Tipsy Pickle, a new food-meets-sport space with six pickleball courts, opens Saturday, Feb. 22, at Camp North End.

Why it matters: Charlotte, like much of the nation, is working to keep up with the demand for pickleball courts. Plus, there's a growing appetite for places to play, hang out and grab a bite or a drink, too.

What to expect: Tipsy Pickle's 35,000-square-foot space holds more than 930 people total (roughly 150 outside) across its two floors. It includes: Six pickleball courts — four indoor and two outdoor. Two TrackMan golf simulators on the second level. Three bars — two indoor and one outdoor. 31 TVs. Four pool tables. Seven classic arcade games. Shuffleboard. Darts. A private event space.

Dig in: The Tex-Mex-inspired menu has everything from tacos, quesadillas, and burritos to burgers, wraps, and pizza. Plus, nachos, guacamole and queso, of course.

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The roster of small businesses that will take up residence in the new live-work units at Camp North End is nearly complete. 

CT Anderson, founder and creative director of local nonprofit Springclean, will move her operation there in the coming months, according to a press release. That organization, founded in 2019, is dedicated to reducing textile waste in landfills, fostering sustainable employment opportunities, and educating communities about the benefits of a circular economy. Its work encompasses what Springclean's website calls the "five R's": ​ Resale, Rental Repair, Renew, Recycle.

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I got back super-super-late from the Ford Performance event last night, driving back from Charlotte at 2 am because in many fundamental and important ways, I’m a dummy. But while I was there I saw a fantastic off-road vehicle I wasn’t previously familiar with, and it had pretty much nothing to do with Ford Performance, though I suppose there are some historical Ford tie-ins. The vehicle was encased in glass, like it lived in a colossal terrarium, and it’s big strange face drew my attention like it hooked it on a winch. Let’s talk about this thing. 

This thing, is technically known as the M561, but is better known as the Gama Goat. The name comes from the man who designed the powered, articulated joint this machine uses, Roger Gamaunt, and the “goat” part is because this thing climbs over terrain like a, you know, goat. The reason there was one preserved under glass at the facility Ford was holding their big event was because that facility was once known as Camp North End, and it started life as a Ford factory, where it was used to build Models T and A (get your mind out of the gutter) up until the 1930s.

Then it was used for Army warehouses, then in the 1950s Douglas Aircraft used some of those warehouses to build Hercules and Ajax guided missiles, and then in 1969 Consolidated Diesel Corp. (CONDEC) built a factory there to build these Gama Goats for the war in Vietnam. So that’s why one is preserved there, among all the restaurants and event spaces and clubs or whatever – they used to build them right there.

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Cork & Cap will bring hand-selected beers and wines to Camp North End.

Co-owners Brian Kelly and Adam Lingle plan to open that location at 4 p.m. on Jan. 30. It will be part of the development’s Keswick District at 1701 N. Graham St.

Atco Properties & Management and partner Shorenstein Properties are behind that piece of the 76-acre development. To date, over 500,000 square feet has been redeveloped at the site — home to 1.3 million square feet of former Army and Ford industrial buildings.

Cork & Cap will launch with 1,200 square feet, and plans for expansion. It has subleased 2,600 square feet total from former tenant Cloud Genera. Kelly founded that technology company, which moved its offices to Camp North End in 2020. He sold it last summer.

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Of course, it wouldn’t be on brand if Camp North End’s first multifamily development hadn’t considered a way to support Charlotte’s small businesses owners — both at home and at work. We have a new retail drop at the North Charlotte neighborhood: Five creators will open storefronts out of live-work units at Camp North End’s new multifamily development, Kinship West.

These ground-floor spaces are great news for those who dream of a short work commute or, as a consumer: A walkable neighborhood with everything you need — now including a manicure, a hat, a haircut, clothes or even a new tattoo.

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Pizza lovers, get ready. Another pizzeria is coming to Charlotte soon. 

 

Gravity Sourdough Pizza Co. is officially joining the lineup of food spots at Camp North End on Wednesday, Dec. 18.

