Men's boutique Silverfly to hold grand opening

A new menswear store in the Metropolitan complex outside of uptown, Silverfly, is having a grand opening celebration Saturday, Dec. 1.

The store opened its doors in early November. "offers a polished, edited and reinterpreted classic look," according to its description of itself. Silverfly carries menswear brands including DL1961, Joe's, Hudson Jeans, Silver Jeans, Chadburry, Alternative Apparel and Ben Sherman.

The company's grand opening celebration will feature food and drinks with a DJ from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., as well as promotional give-aways with purchases throughout the day.

Here's a link to a CLT Buzz story about the opening with a picture of the store's interior.



View Larger Map

New Chef'Store opening in former Wal-Mart location

Restaurant supply company US Foods is opening its first Chef'Store in east Charlotte, a new supply store concept for restaurant operators and other  food service professionals.

There's a video tour of the new store posted to the right. The store, at 3304 Eastway Drive, is holding a grand opening Thursday morning with a 10 a.m. ribbon cutting.

The store, open to chefs and other professionals, is 30,000 square feet, with 30 employees. The Chef'Store has foods such as seafood and meat, and restaurant supplies such as cookware and knives. Products will generally be available in individual or case sizes.

“There are many busy chefs and restaurant owners in Charlotte looking for an easier, more convenient way to get the products they need at competitive prices,” said Bob Stout, US Foods' southeast region president, in a statement. “Chef’Store is bright and clean with an intuitive layout and wide aisles for fast, easy maneuvering."

The store will be open seven days a week. Building permits filed earlier this year show US Foods spent more than $2.3 million renovating and refitting its space.

Privately-held US Foods has over $20 billion in annual revenue. The company also plans to open Chef'Store locations in Oklahoma City and Columbia, S.C.



View Larger Map

Gander Mountain to open Gastonia store

Firearms, hunting and outdoor supply store Gander Mountain is opening a new store in Gastonia, its sixth in North Carolina.

The store will be in the Franklin Square Shopping Center, on East Franklin Boulevard near I-85 and Cox Road. Gander Mountain said it's new store will be 43,000 square feet and will open in the late spring.

"Our newest North Carolina neighbors' passion for the outdoors and active performance living will be a perfect match with our ‘We Live Outdoors’ culture," said Gander Mountain CEO David Pratt, in a statement.

The store will carry new and used firearms, along with supplies for hunting, fishing, camping, boating, and archery, Gander Mountain said. It will also sell outdoor apparel from brands such as North Face, Under Armour, and Carhartt.

The St. Paul, Minn.-based company operates 119 stores in 24 states. In the Charlotte area, Gander Mountain has a store in Mooresville. Last year, Gander Mountain also opened new stores in Winston-Salem and Morrisville, N.C.

Note: Several months ago, a reader asked me if I knew what was going into this shopping center. Sorry the reply took so long, but here it is. Thanks, as always, for emailing me.


View Larger Map

Ilios Noche heading to Quail Corners

Ilios Noche, part of Xenia Hospitality group, is planning to open a second location in the Quail Corners Shopping Center.

According to an email sent to nearby residents, the restaurant will be located "at the pavilion, about where Nationwide and part of Mecklenburg Bridal was formerly located." Quail Corners is undergoing a multi-million redevelopment.

The message to neighbors also said that the shopping center broke ground on a new McDonald's, which should be open in mid to late February.

Xenia Hospitality also operates popular eateries including Nolen Kitchen, Big View Diner, and Maverick Rock Taco.



View Larger Map

Amelie's opens online store

Amelie's, the ever-popular French bakery in NoDa, has started an online store, where people can purchase edible goods, home decor, and gifts.

The Amelie's Emporium offers goods for sale either for delivery on in-person pickup. The edibles section includes a hot cocoa set, do-it-yourself twice-baked croissants, and salted caramel brownie balls. In the trinkets and gifts sections, you'll find things such as t-shirts and a gourmet coffee set, and seasonal section includes a gift card ornament.

The site is still under construction, with some sections, such as "About Us," still rather sparse. According to the site, all confirmed orders will be shipped within seven business days, although orders placed after 5 p.m. on Thursday won't be confirmed until Monday.




View Larger Map

Uncle Maddio's Pizza coming to Overstreet Mall

Local website Restaurant Traffic is reporting that Uncle Maddio's Pizza Joint will soon open a location in uptown's Overstreet Mall.

Uncle Maddio's storefront, from Restaurant Traffic

This will be the company's first Charlotte location. Uncle Maddio's, a fast-casual pizza place where most of the pies are under $10, is on somewhat of a growth spurt, with 75 stores currently under development.

Their signature pizzas include offerings such as Cobb Salad, BBQ Chicken, The Greek, Jamaican Jerk and Portobello pesto.

Most of Uncle Maddio's existing locations are in the Atlanta area. The company is also planning to open stores soon in Jacksonville, Savannah and Columbia.



View Larger Map

Wolf Camera at Birkdale Village reopens

One of the three Wolf Camera stores shut down earlier this year as part of parent company Ritz Camera's liquidation has reopened under new management.

C&A Marketing Inc. bought some of the Ritz brands, including Wolf Camera, during the final phases of Ritz's bankruptcy proceedings. The Birkdale Village store is one of 18 bricks-and-mortar stores that C&A is bringing back.

The company is also operating the RitzPix online imaging service, with prints, photo books, and other services on order. C&A is also continuing existing customer loyalty programs as an added incentive to Ritz and Wolf customers.

"We chose these eighteen stores to re-open because they are in key markets across the country that need a personal, knowledgeable photo speciality shop, which also serve as an integral part of their communities. Even though the photo industry continues to transform, we are dedicated to bringing a new, sustainable business model to the Ritz Camera stores and their customers," said C&A president Harry Klein, in a statement.

"Our strategic investment focuses on integrating our online sites with our retail locations, and to offer a one-stop photography resource where customers can purchase premium products and popular imaging gifts," said Klein.

The revived stores are staffed with their original employees, C&A said. Here's more on their plans for the Ritz, and Wolf, camera store brands: "The stores and websites will have fresh, current, and comprehensive inventory, and will continue to offer the full range of quality imaging products and services that consumers have come to expect of the Ritz Camera brand. In addition to the stores, C&A will grow the online imaging speciality business, RitzPix.com, which provides high standard photography offerings including film processing, image restorations, premium gifts including custom book printing, and more at the retail locations and a full-service imaging lab."

C&A has some experience with faded imaging brands. The company is the official licensee for many Polaroid products. As the company notes: "C&A already plays a significant role in the resurgence of one iconic American imaging brand."


View Larger Map