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The entrepreneurs behind a stretch of Black-owned shops in downtown Mount Holly - Q City Metro
The entrepreneurs behind a stretch of Black-owned shops in downtown Mount Holly
These business owners are staking claim in Mount Holly, the growing city less than 30 minutes from Charlotte.
By Katrina Louis
March 15, 2021
For most entrepreneurs, the journey begins with seeing a need – then having the courage and resources to pursue that vision.
To see that concept in action, visit Central Avenue in downtown Mount Holly, where a stretch of Black-owned businesses – a meeting space, a gourmet popcorn shop, and a seafood restaurant – are staking their claim in the growing city.
Located about 25 minutes west of Charlotte, Mount Holly is one of Gaston County’s fastest-growing cities. According to the latest census data, about 16,257 people lived there as of July 1, 2019, a 19% increase from 2010. Black residents make up 15.7%, according to census estimates.
A Saturday afternoon visit to one of those Black-owned shops turned into a meet-and-greet with others. Although each business is different, the owners tell stories with a common theme — vision followed by action.
The Venue at Central Avenue
118 E. Central Ave., Mount Holly
QCity Metro thanks its sponsors. Become One.
Denean Jackson struggled last fall to find the right venue for her daughter’s baby shower. The pandemic limited the welcome celebration of her twin grandkids to an intimate gathering of 25 people, and the Charlotte venues she found were either too spacious or didn’t have the aesthetics she liked.
She finally found a spot in downtown Concord for the October get-together but thought about others who may also face struggles finding affordable space for small gatherings.
Jackson and her husband, Terrance, opened The Venue at Central Avenue last month, where they converted a former bookstore into a cozy event space that can seat 40 people.
The couple says they poured about $30,000 into the renovation — mostly spent on knocking down a wall, putting up drywall and replacing the floors — before pulling in Denean’s interior design skills and Terrance’s flooring background.
Denean and Terrance Jackson own several businesses, including their latest, The Venue at Central Avenue in downtown Mount Holly. Photo: QCity Metro
[Read more about the Jacksons’ journey as serial entrepreneurs.]
The finished product is a blank canvas “so it can be anything” for guests, she says. They also hooked up WiFi and surround sound to include with reservations.
The Jacksons converted a bookstore into an intimate event space.
POP-Maize-N
QCity Metro thanks its sponsors. Become One.
120 E. Central Ave, Mount Holly
It was uncharted territory for Mount Holly residents Samuel and Dominique Robinson when they established POP-Maize-N in 2016. The idea to sell gourmet popcorn began as a home-based business to provide jobs for their children.
“We have kids with special needs, and this was a business we thought that 1) can employ them and 2) would be easier for them to do,” said the father of five.
The opportunity also allowed Dominique a chance to try something new. She had been a stay-at-home mom for 23 years and was looking to fill her days now that the kids were older and moving out.
The Robinsons sold products online for two years before moving into a physical location on Central Avenue. It started slowly as they tried to drum up customers until Kerry Queen, co-owner of Queen Bee Bakery, stopped in to introduce herself.
The popular bakery was located around the corner on Main Street and had won “Best of Gaston County” for consecutive years. After Queen posted about Pop-Maize-N to her Facebook page, the Robinsons said, “we had lines out the door for two months, at least.”
Samuel and Dominique Robinson. Photo: QCity Metro
In 2020, Sam and Dominique expanded their portfolio after another meeting involving Kerry Queen. That summer, Queen approached the couple to gauge their interest in buying her business. Seven years had taken its toll physically, and she was ready to move on.
The turn-key establishment was a larger operation than Sam and Dominique were used to, but Dominique was excited because she loved to bake. Sam thought what better time to expand into a new business — he wouldn’t return in-office to his day job at TIAA until 2022.
In November, the couple became the new owners of Queen Bee Bakery.
Dominique oversees most of the day-to-day operations for both businesses, while Sam helps with administrative tasks in addition to his day job.
She says it’s been a huge learning experience working to keep up with demand and managing 15 employees. The couple overcame another obstacle when Dominique contracted Covid-19 in January and landed in the hospital for a week. Sam carried the weight of running Pop-Maize-N while store employees kept the bakery on track.
“It’s been a challenge, but I love it,” Dominique said, reflecting on the handful of years of entrepreneurship. “I love all the accolades we get from the community. I’m putting everything I have into it.”
Seafood Boil NC
114 E. Central Ave., Mount Holly
At 48 years old, Rex White took a chance on himself after getting laid off from his corporate recruiting job in January 2020.
He thought about getting another job and holding on to his severance package, but by that time, the coronavirus pandemic was hitting the U.S. and job leads already had started to dry up.
Seafood Boil NC started as a building where Rex housed the blue crabs he delivered and provided for curbside pickup.
A friend who owned a seafood market in Wingate — about 30 miles southeast from Charlotte — mentioned the demand for blue crabs and how tough they were to find in Charlotte. White saw an opportunity to fulfill the need if there truly was such a demand.
To test that theory, he posed a question to his Facebook followers asking who’d be interested in getting live blue crabs delivered to their home.
“The post blew up, so I decided to make a website called [now-defunct] livebluecrabdelivery.com,” White said about launching last May. He’d registered the company as Mi Products LLC a month earlier.
Rex White inside his Seafood Boil NC restaurant in downtown Mount Holly. Photo: QCity Metro
Blue crabs are the state’s most valuable commercial fishery, second only to shrimp, according to an article in National Fisherman.
Customers were ordering in advance, and White used the money to buy more blue crabs while they were in season from his friend who owned the seafood market.
“It wasn’t something I saw happening this quickly. It’s something that came out of nowhere as an opportunity,” he said.
Meanwhile, White also was building out Seafood Boil NC as a take-out restaurant. He says he wasn’t deterred about starting a restaurant during the pandemic, even though many were fighting to keep their doors open.
The business held steady as he expanded the menu. Along with several types of crab, customers can also order other cooked items like fish, shrimp, mussels, clams and scallops for seafood boils.
For the customers who want to prepare the items themselves, White offers a weekly fresh market that includes live blue crabs (when in season) and a variety of fish and shrimp available for preorders.
