed in Mike’s father’s backyard.

“I was making $8.25 an hour washing dishes,” he says. “I thought that was as good as it was going to get for me at 31.”

In January 2020, news of Kobe Bryant’s death affected Mike in a way he couldn’t explain.

“I was three years sober, but as a grown man, I couldn’t take care of my own family,” he says. “I was a sneakerhead, so I took an old pair of shoes and painted them purple and gold in honor of Kobe. They weren’t good at all, but it was the only time all my worries and stress disappeared out of my head.”

During the pandemic, Mike used their stimulus check to make more sneakers. Friends and family thought they were crazy, but Emily told him to stick with it. Her job as an OB sonographer, administering ultrasounds for pregnant women, allowed them to purchase a home in Raleigh while Mike continued to sharpen his skills. He estimates he sold one pair of shoes every three months, but he kept at it, sometimes working for 20 hours a day.

A year later, he saw a custom sneaker shop open in Los Angeles. It was the push he needed to move forward with his dream, so the Griffins sold their house and moved to Charlotte, Mike’s hometown.

“We downgraded our home, which gave me a profit, and we used it to open up a studio,” he says. “We had $13 combined between personal and business bank accounts, so we really bet on ourselves.”

The Shoedio’s grand opening was August 19, 2023—the same day Emily quit her job to run the business full-time.

“Before I met Emily, I was homeless and an alcoholic, like, sleeping-on-a-parkbench homeless,” Mike says. “I got in trouble at age 16, and society told me the only thing available to me was flipping burgers.”

“I thought, ‘If we’re going to win, we’ll win together, and if we lose, we’ll lose together,’” she says.

Their gamble paid off. In addition to workshops and custom orders, The Shoedio hosts events on Friday and Saturday nights for guests 21 and over. Participants can bring their own beverages and have an interactive date night, or just a fun friends’ night out. Private parties are available by request, and for every participant who brings in a pair of shoes to paint, The Shoedio donates a pair to a child in need.

Their custom cleats remain in high demand among professional athletes as well. In 2023, the

year they opened the studio, Mike made 63 pairs of shoes for the Panthers. In 2024, he made shoes for more than 500 players on 14 teams. “Last year, I stopped counting in March,” he says.

Emily admits she’s not a sneakerhead, but says if she had to design a shoe that perfectly represents Mike, it would be a mix of luxury and budget-friendly leathers, “something one-of-a-kind.”

Mike would put his wife in a pair of python Jordan 1s.

“They’re flashy, but only when the light hits,” he says. “Emily’s very reserved, but when she steps out into the light, she’s a superstar.”

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OLD SOUL, NEW STYLE

Malu Grasso Mixes Cherished Pieces with Modern Design in an Eastover Home

Malu Grasso approaches every project with a simple belief: each space has a soul and should reflect the story of the person who inhabits it. The Brazilian-born owner and principal designer of Malu Grasso Interior Design likes to reimagine art and furniture that clients already own and give them new life.

“Many clients tell me, ‘It looks brand new,’ and that moment of rediscovery, for me, is magic,” she says.

When a young couple hired her to transform the first level of their Eastover home, Grasso used their existing art collection as the backbone of the design.

“From there, I crafted an environment that brought together his preference for contemporary lines and her love for classic romanticism,” she says. “It’s a very romantic, Romeo and Juliet-style house.”

Grasso worked with the team at DGK Design and Build on the three-month renovation, which included the kitchen, dining room, wet bar, formal living room, TV lounge, game room and two powder rooms. With 7-year-old twins, the homeowners needed a space that could withstand daily wear-and-tear, so Grasso prioritized durable materials and added plenty of kid-friendly spaces.

KITCHEN AND BREAKFAST NOOK

She began by modernizing the kitchen’s choppy layout and adding a mix of custom and semi-custom floor-to-ceiling cabinets. The oversized island has room for four barstools, and the pendant lights from Visual Comfort have brass accents that tie in with the hardware and fixtures.

