CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The foreclosure of Uptown Charlotte's Epicentre is moving forward following a hearing in Mecklenburg County Superior Court Monday afternoon.
According to court documents, the property owner defaulted on an $85 million loan. The Epicentre, which opened in 2008, has become a ghost town with many of the venues sitting empty. Court filings obtained by WCNC Charlotte showed that 69% of the Epicentre's spaces were empty as of January 2022.
Epic Times jewelry store, which has been in the Epicentre for almost six years, is one of the few businesses that’s still open after a challenging two years in the pandemic.
“It’s been a bit of a, you know, a struggle and an uphill battle, but, you know, of course we’re still in it for the long haul," said James Mack, owner and operator of Epic Times jewelry store and James Mack fine jewelry. "We do believe in Charlotte and Uptown. You know, we definitely hope that things will come back.”
Following a series of violent crimes, the Epicentre started to make changes.
Dr. John Holaday, an innocent bystander, was shot and killed on the streets of Uptown by a stray bullet from a fight that police said originated at the Epicentre.
WCNC’s Defenders team got a state law changed after a woman said she was drugged at an Epicentre bar.
The Epicentre started the transition from bars and restaurants to office space and retail in late 2019.
“When you don’t have the Alive After Five, you know, the different, you know, bars and restaurants, then you’re left with no walk-through traffic, which is extremely essential," Mack said, "especially in a jewelry business where it’s important to touch and feel.”
Now business owners like Mack want to focus on the Epicentre’s future.
“Hopefully, they have plans to make it into an outdoor mall," Mack said. "I know there’s been a lot of chatter about that. I think that would be wonderful.”
Mack said he sees the potential for the space and wants to be part of its future in once again bringing people back to the center of the city.
"This is vital to the city. The entrepreneurs that’s left Uptown are slowly fading away," Mack said. "We need to do something now.”
During Monday's hearing, there was no mention of a date for a potential sale of the property.
Charlotte Center City Partners issued the following statement to WCNC Charlotte Tuesday.
“Charlotte Center City Partners is closely watching the status of the EpiCentre site while we await the outcome of legal proceedings. This site is important to Uptown given its proximity to the Blue Line, Gold Line, Charlotte Transit Center, Spectrum Center, and more. It plays an important role knitting together the fabric of Uptown and should be home to dense, mixed-use development. As with every major project in Center City, our team stands ready to partner with our stakeholders to fulfill our mission of a thriving and vibrant urban core for all.”
Flashpoint is a weekly in-depth look at politics in Charlotte, North Carolina, South Carolina, and beyond with host Ben Thompson. Listen to the podcast weekly.
SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Stitcher || Google Podcasts
All of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.