Looking ahead, White says he plans to add outdoor picnic tables to take advantage of the downtown location. Further down the road, he’s eyeing franchising.
The entrepreneurs behind a stretch of Black-owned shops in downtown Mount Holly
These business owners are staking claim in Mount Holly, the growing city less than 30 minutes from Charlotte.
By Katrina Louis
March 15, 2021
For most entrepreneurs, the journey begins with seeing a need – then having the courage and resources to pursue that vision.
To see that concept in action, visit Central Avenue in downtown Mount Holly, where a stretch of Black-owned businesses – a meeting space, a gourmet popcorn shop, and a seafood restaurant – are staking their claim in the growing city.
Located about 25 minutes west of Charlotte, Mount Holly is one of Gaston County’s fastest-growing cities. According to the latest census data, about 16,257 people lived there as of July 1, 2019, a 19% increase from 2010. Black residents make up 15.7%, according to census estimates.
A Saturday afternoon visit to one of those Black-owned shops turned into a meet-and-greet with others. Although each business is different, the owners tell stories with a common theme — vision followed by action.
The Venue at Central Avenue
118 E. Central Ave., Mount Holly
QCity Metro thanks its sponsors. Become One.
Denean Jackson struggled last fall to find the right venue for her daughter’s baby shower. The pandemic limited the welcome celebration of her twin grandkids to an intimate gathering of 25 people, and the Charlotte venues she found were either too spacious or didn’t have the aesthetics she liked.
She finally found a spot in downtown Concord for the October get-together but thought about others who may also face struggles finding affordable space for small gatherings.
Jackson and her husband, Terrance, opened The Venue at Central Avenue last month, where they converted a former bookstore into a cozy event space that can seat 40 people.
The couple says they poured about $30,000 into the renovation — mostly spent on knocking down a wall, putting up drywall and replacing the floors — before pulling in Denean’s interior design skills and Terrance’s flooring background.
Denean and Terrance Jackson own several businesses, including their latest, The Venue at Central Avenue in downtown Mount Holly. Photo: QCity Metro
[Read more about the Jacksons’ journey as serial entrepreneurs.]
The finished product is a blank canvas “so it can be anything” for guests, she says. They also hooked up WiFi and surround sound to include with reservations.
The Jacksons converted a bookstore into an intimate event space.
POP-Maize-N
QCity Metro thanks its sponsors. Become One.
120 E. Central Ave, Mount Holly
It was uncharted territory for Mount Holly residents Samuel and Dominique Robinson when they established POP-Maize-N in 2016. The idea to sell gourmet popcorn began as a home-based business to provide jobs for their children.
“We have kids with special needs, and this was a business we thought that 1) can employ them and 2) would be easier for them to do,” said the father of five.
The opportunity also allowed Dominique a chance to try something new. She had been a stay-at-home mom for 23 years and was looking to fill her days now that the kids were older and moving out.
The Robinsons sold products online for two years before moving into a physical location on Central Avenue. It started slowly as they tried to drum up customers until Kerry Queen, co-owner of Queen Bee Bakery, stopped in to introduce herself.
The popular bakery was located around the corner on Main Street and had won “Best of Gaston County” for consecutive years. After Queen posted about Pop-Maize-N to her Facebook page, the Robinsons said, “we had lines out the door for two months, at least.”
Samuel and Dominique Robinson. Photo: QCity Metro
In 2020, Sam and Dominique expanded their portfolio after another meeting involving Kerry Queen. That summer, Queen approached the couple to gauge their interest in buying her business. Seven years had taken its toll physically, and she was ready to move on.
The turn-key establishment was a larger operation than Sam and Dominique were used to, but Dominique was excited because she loved to bake. Sam thought what better time to expand into a new business — he wouldn’t return in-office to his day job at TIAA until 2022.
In November, the couple became the new owners of Queen Bee Bakery.
Dominique oversees most of the day-to-day operations for both businesses, while Sam helps with administrative tasks in addition to his day job.
She says it’s been a huge learning experience working to keep up with demand and managing 15 employees. The couple overcame another obstacle when Dominique contracted Covid-19 in January and landed in the hospital for a week. Sam carried the weight of running Pop-Maize-N while store employees kept the bakery on track.
“It’s been a challenge, but I love it,” Dominique said, reflecting on the handful of years of entrepreneurship. “I love all the accolades we get from the community. I’m putting everything I have into it.”
Seafood Boil NC
114 E. Central Ave., Mount Holly
At 48 years old, Rex White took a chance on himself after getting laid off from his corporate recruiting job in January 2020.
He thought about getting another job and holding on to his severance package, but by that time, the coronavirus pandemic was hitting the U.S. and job leads already had started to dry up.
Seafood Boil NC started as a building where Rex housed the blue crabs he delivered and provided for curbside pickup.
A friend who owned a seafood market in Wingate — about 30 miles southeast from Charlotte — mentioned the demand for blue crabs and how tough they were to find in Charlotte. White saw an opportunity to fulfill the need if there truly was such a demand.
To test that theory, he posed a question to his Facebook followers asking who’d be interested in getting live blue crabs delivered to their home.
“The post blew up, so I decided to make a website called [now-defunct] livebluecrabdelivery.com,” White said about launching last May. He’d registered the company as Mi Products LLC a month earlier.
Rex White inside his Seafood Boil NC restaurant in downtown Mount Holly. Photo: QCity Metro
Blue crabs are the state’s most valuable commercial fishery, second only to shrimp, according to an article in National Fisherman.
Customers were ordering in advance, and White used the money to buy more blue crabs while they were in season from his friend who owned the seafood market.
“It wasn’t something I saw happening this quickly. It’s something that came out of nowhere as an opportunity,” he said.
Meanwhile, White also was building out Seafood Boil NC as a take-out restaurant. He says he wasn’t deterred about starting a restaurant during the pandemic, even though many were fighting to keep their doors open.
The business held steady as he expanded the menu. Along with several types of crab, customers can also order other cooked items like fish, shrimp, mussels, clams and scallops for seafood boils.
For the customers who want to prepare the items themselves, White offers a weekly fresh market that includes live blue crabs (when in season) and a variety of fish and shrimp available for preorders.