“What elevates the room is the balance of clean, contemporary lines with subtle traditional details,” she says. “The marble backsplash, the sculptural light fixtures and the curated art bring a sense of refinement without feeling formal.”

In the breakfast nook, Grasso installed espresso wood cabinetry.

“The glass fronts are so classic looking, and you can see the whites of the dishware,” she says. “The espresso color sets it off.”

The Schumacher wallpaper has a botanical pattern that adds a touch of vintage charm, and the bistro chairs make it feel like a Parisian café.

DINING ROOM

Grasso dressed up the dining room in mural wallpaper inspired by 100-year-old Chinese silk fabric.

“It’s bold but still calming, almost like a big piece of art wrapping the whole space,” she says.

She used the homeowners’ chairs from RH and added a new wood table, also from RH, for an uncluttered, minimalist look that doesn’t compete with the wallpaper.

“The green game table adds a fun pop of color, and I love how it’s always mid-game, like someone just stepped away for a minute,” Grasso says.

“The chandelier adds a soft glow that warms everything up, and the darker tones make the room feel cozy without being heavy,” she says. “It’s the kind of place where people end up sitting long after dinner is over.”

WET BAR

To create the speakeasy-inspired wet bar, Grasso borrowed a few square feet from the guest room and added built-in cabinetry with a wine fridge. She painted the cabinets a muted sage green and paired them with sleek brass hardware. The back of the bar is lined with antiqued mirror panels, and the shelves are supported by brass posts, giving the display structure and an upscale, architectural feel.

CONTINUED >

LIVING ROOM

Grasso continued wainscotting from the kitchen to the living room, where she brightened up the dark beige walls and trim and painted the coffered ceiling white to give the illusion of more height. The fireplace mantel is original to the house, but Grasso changed out the marble insert to update it.

“The curved sofa is the star of the room,” she says. “It brings a modern softness that balances nicely with the more classic pieces, like the cane chairs and the vintage-style rug.”

GAME ROOM AND TV ROOM

The adjacent game room was originally planned as a quiet escape for mom to play mahjong, but it quickly turned into a family hub.

“The deep blue walls create this intimate little cocoon, and the plaid banquette makes the whole corner feel like a place where you can settle in for hours,” Grasso says.

In the TV room, she added grasscloth wallpaper for some unexpected texture and a teal chandelier for a fun pop of color. The homeowners’ artwork makes the space feel familiar and lived-in.

POWDER ROOMS

The powder room got an upgrade with bold, patterned wallpaper from Anthropologie Home, rich dark paneling and elegant brass details.

“The marble console sink, mirror and stylish light fixture pull everything together for a polished, boutique-hotel feel,” Grasso says.

Linked to the game room is an outdoor powder room that the homeowners added in anticipation of a backyard pool. The wallpaper mural gives it a travel-inspired vibe, while the carved wood mirror and woven sconces bring an organic touch. The stone sink was made in Turkey, and the patterned floor tiles tie everything together for a fresh, curated look.

“I often say that design is an act of translation,” Grasso says. “My purpose is realized when I see (the clients’) expression upon entering the room for the first time—when they say it feels like home, yet somehow new.”

ARTICLE BY ELLIOTT HARRELL | PHOTOGRAPHY

TROLLTASTIC

New Kid IN TOWN

“BIG PETE IS ONE OF SEVEN NEW TROLLS IN NORTH CAROLINA, DAMBO’S LARGEST PERMANENT INSTALLATION IN THE UNITED STATES. THE SEVEN ARE ALL PART OF A TROLL FAMILY.”

Charlotte’s newest celebrity resident is a bit hard to find. He secretly moved into the city in early November but has quickly become one of the most sought-after and talked-about folks in town. Big Pete is a 90-foot-long troll nestled in the new River District development by Crescent Communities. He’s the latest art installation from Thomas Dambo, a Danish artist renowned for creating giant trolls from recycled wood and other materials.

THE STORY BEHIND CHARLOTTE’S MOST ECLECTIC NEW CELEBRITY

TROLL MANIA

“Troll Mania has ensued here in Charlotte,” says Andrew Baysden, director of marketing for the River District, adding that Pete attracted thousands of visitors the first two weeks after he was formally announced.

