CHARLOTTE, N.C. — All eyes are on New Year's Eve celebrations as COVID-19 cases spike across the country, including in Charlotte.
One Charlotte bar and shop has canceled its New Year's Eve celebration just days before ringing in 2022.
NoDa Company Store took to its Instagram page to make the announcement.
"Friends we are so sad to do this but we're canceling our NYE Party," the caption read. "There's just too many spikes in Omicron for us to be able to have a (responsible) Ball with you guys."
"No matter how badly you want to do it -- this is just not the time to do it," co-owner Joey Hewell told WCNC Charlotte.
The popular neighborhood spot was planning on having patrons ring in the new year from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.
"For us, it was -- I couldn't live with myself knowing that I didn't have to have an event, and I decided to move forward with it -- and then there was a breakout of COVID at that event," Hewell said.
It comes as medical officials warn everyone about gathering in large groups, especially with people you don't know.
"What I was saying we should avoid is a New Year's Eve celebration where you have 30 or 40 people and you don't know their vaccine status of many of the people -- that's something you really want to stay away from," Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said.
Back in NoDa, Hewell's business will operate with normal business hours and will hope the new year brings better health for everyone.
"Eventually there will be a light at the end of that tunnel," he said.
Charlotte is still holding its New Year's Eve celebration after canceling in 2020. A stretch of Tryon Street near Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard will be closed off for the event. Those in attendance are urged to wear a mask and try to social distance when possible.
"One of the things that we are reminding people is the hospitality community has been hurt so hard because of the pandemic and this event is able to help support our community," Adam Rhew with Charlotte Center City Partners said.
That event starts at 8 p.m. Friday and will last until a little after midnight, ending with fireworks to ring in the new year.
Contact Hunter Sáenz at hsaenz@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
WCNC Charlotte is part of seven major media companies and other local institutions reporting on and engaging the community around the problems and solutions as they relate to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a project of the Charlotte Journalism Collaborative, which is supported by the Local Media Project, an initiative launched by the Solutions Journalism Network with support from the Knight Foundation to strengthen and reinvigorate local media ecosystems. See all of our reporting at charlottejournalism.org.