Looking ahead, White says he plans to add outdoor picnic tables to take advantage of the downtown location. Further down the road, he’s eyeing franchising.
A few homies worked on that set. Look forward to seeing how it goes.
Breast cancer survivor opens gourmet popcorn shop - Q City Metro
Qcity Biz
Breast cancer survivor opens gourmet popcorn shop
Julie Logan is the newest owner of Popcorn Heaven. The parent company has five locations nationwide, including two in Charlotte.
Julie Logan makes remarks during the grand opening of Popcorn Heaven in Steele Creek. Photo courtesy of Popcorn Heaven
By Katrina Louis
February 25, 2021
While some people experienced anxiety about opening a business during the pandemic, Julie Logan relied on her faith that has brought her through tougher times.
Logan, a 17-year breast cancer survivor, celebrated the grand opening of Popcorn Heaven – Steele Creek on Feb. 13 and was overwhelmed by the outpouring of support. Throughout the day, a steady flow of customers braved a winter downpour and 30-degree temperatures for the gourmet popcorn.
“I knew some of my friends and family would come and support me, but the experience was so overwhelming,” she told me. “My system told me I had approximately 147 people that came through in one day.”
Julie Logan and her partner, Martin Tisdale, inside Popcorn Heaven in Steele Creek. Photo: QCity Metro
The Steele Creek shop is the fifth Popcorn Heaven location, its second in Charlotte. Logan’s love of popcorn helped her discover the company.
“Some friends of mine — we all love popcorn — were sharing that there’s a shop over in Ballantyne that’s African American-owned by a husband and wife,” she recalled.
Popcorn Heaven was established in 2014 and licensed by Daniel and Kysha Frazier. Pre-Covid, Logan says she met with the Fraziers and learned about licensing opportunities. The self-proclaimed popcorn connoisseur did her research and was excited about expanding the Charlotte-based company’s local footprint.
“You know when you have that feeling inside that something is just right? That’s how I felt talking to Daniel and Kysha,” she said.
Logan officially signed the licensing agreement in September 2020.
Popcorn Heaven – Steele Creek offers a variety of classic, sweet and savory options. Flavors range from butter to Carolina kettle to strawberry to dill pickle. Logan says zesty buffalo is a customer favorite.
Prices range from $2.50 for a small bag of a classic flavor to $33 for a two-gallon refillable tin.
Photo: QCity Metro
Logan and her partner, Martin Tisdale, are the only staff since the store is still new, but they’re currently hiring for part-time positions.
Popcorn Heaven – Steele Creek is located at 10720 S. Tryon St. in the South Point Village Shopping Center.
Qcity Biz
Breast cancer survivor opens gourmet popcorn shop
Julie Logan is the newest owner of Popcorn Heaven. The parent company has five locations nationwide, including two in Charlotte.
Julie Logan makes remarks during the grand opening of Popcorn Heaven in Steele Creek. Photo courtesy of Popcorn Heaven
By Katrina Louis
February 25, 2021
While some people experienced anxiety about opening a business during the pandemic, Julie Logan relied on her faith that has brought her through tougher times.
Logan, a 17-year breast cancer survivor, celebrated the grand opening of Popcorn Heaven – Steele Creek on Feb. 13 and was overwhelmed by the outpouring of support. Throughout the day, a steady flow of customers braved a winter downpour and 30-degree temperatures for the gourmet popcorn.
“I knew some of my friends and family would come and support me, but the experience was so overwhelming,” she told me. “My system told me I had approximately 147 people that came through in one day.”
Julie Logan and her partner, Martin Tisdale, inside Popcorn Heaven in Steele Creek. Photo: QCity Metro
The Steele Creek shop is the fifth Popcorn Heaven location, its second in Charlotte. Logan’s love of popcorn helped her discover the company.
“Some friends of mine — we all love popcorn — were sharing that there’s a shop over in Ballantyne that’s African American-owned by a husband and wife,” she recalled.
Popcorn Heaven was established in 2014 and licensed by Daniel and Kysha Frazier. Pre-Covid, Logan says she met with the Fraziers and learned about licensing opportunities. The self-proclaimed popcorn connoisseur did her research and was excited about expanding the Charlotte-based company’s local footprint.
“You know when you have that feeling inside that something is just right? That’s how I felt talking to Daniel and Kysha,” she said.
Logan officially signed the licensing agreement in September 2020.
Popcorn Heaven – Steele Creek offers a variety of classic, sweet and savory options. Flavors range from butter to Carolina kettle to strawberry to dill pickle. Logan says zesty buffalo is a customer favorite.
Prices range from $2.50 for a small bag of a classic flavor to $33 for a two-gallon refillable tin.
Photo: QCity Metro
Logan and her partner, Martin Tisdale, are the only staff since the store is still new, but they’re currently hiring for part-time positions.
Popcorn Heaven – Steele Creek is located at 10720 S. Tryon St. in the South Point Village Shopping Center.
Charlotte clothing boutiques weather pandemic challenges - Q City Metro
Qcity Biz
Charlotte clothing boutiques weather pandemic challenges
Local clothing retailers share ups and downs of business as many Charlotte workers remain at home.
Troy Robinson Sr., owner of Troy Allen Clothier. Photo: QCity Metro
By Katrina Louis
February 8, 2021
It’s been a tricky 11 months for fashion retailers navigating entrepreneurship during the coronavirus pandemic.
With remote work and limited social gatherings reducing our need for business suits and formal wear, two Charlotte boutique owners share their survival stories.
Troy Robinson Sr., Troy Allen Clothier
Troy Robinson Sr., 58, hoped his reputation as a man with an eye for sharp suits would drive sales to his new boutique, Troy Allen Clothier. He opened the small shop in the Cotswold neighborhood on Black Friday in 2019.
The empty nester, father of four relocated from Columbus, Ohio, with his wife in 2017 to escape harsh winters. It also meant closing his previous store, Tjazz Fashions, in downtown Columbus. His client list was a who’s who of Ohio State football alumni, including 2006 Heisman winner Troy Smith, and other high-profile shoppers.
To grow clientele in Charlotte, he bought radio ads and TV spots highlighting his collection of suits and accessories geared toward businessmen and pastors. It gained some traction, netting sales from new customers. However, promotions ceased once Gov. Roy Cooper’s executive order closed all non-essential businesses last March.
QCity Metro thanks its sponsors. Become One.
Robinson has been in the clothing industry for over three decades, and the Covid-19 period isn’t the first time he’s weathered through an economic crisis.
“I’ve been through this type of stuff before,” he said. “The housing crisis [during the Great Recession], it hurt me. Seven, eight months, stuff was bad. I was biting my nails.”
He approached the pandemic with the same outlook as he did with challenges in the past.
“I just tie my shoes, take my belt and hit it to the next notch, and figure out what can we do?” he said.
Personal finances kept him afloat the four months Troy Allen Clothier was closed. When the boutique reopened in July, Robinson’s strategy relied on word-of-mouth and technology.
And instead of promoting suits, he’s pivoted to push more casual wear: soft-bottom shoes, slacks, sweaters and brimmed hats.
A look inside Troy Allen Clothier. Photo: QCity Metro
Robinson says he’s still getting requests for suits from longtime customers. Photo: QCity Metro
Each Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Robinson hosts “601 Live” on his Facebook and Instagram pages where he talks directly to viewers about items in the store. While some can shop virtually, Robinson says customers around his age are “touchy-feely” and need to try on the clothes.
A customer walked into the shop during our interview ready to purchase a sports coat he saw on one of Robinson’s live sessions. The customer was Eric Warren, a retired pastor who first met Robinson in Columbus nearly 20 years ago.
“I called him up and asked if he had it in my size. I know what I like, and when I see it, that’s it,” Warren laughed. “When I walk in somewhere, I don’t want everybody to have my suit on.”
Troy Robinson Sr. (right) tailors a sports coat for customer Eric Warren. Photo: QCity Metro
Robinson says he achieves that by creating a limited supply of each style.
Although he still faces financial challenges, Robinson is grateful for the support of his wife. Her career in the healthcare industry has kept a steady paycheck coming in. He says they also leveraged credit cards to pay the bills.
“One day you have a sale and you might not have a sale for a week and a half,” he said.
The sacrifice is worth it, he says, if you love what you do.
Charity Washington, Captivate
Charity Washington inside her boutique, Captivate, in SouthPark Mall. She’s also a stylist who’s dressed singer Anthony Hamilton for each of his Grammy looks and NBA player Dwight Howard when he played for the Charlotte Hornets. Photo: QCity Metro
For Charity Washington, the pandemic has been a blessing in disguise.
The mother of two boys is a stylist and owns Captivate, an upscale women’s clothing boutique.
“The pandemic, as a business owner, is terrible,” she said. “But as a family person, it’s a good thing. I’ve spent so much time with my kids.”
Before the coronavirus pandemic, Washington operated store locations in Carolina Place Mall and SouthPark Mall. She says a typical day included customer fittings in the stores and house calls to a handful of private clients. It was common to host in-store events. (She’s big on fashion shows.)
Mall traffic tanked as more people stayed indoors to prevent community spread of the virus. During that time, Washington tapped into her personal savings to keep the bills paid. After Gov. Cooper eased restrictions allowing malls to reopen at limited capacity, sluggish sales and landlord issues led Washington to close the Carolina Place Mall location. She reinvested the money into an online platform for customers to shop from home.
“Online was able to pull numbers that the store wasn’t doing,” she said.
Captivate’s inventory reflected Washington’s “girly-girl” style of dresses and suits. Now that home offices and Zoom meetings are the trends, she includes more loungewear to the racks — sweatsuits, t-shirts and jeans.
“It’s crazy because the first thing that sells out is a sweatsuit,” she said.
Washington hasn’t had to lay off any of her five employees, but she’s had to reduce their hours since SouthPark Mall shortened its opening times.
What keeps her up at night? Thinking about her next move.
The entrepreneur has always dreamed big and doesn’t allow herself to get complacent. Currently, she’s studying to earn her real estate license and wants to get into the luxury market.
Qcity Biz
Charlotte clothing boutiques weather pandemic challenges
Local clothing retailers share ups and downs of business as many Charlotte workers remain at home.
Troy Robinson Sr., owner of Troy Allen Clothier. Photo: QCity Metro
By Katrina Louis
February 8, 2021
It’s been a tricky 11 months for fashion retailers navigating entrepreneurship during the coronavirus pandemic.
With remote work and limited social gatherings reducing our need for business suits and formal wear, two Charlotte boutique owners share their survival stories.
Troy Robinson Sr., Troy Allen Clothier
Troy Robinson Sr., 58, hoped his reputation as a man with an eye for sharp suits would drive sales to his new boutique, Troy Allen Clothier. He opened the small shop in the Cotswold neighborhood on Black Friday in 2019.
The empty nester, father of four relocated from Columbus, Ohio, with his wife in 2017 to escape harsh winters. It also meant closing his previous store, Tjazz Fashions, in downtown Columbus. His client list was a who’s who of Ohio State football alumni, including 2006 Heisman winner Troy Smith, and other high-profile shoppers.
To grow clientele in Charlotte, he bought radio ads and TV spots highlighting his collection of suits and accessories geared toward businessmen and pastors. It gained some traction, netting sales from new customers. However, promotions ceased once Gov. Roy Cooper’s executive order closed all non-essential businesses last March.
QCity Metro thanks its sponsors. Become One.
Robinson has been in the clothing industry for over three decades, and the Covid-19 period isn’t the first time he’s weathered through an economic crisis.
“I’ve been through this type of stuff before,” he said. “The housing crisis [during the Great Recession], it hurt me. Seven, eight months, stuff was bad. I was biting my nails.”
He approached the pandemic with the same outlook as he did with challenges in the past.
“I just tie my shoes, take my belt and hit it to the next notch, and figure out what can we do?” he said.
Personal finances kept him afloat the four months Troy Allen Clothier was closed. When the boutique reopened in July, Robinson’s strategy relied on word-of-mouth and technology.
And instead of promoting suits, he’s pivoted to push more casual wear: soft-bottom shoes, slacks, sweaters and brimmed hats.