There are currently 171 of these giant trolls around the world, drawing an estimated 4.5 million visitors each year. Now, Charlotteans are lucky enough to call one their own.

TROLL FAMILY

Big Pete is one of seven new trolls in North Carolina, Dambo’s largest permanent installation in the United States. The seven are all part of a troll family.

Five are scattered around Dix Park in Raleigh. Daddy Bird Eye sits beneath a large tree, holding a giant staff and keeping watch over the park. Elsewhere, Mother Strong Tail takes a nap with one eye open, presumably tired from watching over her three youngest children. The baby, a little girl troll named Dix, stands at the edge of the woods holding her mother’s impressively long 645-foot tail, while her brothers Dax and Dux play a game of hide and seek across the way.

Little Sally, a teenage girl, has taken up residence in High Point, somewhat near the train station. And Big Pete is a teenage boy who’s landed in Charlotte.

CHARLOTTE LOCATION

The River District is Crescent Communities’ newest development. It’s a 1,200-acre master-planned community adjacent to the airport and Catawba River. It’s the largest remaining land assemblage in Charlotte.

“You can work in Uptown in a corporate environment and in 15 minutes get home and feel like you are way out of an urban area and in a very serene place,” Baysden says. “You have access to the river, a heavy emphasis on trails and biking with a lot of sustainability and environmental stewardship initiatives.”

He says public art has always been a big part of the company’s communities, and that the team had been brainstorming for four years about what the River District’s signature art piece might be.

BUILDING PROCESS

An art consultant suggested reaching out to Dambo about building a troll for the community. Dambo won’t work with a group until he sees where the troll might be installed and feels like the organization’s ethos aligns with his.

Baysden says Dambo was excited about the River District, but that one of the key selling points was that, unbeknownst to the Crescent Communities team, Dambo already had Raleigh’s build on his calendar. The process moved quickly from there, with construction starting just about eight months later.

Since all of Dambo’s trolls are built from recycled materials, Baysden and his team had to find several tons of reclaimed wood to build their troll. He says roughly 60% of the material came from construction scraps and leftovers at the River District. They got additional material from a local demolition company that was tearing down a barn shed.

“THOMAS

DAMBO BELIEVES HIS TROLLS

SHOULD BE DISCOVERED”

WANT TO VISIT BIG PETE?

Thomas Dambo believes his trolls should be discovered, not directed. While his troll map offers approximate locations, it never provides exact directions. “Thomas has always stressed the adventure and the secrecy [of the troll’s location],” says Baysden, who has kept a tight lid on Big Pete’s exact location. “But basically, if you look in the right place, you will see his 10-foot-tall foot.” Once found, continue the hunt for Little Sally in High Point and the rest of the family in Raleigh. Find all seven to unlock the secret of the Grandmother Tree. Big Pete is open to the public and free to visit. If you find him, keep the magic alive and don’t spoil the surprise for others.

PERFECT MATCH ON PROVIDENCE

For some 20 years, Trey Bailey has wanted to expand his family jewelry business to Charlotte. And for 20 years, he resisted, knowing the mutual respect and friendship his father, Clyde Bailey Jr., had for his mentor, Charles Smith, owner of Morrison Smith jewelers.

So Bailey’s added a Cary store to ones in Rocky Mount, Raleigh and Greenville, N.C., while Morrison Smith carried on its tradition in Charlotte.

When Trey Bailey, Bailey’s CEO, heard that Charles’ son Chuck and his wife Pam Smith, the most recent owners of Morrison Smith, had moved to Florida with an eye toward retiring, he reached out.

“I said, ‘If you guys are ready to do it now, we’re ready to do it now,’” says Bailey, who didn’t have to explain what “it” was. “It was a perfect marriage. We are aligned with being old-school jewelers with real craftsmanship.”

ARTICLE BY LIZ BROWN | PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF BAILEY’S FINE JEWELRY

The Smiths invited Bailey and his wife, Marci, to their Key West home to hash out a deal. Bailey’s would retain all 17 Morrison Smith staff members as well as their jewelry collection.

