In local news:
Pour Taproom has quietly opened in Plaza Midwood, marking the concept's fourth location in North Carolina — and its largest to date, according to a news release, with 118 taps. “We’re thrilled to not only be the first to open the largest self-pour taproom in the country but for it to reside in the Queen City,” said James Lunney, owner of Pour Taproom Charlotte, in the release. As previously reported by CBJ, the project transformed a 6,900-square-foot space at 1212 Central Ave. that dates back to 1945 — take a peek inside with the accompanying photo gallery.
The concept utilizes self-pour technology, allowing customers to pay by the ounce and try multiple brews. Each location is independently owned and operated.
The local establishment will host a grand opening Oct. 6. According to a post on its Facebook page, hours during the soft-opening period are Monday through Thursday, 3-11 p.m., 11 a.m. until 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m.-11 p.m. on Sunday. Pour Taproom Charlotte plans to put down roots in the neighborhood, cultivating partnerships with local businesses, breweries and food trucks, the release notes.
In other news about the latest watering holes in the city: Uptown's newest restaurant and bar, called Nuvole Rooftop Twenty Two, opened yesterday atop the EpiCentre, and Town Brewing Co. in west Charlotte plans to open by Friday.
Nuvole Rooftop TwentyTwo will welcome guests to its perch on the 22nd floor starting Monday. That rooftop restaurant and bar is focused on tasty food, good drinks and creating an atmosphere to relax and gather, says Paul Picarazzi, principal, Vision Ventures. (Sept. 21, 2018)
Also, WSOC-TV reports Kannapolis City Council has approved a $52 million construction contract for a minor-league baseball stadium downtown. The facility, expected to open in 2020, is seen as a focal point in a larger revitalization effort in that Cabarrus County community.
And back in Charlotte, City Council approved a number of projects at an unusually packed zoning meeting last night, and the long-planned redevelopment of the Eastland Mall site took a step forward.
Yesterday's top-read story on the CBJ website: PHOTOS: Check out uptown's newest rooftop restaurant, bar
In the national news:
- Brett Kavanaugh, facing new allegations, vows not to withdraw — The New York Times
- Google CEO Sundar Pichai to meet with top GOP lawmakers — The Wall Street Journal
- Starbucks plans corporate shake-up and layoffs, starting with senior execs — The Seattle Times
- Comcast buys more than 30% of Sky shares after auction win over Fox — CNBC
- Sears CEO proposes plan to avoid bankruptcy, as options and cash run low — CNBC
- Instagram co-founders resign in latest Facebook executive exit — Reuters
And the top-read story across the national bizjournals.com network comes from Louisville Business First: Papa John's has a new logo and (slight) name change in the works
Weather:
Patchy fog and drizzle hang over the Queen City this morning, with temperatures today expected to top out around 82 degrees under partly sunny skies. Daytime highs this week will likely remain in the mid-80s as chances for showers and thunderstorms increase over the next few days. Find the latest Charlotte weather forecast here.
Traffic:
Get real-time updates on traffic conditions here.
Traveling for business today? You'll want to check the status of your flight before heading to the airport — you can do that here, at FlightStats.com.
Sports:
Forbes is out with its latest list of NFL team values, pegging the Carolina Panthers at $2.3 billion — unchanged from last year and roughly in line with the $2.275 billion paid this summer by new owner David Tepper for the franchise. