Uptown Charlotte’s last major department store closed its doors 24 years ago, but a new report holds out hope for a thriving uptown shopping scene reminiscent of cities such as Charleston and Asheville.
The report, from Charlotte Center City Partners, says uptown has enough residents and office workers to support a thriving retail presence of specialty retailers and clothing stores, as well as “urban street retail,” electronics and grocers.
The report counts 100,000 employees and 9,400 households within the Interstate 277 loop.
Center City Partners President Michael Smith on Monday presented the results of the study to the City Council. (The group works to promote development in uptown and the South End).
The study says the city should aim to concentrate 335,000 square feet of retail shopping along Tryon, Trade, College and Stonewall streets.
It also suggests the Bank of America Plaza in the 100 block of South Tryon Street should be converted to accommodate more retail. It says new tenants should be found for underutilized ground-floor space in the Johnston Building, too, which is in the 200 block of South Tryon, next to Ruth’s Chris Steak House.
But the report cites obstacles to
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