The agreement was finalized in March, but it wasn’t until December that a Bailey’s sign went up on Providence Road. The store’s glass doors will say Bailey’s Morrison Smith for years to come, Bailey says.

“So people who’ve been shopping for decades with Morrison Smith still see the familiarity of that name and that trust on the window,” Bailey says. “It’s important to us to continue their legacy. We’ve been in business for 77 years. They’ve been in business for 73 years. They set a phenomenal foundation of trust and friendship with customers. We’re taking the best of Morrison Smith and the best of Bailey’s and merging them together.”

People from Charlotte might be surprised to know Bailey’s tradition goes back further than Morrison Smith. Ann Bailey, known as “Mama Ann,” founded the jewelry store in Rocky Mount in 1948 with her husband Clyde Sr., a watchmaker.

Story has it, Trey says, his grandparents were working repairing watches at a pawn shop when the owner got mad about something and fired off his guns at the ceiling. They knew it was time to go. Clyde Sr. bought a beauty parlor in downtown Rocky Mount and converted half of it into a jewelry shop.

Clyde Sr. died when Ann was 36, but she kept the business going, working seven days a week while raising two children. She turned the business over to her son, Clyde Jr., in 1978. Ann, who turned 100 in June, is in the North Carolina Women Business Owners Hall of Fame.

Trey and Marci, who met at gemology school in Carlsbad, Calif., are the third generation husband-wife team to run Bailey’s. With each transition, the business has evolved. The same is true for Morrison Smith, which was opened by Ken Morrison in 1954 and sold to Charles Smith in 1988.

Bailey’s Charlotte store now carries five times more jewelry, including a broader selection of engagement rings and high-end jewelry. They escort clients several times a year to meet designers and dealers in New York and L.A. On Marci’s suggestion, they’ve created a new private space in the store for hosting trunk shows, mother-daughter teas and diamond consultations.

Bailey’s also comes with its own highly successful “Bailey Box” marketing campaign. Its story dates back to the 1980s when a woman at a Christmas party told Clyde Jr. and his wife Jane, “Every woman wants a Bailey Box under the tree.”

Since 2008, Bailey’s has held promotions where they leave Bailey Boxes around town, on park benches or at lunch spots, surprising people with merchandise or gift cards. Sometimes they record the emotional reactions on video. They got an email from a woman in Raleigh who found a Bailey Box on the last day of her chemotherapy treatment.

“We’ve gotten some very heartwarming stories from it,” Bailey says.

They stashed boxes around Charlotte leading up to the opening on Providence, with plans to do it from time to time going forward.

Bailey’s local presence is growing on Instagram as well. Marci, a jewelry designer, buyer and marketer, posts videos showcasing jewelry. This kind of personal approach is just one way Bailey’s keeps its small-town rapport with customers.

Trey Bailey says he has cousins and friends in Charlotte, and now, luckily, a store that will keep him coming back. He’s starting to get used to the idea by now. What might take some time to adjust to is seeing customers back out onto Providence Road.

“It freaks me out, but boy, have I learned the regulars don’t even blink,” Bailey says. “One lady told me, ‘Honey, I’ve been backing out of this parking lot for 40 years.’”

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HIGH LIFE MEETS HIGH FLAVOR AT SPAGHETT

Shaken, Stirred and Sauced

It’s not a misspelling. “Spaghett” is a reference to the now-viral cocktail, which combines Miller High Life, Aperol and lemon juice. Mixologist Amanda Britton discovered the drink in 2019 in Baltimore and introduced it to restaurateur Sam Hart, who loved the bubbly, citrusy libation. That drink inspired the pasta and cocktail house that Hart’s Irreverently Refined Hospitality Group opened last July in the former Poplar Tapas & Wine spot in Uptown’s Fourth Ward.