A look inside Troy Allen Clothier. Photo: QCity Metro
Robinson says he’s still getting requests for suits from longtime customers. Photo: QCity Metro
Each Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Robinson hosts “601 Live” on his Facebook and Instagram pages where he talks directly to viewers about items in the store. While some can shop virtually, Robinson says customers around his age are “touchy-feely” and need to try on the clothes.
A customer walked into the shop during our interview ready to purchase a sports coat he saw on one of Robinson’s live sessions. The customer was Eric Warren, a retired pastor who first met Robinson in Columbus nearly 20 years ago.
“I called him up and asked if he had it in my size. I know what I like, and when I see it, that’s it,” Warren laughed. “When I walk in somewhere, I don’t want everybody to have my suit on.”
Troy Robinson Sr. (right) tailors a sports coat for customer Eric Warren. Photo: QCity Metro
Robinson says he achieves that by creating a limited supply of each style.
Although he still faces financial challenges, Robinson is grateful for the support of his wife. Her career in the healthcare industry has kept a steady paycheck coming in. He says they also leveraged credit cards to pay the bills.
“One day you have a sale and you might not have a sale for a week and a half,” he said.
The sacrifice is worth it, he says, if you love what you do.
Charity Washington, Captivate
Charity Washington inside her boutique, Captivate, in SouthPark Mall. She’s also a stylist who’s dressed singer Anthony Hamilton for each of his Grammy looks and NBA player Dwight Howard when he played for the Charlotte Hornets. Photo: QCity Metro
For Charity Washington, the pandemic has been a blessing in disguise.
The mother of two boys is a stylist and owns Captivate, an upscale women’s clothing boutique.
“The pandemic, as a business owner, is terrible,” she said. “But as a family person, it’s a good thing. I’ve spent so much time with my kids.”
Before the coronavirus pandemic, Washington operated store locations in Carolina Place Mall and SouthPark Mall. She says a typical day included customer fittings in the stores and house calls to a handful of private clients. It was common to host in-store events. (She’s big on fashion shows.)
Mall traffic tanked as more people stayed indoors to prevent community spread of the virus. During that time, Washington tapped into her personal savings to keep the bills paid. After Gov. Cooper eased restrictions allowing malls to reopen at limited capacity, sluggish sales and landlord issues led Washington to close the Carolina Place Mall location. She reinvested the money into an online platform for customers to shop from home.
“Online was able to pull numbers that the store wasn’t doing,” she said.
Captivate’s inventory reflected Washington’s “girly-girl” style of dresses and suits. Now that home offices and Zoom meetings are the trends, she includes more loungewear to the racks — sweatsuits, t-shirts and jeans.
“It’s crazy because the first thing that sells out is a sweatsuit,” she said.
Washington hasn’t had to lay off any of her five employees, but she’s had to reduce their hours since SouthPark Mall shortened its opening times.
What keeps her up at night? Thinking about her next move.
The entrepreneur has always dreamed big and doesn’t allow herself to get complacent. Currently, she’s studying to earn her real estate license and wants to get into the luxury market.
After nearly closing, the West End Fresh Seafood Market keeps its doors open - Q City Metro
After nearly closing, the West End Fresh Seafood Market keeps its doors open
Owner Bernetta Powell says 2020 tested her faith, but she stayed committed to serving her community.
People travel from across Charlotte to buy fish from the West End Fresh Seafood Market, which opened in 1998. Photo: Gracyn Doctor | WFAE
By Gracyn Doctor, WFAE
February 9, 2021
On a recent chilly Friday afternoon, Bernetta Powell hopped out of her car and hurriedly walked into the West End Fresh Seafood Market. She threw on her work hat and headed behind the counter, ready to ring up customers.
It was a busy day at the seafood market. Powell’s husband, Clarence, stood behind another counter, pulling fresh pieces of fish off ice and piling them on a tray before weighing them on a scale. Customers trickled in and he took their orders while his wife passed them out. Some people walked out with personal to-go plates and others left with big, aluminum pans full of fried fish.
It’s all a big change from last spring, summer, and even the fall.
“You see how many cars are there now?” Powell asked. “You wouldn’t see that then. You will see a car once every blue moon. It was deserted around here.”
At West End Seafood, customers can purchase raw fish or have it cooked in the store. Photo: Gracyn Doctor | WFAE
There are always times where business is slow in the food industry, and Powell has a saying that gets her through: “If you can January it, you can February it. And if you can February it, you may be able to March,” she said.
But there was no “marching” last year with stay-at-home orders due to the coronavirus going into place during that very month. Powell began to worry. No one was coming in to buy fish. Bills began to pile up.
So, Powell decided she would close the store and find a job until things picked up.
“I was thinking, ‘This gonna be a temporary close,’” she said. “We’re going to get back up. I’m gonna go find something, somewhere to make some money to pay off some of these bills I owe, these utilities I owe.”
That feeling was short-lived. She says she noticed the rows of empty shelves in the Food Lion across the street. She prayed and decided to stay open but with reduced hours, just opening the doors from Wednesday to Saturday. This allowed her time to clean and sanitize the store.
During this time, she also hosted food drives to serve neighborhood kids and parents who were home and may have been struggling to buy food.
Slowly, customers started coming back. But it still wasn’t enough to keep West End Fresh Seafood Market afloat. As the summer months rolled on, business began to slow again. Organizations that buy seafood from her every year began cancelling big orders.
“July historically is the biggest month of the year for selling fish because you have a lot of people doing a Fourth of July, a lot of family reunions,” Powell said. “You have a lot of churches that do fundraisers. This (past) July, I couldn’t even tell it was July.”
Bernetta Powell owns the West End Fresh Seafood Market. She says 2020 tested her faith, but she stayed committed to serving her community. Photo: Gracyn Doctor | WFAE
Powell said she began to feel depressed. Her faith was being tested. She spent a lot of her spare time praying for answers and taking free business classes for tips on how to survive. She got some help from the city to pay her employees and provide personal protective equipment, like masks and plexiglass shields.
Powell opened the West End Fresh Seafood Market in December 1998, but she’s been coming into the building where it exists for much longer. She worked there as a teenager when it was called Queen City Sundries, a pharmacy owned by a Black pharmacist named Dr. Phillips. Phillips built it from the ground up in 1963 after being pushed out of another part of the city due to “redevelopment.”
