PINEVILLE, N.C. — Alley 51, adjacent to the popular international market Super G Mart, is now open after nearly three years of delays.
Peter Han, the concept's vice president of operations, likened the food hall to the kind of street alley you might stumble across while traveling overseas, where mouth-watering aromas fill the air.
"We have Korea, Japan, China, Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, all sorts," Han mentioned.
Han said the "51" portion of the name was inspired by the nearby NC-51, also known as Pineville-Matthews Road.
The whole project was, in part, born from the COVID-19 pandemic's challenges. When restaurants closed, many people learned how to cook at home.
"They probably got tired of cooking the same thing at home," Han shared. "So we saw a lot of people exploring into different cuisines, different recipes. So we saw our demographic of our customers turn into a big variety."
Han hoped with some increased visibility for local restauranteurs who were struggling with the shutdowns surrounding the pandemic would help them thrive and expand.
While the grocery store's opening in 2022 was delayed due to supply chain issues, the postponement on the food hall side was connected to the actual occupancy of food stalls.
"When I was sourcing the tenants, I really focused on a mixture of franchises, local business owners, and first-time business owners who really wanted to showcase the authenticity of whichever cuisine they're representing," Han explained. "I think the struggles for a lot of the food hall delays was just overseeing 12 different constructions going on. Each tenant did their individual build out. You can imagine how that goes."
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The food hall soft launched during Memorial Day weekend, and with that opening, came building lines at the food stalls. The tenants are busy but grateful. Han said.
"I think they're gaining a little bit of confidence," Han admitted. "People have been very receptive of their food and what they're bringing,"
Han asked customers to remain patient and understanding as the food hall continues to grow.
"Thank you for continuously supporting us," Han said to his patrons. "And we hope to continue to improve so that we can really make this the international destination for the greater Charlotte area."
Han said the next project is based on the growing interest in international cuisine, with plans to open a large full-service restaurant.
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