Spaghett lives up to its name with a lineup of Italian classics in a colorful, homey setting. Pasta is so fresh it tastes like someone’s Italian grandmother just clocked out, and cocktails are well-crafted, not overdone. Servers are present without hovering, portions leave you satisfied but not stuffed and every bite earns its place on the plate. Even items like steak and potatoes—dishes you’d expect to be secondary on a pasta-led menu—are jaw-droppingly good.

THE LOCATION

Hart first announced plans for Spaghett in late 2023, but as with any project in a historic structure, it would take time. The 19th-century Young Morrison House needed new electrical wiring, a new crawl space and a hot water heater— all under the constraints of historical preservation codes.

The Queen Anne-style home—once owned by descendants of Davidson College’s founding president, Robert Hall Morrison—feels true to its roots with original fireplaces, floral wallpaper, vibrant green trim and an array of local artwork. The first floor has three dining rooms and a six-seat bar; upstairs, they plan to add a private dining room with seating for 14. Spaghett also has an outdoor patio for al fresco dining.

THE MENU

Britton designed the cocktail menu, and Kendall Moore leads the kitchen. Moore, a Charlotte native who previously worked at the Italian restaurant Tavola in Charlottesville, Va, sources as close to home as possible. Moore uses Anson Mills flour, Carolina Gold rice, Boxcarr cheeses and produce from local farms. Spaghett prints a new menu daily, but you can always count on bread service, four or five pasta dishes, a selection of steak and seafood mains and two or three desserts. The following is a snapshot from the fall.

The namesake cocktail, Spaghett ($7), is a great place to start. Other highlights include the Venetian Bloom ($16), a gin-based cocktail with notes of peach, basil and lemon; and the Tiramisu Milk Punch ($18) with rum, limoncello and espresso. There’s also a spirit-free lineup ($12) and Italian

CONTINUED >

sodas ($4) with housemade syrup in flavors like elderflower, strawberry and Italian citrus. Beers include Peroni and Miller Lite, and eight different wines are available by the glass.

Bread service is mandatory. The Focaccia ($7) comes in four thick slices with accoutrements like whipped ricotta and green tomato jam, and it barely has time to cool before you devour it. Depending on what’s in season, you might find an Heirloom Tomato Salad ($15) or an Autumn Green Salad ($15).

The classic Spaghetti ($19) is anything but basic, with a pomodoro sauce you’ll want to bottle and take home. Bucatini Cacio e Pepe ($19) is rich and peppery with silky, twirlable noodles, but instead of pecorino, this version uses lissome, a semisoft cheese made with half goat’s and half cow’s milk. Mafaldine ($20) is a bowl of ribbon-shaped pasta with wavy, ruffled edges tossed with kale pesto, country ham and Lindale cheese. Lumache Della Cotta ($23) is shell-shaped pasta topped with a slow-simmered beef ragù.

No shame if you stick to the pasta and pass over the entrees, but these mains don’t miss. Virginia Trout Filet ($35) is served with Carolina Gold rice and seasonal vegetables. Whole South Carolina Quail ($34) is accompanied by peppers, leeks and polenta. Steak “Alla Diane” ($40) is a pan-seared tenderloin with fingerling potatoes, broccolini and oyster mushroom jus.

Desserts ($11) include Rum Custard topped with pecan pralines, Bread Pudding with apple butter, and Chocolate Torte with a dollop of Fernet whipped cream. They also have after-dinner drinks like Vin Santo ($18), a sweet, full-bodied Italian dessert wine; Fernet Branca ($5), a herbaceous amaro liqueur; and Enderly Coffee ($4) with a choice of almond or oat milk.

You probably won’t go home with leftovers. Every forkful is a flavor win, and your return trip practically plans itself.

DON’T LEAVE WITHOUT TRYING

The classic Spaghetti ($19) is far from ordinary, with fresh strands of pasta and a pomodoro sauce you’ll want to purchase by the jar.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Street parking is limited, so you may need to try nearby parking garages like the Cedar Street deck or FNB Tower Garage, which are a short walk away.

HOURS:

Thursday-Monday from 5-10 p.m. Saturday from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5-10 p.m.

SPAGHETT 224 W. 10th St. RestaurantSpaghett.com.

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