“We also sold like food – hot dogs, hamburgers, famous, famous chuckwagons, famous, famous ‘Big Jack’ cookies,” Powell said.
As customers scanned the fish counter on a recent day, deciding on what to get, Powell called out order numbers. People stood around chatting while waiting in the growing line.
Customers stand around chatting with one another as they wait to pick up and place orders. Photo: Gracyn Doctor | WFAE
Mike Davis and his mom come once a week. They order ahead then sit in the car, enjoying their meals before driving off.
Elizabeth Gray-Samuel, meanwhile, has been coming to the market for over 10 years. Every week, she travels from the University City area to Powell’s seafood market in Charlotte’s West End. She likes the selection of fish and the atmosphere. But West End Fresh Seafood Market being a Black-owned business and a staple in the community also keeps her coming back.
“It’s a proudness, that I’m so happy that our people have something nice like this,” Gray-Samuel said.
Even with all the struggles of the past year, Powell said she’s excited about the future. A grant from Charlotte Center City Partners is helping with her plans to install a walk-up window, outdoor seating, and a mural featuring some of Charlotte’s Black trailblazers, like Hattie “Chattie Hattie” Leeper, Charlotte’s first Black woman radio DJ.
Because West End Fresh Seafood Market is not just a place to buy fish. It’s a part of the community.
After nearly closing, the West End Fresh Seafood Market keeps its doors open
Owner Bernetta Powell says 2020 tested her faith, but she stayed committed to serving her community.
People travel from across Charlotte to buy fish from the West End Fresh Seafood Market, which opened in 1998. Photo: Gracyn Doctor | WFAE
By Gracyn Doctor, WFAE
February 9, 2021
On a recent chilly Friday afternoon, Bernetta Powell hopped out of her car and hurriedly walked into the West End Fresh Seafood Market. She threw on her work hat and headed behind the counter, ready to ring up customers.
It was a busy day at the seafood market. Powell’s husband, Clarence, stood behind another counter, pulling fresh pieces of fish off ice and piling them on a tray before weighing them on a scale. Customers trickled in and he took their orders while his wife passed them out. Some people walked out with personal to-go plates and others left with big, aluminum pans full of fried fish.
It’s all a big change from last spring, summer, and even the fall.
“You see how many cars are there now?” Powell asked. “You wouldn’t see that then. You will see a car once every blue moon. It was deserted around here.”
At West End Seafood, customers can purchase raw fish or have it cooked in the store. Photo: Gracyn Doctor | WFAE
There are always times where business is slow in the food industry, and Powell has a saying that gets her through: “If you can January it, you can February it. And if you can February it, you may be able to March,” she said.
But there was no “marching” last year with stay-at-home orders due to the coronavirus going into place during that very month. Powell began to worry. No one was coming in to buy fish. Bills began to pile up.
So, Powell decided she would close the store and find a job until things picked up.
“I was thinking, ‘This gonna be a temporary close,’” she said. “We’re going to get back up. I’m gonna go find something, somewhere to make some money to pay off some of these bills I owe, these utilities I owe.”
That feeling was short-lived. She says she noticed the rows of empty shelves in the Food Lion across the street. She prayed and decided to stay open but with reduced hours, just opening the doors from Wednesday to Saturday. This allowed her time to clean and sanitize the store.
During this time, she also hosted food drives to serve neighborhood kids and parents who were home and may have been struggling to buy food.
Slowly, customers started coming back. But it still wasn’t enough to keep West End Fresh Seafood Market afloat. As the summer months rolled on, business began to slow again. Organizations that buy seafood from her every year began cancelling big orders.
“July historically is the biggest month of the year for selling fish because you have a lot of people doing a Fourth of July, a lot of family reunions,” Powell said. “You have a lot of churches that do fundraisers. This (past) July, I couldn’t even tell it was July.”
Bernetta Powell owns the West End Fresh Seafood Market. She says 2020 tested her faith, but she stayed committed to serving her community. Photo: Gracyn Doctor | WFAE
Powell said she began to feel depressed. Her faith was being tested. She spent a lot of her spare time praying for answers and taking free business classes for tips on how to survive. She got some help from the city to pay her employees and provide personal protective equipment, like masks and plexiglass shields.
Powell opened the West End Fresh Seafood Market in December 1998, but she’s been coming into the building where it exists for much longer. She worked there as a teenager when it was called Queen City Sundries, a pharmacy owned by a Black pharmacist named Dr. Phillips. Phillips built it from the ground up in 1963 after being pushed out of another part of the city due to “redevelopment.”
“We also sold like food – hot dogs, hamburgers, famous, famous chuckwagons, famous, famous ‘Big Jack’ cookies,” Powell said.
As customers scanned the fish counter on a recent day, deciding on what to get, Powell called out order numbers. People stood around chatting while waiting in the growing line.
Customers stand around chatting with one another as they wait to pick up and place orders. Photo: Gracyn Doctor | WFAE
Mike Davis and his mom come once a week. They order ahead then sit in the car, enjoying their meals before driving off.
Elizabeth Gray-Samuel, meanwhile, has been coming to the market for over 10 years. Every week, she travels from the University City area to Powell’s seafood market in Charlotte’s West End. She likes the selection of fish and the atmosphere. But West End Fresh Seafood Market being a Black-owned business and a staple in the community also keeps her coming back.
“It’s a proudness, that I’m so happy that our people have something nice like this,” Gray-Samuel said.
Even with all the struggles of the past year, Powell said she’s excited about the future. A grant from Charlotte Center City Partners is helping with her plans to install a walk-up window, outdoor seating, and a mural featuring some of Charlotte’s Black trailblazers, like Hattie “Chattie Hattie” Leeper, Charlotte’s first Black woman radio DJ.
Because West End Fresh Seafood Market is not just a place to buy fish. It’s a part of the community.
https://www.charlotteobserver.com/charlottefive/c5-food-drink/article249945109.html
The moment we’ve all been waiting for is here: What The Fries is opening soon.