 

The restaurant, known for its wood-fired specialty pizza, is run by fiancés Alex Osterhoudt and Amanda Wagner — who are no strangers to the city. After hosting several outdoor movie screenings with their company, Aurora Star Lit Cinema, the duo is bringing their specialty pies to a permanent space at Camp North End.

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Family-run food truck Eggroll Co.  has been part of the Charlotte community since Daphne Alexander founded it in 2022.

Now, Eggroll Co. is planning to join the lineup at Camp North End, heading to the Keswick District at 1801 North Graham St. this fall, according to the Charlotte Business Journal.

The 385-square-foot food stall was formerly home to Bleu Barn Bistro, which closed in August.

The company, which currently operates a food truck and does pop-up and catering events, serves hot and crunchy American-style fried egg rolls. They are filled with mozzarella, provolone and a choice of steak, chicken or veggies. The menu items listed on Eggroll Co.’s website include Uptown steak, Uptown chicken, pizza and veggie delight. It also serves sweet eggrolls such as apple pie cheesecake.

 

 

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WINNER: TOP MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT

Camp North End delivered new office and retail space on its 76-acre campus this year, wrapping up its second phase of construction.

The adaptive-reuse project added 190,598 square feet across the 201 Camp Road and 701 Keswick Ave. buildings. That includes over 118,000  square feet of new office space. The remainder — dedicated to retail — is already 89% leased.

Special event venue The Revelry North End has joined the lineup. There are new restaurants, Halal Street Food and Seemingly Overzealous, as well. Hex Coffee doubled its footprint at Camp North End — and made room for Chef Hector Gonzalez-Mora’s Noche Bruta concept.

Retailers include Hardy Boys Records and Comics; streetwear boutique Current Nostalgia and Fitteds, a custom hat retailer.

Pickleball entertainment venue Tipsy Pickle has leased 35,000 square feet there.

More than 450,000 square feet has been redeveloped at Camp North End, drawing 70 businesses to the site. It is 68% leased at this time.

Atco Properties & Management had been looking at Charlotte acquisitions for several years before finding Camp North End.

“This seemed pretty obvious to me. It was a very rare opportunity to do something very special,” says Damon Hemmerdinger, co-president.

Full buildout will encompass 3 million square feet of office, retail, restaurants, multifamily and public space. The first wave of apartments, Kinship East and West, started leasing over the summer.

KEY PLAYERS

• Owner/Developer: Atco Properties & Management

• General Contractor: DPR

• Architects: S9 Architecture — design; BB+M Architecture — architect of record; Hood, Cluck, Southwick Architecture &  Interiors — tenant upfit; Hasheem Halim, Aleah Pullen, Melanie Reddrick and Marcus Thomas — winners of Camp North End’s emerging Black architects design competition

• Engineers: LandDesign; Barrett Woodyard & Associates; Stuart Engineering; Hart  &  Hickman

• Other Design Consultants: Nelson Byrd Woltz — landscape architecture; Muddy Boots —landscape design; Adrian Jones — lighting

• Lawyer: Moore & Van Allen

BY THE NUMBERS

• 450,000 square feet developed so far

• 70 business call Camp home

• 76-acre campus

 

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Co-president, Atco Properties & Management

Damon Hemmerdinger is focused on making Camp North End a diverse and vital destination. The co-president of Atco Properties & Management says the development off North Graham Street has grown to 70-plus businesses, restaurants and retailers since 2016. The first residents will move in by year end to an apartment development that is completing its first phase. The transformation of Camp North End into a hub for creativity and innovation continues. Expect more building renovations, new buildings for office, retail and multifamily, and ongoing efforts to curate a local tenant mix and host events and programming.

— Jennifer Thomas

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Armada Skate Shop will open at Camp North End this fall.

Why it matters: Charlotte native Patrick Carroll's skate shop was originally in Plaza Midwood before finding a home at Eastway Crossing. Moving to Camp North End means an opportunity to refresh the brand, Carroll said in a press release.

What to expect: Armada Skate Shop will sell skateboards, longboards and roller skates, plus shoes, clothing and accessories both from popular brands and in-house exclusives.

• Local artists will lead board painting workshops and there will be workshops for kids who want to learn how to skateboard.

• There will also be a professional repair station.

The vibe: The shop will be decorated with automotive-themed art and murals.

 

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