The Charlotte City Council is poised to revive Eastland Yards by welcoming four local businesses.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. โ A long-awaited vote by the Charlotte City Council could allow the next phase of Eastland Yards to move forward, opening the door for four small, local businesses to become the first tenants at the long-vacant site in east Charlotte.
The former Eastland Mall property sat largely unused for years after the mall closed in 2010, leaving what community leaders describe as a decade-long economic void. Now, with housing under construction and a major sports and entertainment complex planned, city leaders say activating the site with small businesses is a critical next step.
โEastland Mall was the economic incubator for east Charlotte. It brought retail stores, an ice rink that people could use, a movie theater, so many amenities, so when it closed in 2010 it completely deserted that area from any economic opportunity to come and it was deserted for a decade,โ City Council member JD Mazuera Arias, who represents District 5, said.
On Monday night, council members are set to decide whether four local businesses can move forward as the first commercial tenants at Eastland Yards. Those businesses include Rumbao Latin Dance Studio, Alvaranga Realty, which plans to operate a salon, Artisan Gelato, and a coffee shop called Higher Grounds by Monolo.ย
Mazuera Arias said the decision has been months in the making, emphasizing the risk those businesses are willing to take by committing to a site that is still under development.
โThey are taking a risk as small businesses,” he said. “This is a space that hasn’t yet been activated. They don’t know how their businesses are going to do, they don’t know what the return on investment is, but they’re taking a risk believing in something bigger than themselves.ย
City leaders say the selection process was intentional, aiming to reflect the character and culture of east Charlotte rather than bringing in national chains.
โThe city and city staff were careful in ensuring this was a unique approach to Eastland yards and would reflect the vibrancy and diversity of east Charlotte,โ Mazuera Arias said.
For local advocacy groups that focus on small businesses, it’s essential to preserve the areaโs identity as redevelopment accelerates.
โIt’s phenomenal these are all small businesses,” Greg Asciutto, executive director of CharlotteEAST said. “We’re not looking at national chains coming in, corporate-backed companies trying to change the footprint.”
If approved, a city spokesperson said the businesses could open as soon as this fall, marking the first time in more than a decade that commercial activity returns to the former mall site.
Contact Walker Lawson at wlawson@wcnc.com or follow him on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.
For the latest breaking news, weather and traffic alerts that impact you from WCNC Charlotte, download the WCNC Charlotte mobile app and enableย push notifications.ย