By Ebony L. Morman
March 18, 2021 04:01 PM,
Updated March 18, 2021 04:45 PM
Gone are the days of waiting for What The Fries to post its weekly schedule on Instagram each Sunday. Though you’ll still feel the need to casually stalk its posts for a glimpse of your perfectly curated go-to meal, you can rest easy because the days of waiting for the popular food truck to come to your neck of the woods — and eating your Steak and Shrimp Hibachi Fries in your car — are almost over.
It’s been a long few months for fans of the food truck and the owners, chefs Jamie Barnes and Gregory “Greg” Williams. All parties are full of excitement — thanks to the restaurant updates on Instagram — and can’t wait for the doors to officially open at 11 a.m. on March 23.
What The Fries owners Jamie Barnes and Greg Williams in front of art by Swych19 inside their new restaurant in Pineville. Alex Cason Photography CharlotteFive
“I’m excited about opening and finally closing the gap on all of this,” Barnes said. “It’s been a long process. So, we’re ready for something new. Usually people get our food and they leave. Now, it’s exciting to be able to look out, see people eating food and seeing their reaction.”
The owners — who are typically behind the scenes doing what they do best — are grateful for all of the love and support from the Queen City.
“We’re thankful for all of the people who have supported us over the years,” Williams said. “We’re just happy to finally get into this brick-and-mortar and just can’t wait to give you some of our dope creativity and just hope you enjoy.”
Charlotte’s food truck scene during COVID
It’s no secret that the coronavirus pandemic has impacted the restaurant scene in Charlotte during the past year. Food trucks like What The Fries were ahead of the curve due to the to-go aspect of the business, however. Barnes and Williams did update their pre-order system, which meant shorter lines and it made it easier to comply with North Carolina mandates. They also shifted their focus from office buildings in the afternoon to serving neighborhoods.
“We didn’t get hit like restaurants — no one sits inside in one place at a time,” Barnes said. “We pulled up anywhere. We kind of switched to neighborhoods and evenings since a lot of the neighborhoods wanted us for dinner. It kind of took off from there. So, once the pandemic hit us, we were just booming.” In addition, Wynee Bermudez, the local blogger behind the account @wyneesworld, made the truck TikTok famous in July.
The smokey Bacon Fries at What The Fries are loaded and topped with ranch, green onions and tomatoes. Alex Cason Photography CharlotteFive
It’s been a whirlwind of a year, working and serving on the food truck while pouring time into the restaurant location. While opening a business during the COVID-19 pandemic has its challenges, the two owners can see the light at the end of the tunnel. The large former Cici’s Pizza location they’re moving into — even at 50% capacity — is sure to be a hit with its ample seating.
“It’s a lot for us to do with the pandemic as far as making sure employees are keeping the place cleaned throughout the day,” Barnes said. “Making sure people see that we’re sanitizing tables and keeping the numbers low and no one crowding by the door. So, it’s a lot we have to do right now with the pandemic going on.”
In a perfect world — and post-COVID-19 pandemic — Barnes and Williams would have their next venture be another location and having a full team so they’d be able to still operate the food truck successfully, Barnes said.
What The Fries’ new brick-and-mortar restaurant is on Park Road. Alex Cason Photography CharlotteFive
A year from now, Williams would prefer not to be in the kitchen as much.
“I think having a lot more help is a big thing for us,” he said. “So we won’t have to do as much. Just to have people who have the same drive and energy we have that want to come on with us to make it successful.”
‘Creative, tasty and fun’
Casual and fun is the vibe you’ll catch once you enter the doors of the restaurant. Hornets colors, original murals by Swych19 and Garrison Gist and other local art pieces cover the walls. Both chefs made sure their hometowns of Columbia, South Carolina, and Newport News, Virginia, were represented in art, as well. As for the menu, expect your old favorites and some new treats.
“Everyday is Fryday” at the new What The Fries restaurant, art by Swych19 proclaims. Alex Cason Photography CharlotteFive
“I would say [the menu is] creative, tasty and fun,” Williams said.
You can expect to see the chefs’ fine dining experience mixed with their What The Fries flare.
“We don’t want to get too serious with stuff,” Barnes said. “People can still come in, enjoy themselves, get some good food and know we have put some creativity behind it.
What The Fries’ new restaurant also features art by Garrison Gist. Alex Cason Photography CharlotteFive
More than just a restaurant
While many people may come to What The Fries for the food, they’ll stay for the experience. Taking care of the restaurant is a priority. Once it’s a bit more settled, the goal is to have dinners where they’re able to be more creative. Another goal is to support local artists. Once the back area is complete, local artists and small business owners will use the space.
“We just want to help promote other businesses, not just ours,” Williams said. “We’re trying to show love all around.”
Pro tip: Here’s a sneak peak of new menu items:
What The Fries Chicken Salad: House recipe chicken salad served with lettuce and tomato on potato bread. Peter Taylor
Loaded Purple Potato Soup at What The Fries: purple potatoes, bacon, scallions and Boursin cheese. Peter Taylor Peter Taylor
What The Fries is now turning your favorite loaded fries into wraps. Alex Cason Photography CharlotteFive
What The Fries
10707 Park Road, Suite F
Opening date: 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 23.
Store hours: Tuesday through Saturday 11 a.m. - 8 p.m., closed Sunday and Monday
Instagram: @whathefriesclt
The moment we’ve all been waiting for is here: What The Fries is opening soon.
By Ebony L. Morman
March 18, 2021 04:01 PM,
Updated March 18, 2021 04:45 PM
Gone are the days of waiting for What The Fries to post its weekly schedule on Instagram each Sunday. Though you’ll still feel the need to casually stalk its posts for a glimpse of your perfectly curated go-to meal, you can rest easy because the days of waiting for the popular food truck to come to your neck of the woods — and eating your Steak and Shrimp Hibachi Fries in your car — are almost over.
It’s been a long few months for fans of the food truck and the owners, chefs Jamie Barnes and Gregory “Greg” Williams. All parties are full of excitement — thanks to the restaurant updates on Instagram — and can’t wait for the doors to officially open at 11 a.m. on March 23.
What The Fries owners Jamie Barnes and Greg Williams in front of art by Swych19 inside their new restaurant in Pineville. Alex Cason Photography CharlotteFive
“I’m excited about opening and finally closing the gap on all of this,” Barnes said. “It’s been a long process. So, we’re ready for something new. Usually people get our food and they leave. Now, it’s exciting to be able to look out, see people eating food and seeing their reaction.”
The owners — who are typically behind the scenes doing what they do best — are grateful for all of the love and support from the Queen City.
“We’re thankful for all of the people who have supported us over the years,” Williams said. “We’re just happy to finally get into this brick-and-mortar and just can’t wait to give you some of our dope creativity and just hope you enjoy.”
Charlotte’s food truck scene during COVID
It’s no secret that the coronavirus pandemic has impacted the restaurant scene in Charlotte during the past year. Food trucks like What The Fries were ahead of the curve due to the to-go aspect of the business, however. Barnes and Williams did update their pre-order system, which meant shorter lines and it made it easier to comply with North Carolina mandates. They also shifted their focus from office buildings in the afternoon to serving neighborhoods.
“We didn’t get hit like restaurants — no one sits inside in one place at a time,” Barnes said. “We pulled up anywhere. We kind of switched to neighborhoods and evenings since a lot of the neighborhoods wanted us for dinner. It kind of took off from there. So, once the pandemic hit us, we were just booming.” In addition, Wynee Bermudez, the local blogger behind the account @wyneesworld, made the truck TikTok famous in July.
The smokey Bacon Fries at What The Fries are loaded and topped with ranch, green onions and tomatoes. Alex Cason Photography CharlotteFive
It’s been a whirlwind of a year, working and serving on the food truck while pouring time into the restaurant location. While opening a business during the COVID-19 pandemic has its challenges, the two owners can see the light at the end of the tunnel. The large former Cici’s Pizza location they’re moving into — even at 50% capacity — is sure to be a hit with its ample seating.
“It’s a lot for us to do with the pandemic as far as making sure employees are keeping the place cleaned throughout the day,” Barnes said. “Making sure people see that we’re sanitizing tables and keeping the numbers low and no one crowding by the door. So, it’s a lot we have to do right now with the pandemic going on.”
In a perfect world — and post-COVID-19 pandemic — Barnes and Williams would have their next venture be another location and having a full team so they’d be able to still operate the food truck successfully, Barnes said.
What The Fries’ new brick-and-mortar restaurant is on Park Road. Alex Cason Photography CharlotteFive
A year from now, Williams would prefer not to be in the kitchen as much.
“I think having a lot more help is a big thing for us,” he said. “So we won’t have to do as much. Just to have people who have the same drive and energy we have that want to come on with us to make it successful.”
‘Creative, tasty and fun’
Casual and fun is the vibe you’ll catch once you enter the doors of the restaurant. Hornets colors, original murals by Swych19 and Garrison Gist and other local art pieces cover the walls. Both chefs made sure their hometowns of Columbia, South Carolina, and Newport News, Virginia, were represented in art, as well. As for the menu, expect your old favorites and some new treats.
“Everyday is Fryday” at the new What The Fries restaurant, art by Swych19 proclaims. Alex Cason Photography CharlotteFive
“I would say [the menu is] creative, tasty and fun,” Williams said.
You can expect to see the chefs’ fine dining experience mixed with their What The Fries flare.
“We don’t want to get too serious with stuff,” Barnes said. “People can still come in, enjoy themselves, get some good food and know we have put some creativity behind it.
What The Fries’ new restaurant also features art by Garrison Gist. Alex Cason Photography CharlotteFive
More than just a restaurant
While many people may come to What The Fries for the food, they’ll stay for the experience. Taking care of the restaurant is a priority. Once it’s a bit more settled, the goal is to have dinners where they’re able to be more creative. Another goal is to support local artists. Once the back area is complete, local artists and small business owners will use the space.
“We just want to help promote other businesses, not just ours,” Williams said. “We’re trying to show love all around.”
Pro tip: Here’s a sneak peak of new menu items:
- Fried Snapper Sandwich: Fried snapper, mustard green slaw and spicy Yumm Yumm on a potato bun.
- Wings: Seasoned sweet and spicy or with house seasoning.
- Grilled Cheesy: American, gouda and Boursin cheeses grilled on potato bread.
- Chicken Salad: House recipe chicken salad served with lettuce and tomato on potato bread.
What The Fries Chicken Salad: House recipe chicken salad served with lettuce and tomato on potato bread. Peter Taylor
- Freshcut Chips: Scratch-made potato chips with house seasoning.
- Loaded Purple Potato Soup: purple potatoes, bacon, scallions and Boursin cheese.
Loaded Purple Potato Soup at What The Fries: purple potatoes, bacon, scallions and Boursin cheese. Peter Taylor Peter Taylor
- Loaded Fry Wraps: Order any of your favorite loaded fries stuffed into a wrap, fries and all.
What The Fries is now turning your favorite loaded fries into wraps. Alex Cason Photography CharlotteFive
What The Fries
10707 Park Road, Suite F
Opening date: 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 23.
Store hours: Tuesday through Saturday 11 a.m. - 8 p.m., closed Sunday and Monday
Instagram: @whathefriesclt
Bryan Danielson
Jmare007 x Bryan Danielson x JLova = King Ghidorah
My girl told me someone got shot this weekend there....
I hate to say it but my reaction was just
They legit should’ve never closed Eastland mall
Bryan Danielson
Jmare007 x Bryan Danielson x JLova = King Ghidorah
Oh seeing the news about Jennings getting shot at the Plaza Midwood gas station today
shyt!!!
It’s bout to go down again in the city brehs
And today was his birthday
shyt!!!
It’s bout to go down again in the city brehs
And today was his birthday
Bryan Danielson
Jmare007 x Bryan Danielson x JLova = King Ghidorah
Good shyt @Bryan Danielson
O.iatlhawksfan
Devoted Joel Embiid hater
Whose Jennings?Oh seeing the news about Jennings getting shot at the Plaza Midwood gas station today
shyt!!!
It’s bout to go down again in the city brehs
And today was his birthday
Bryan Danielson
Jmare007 x Bryan Danielson x JLova = King Ghidorah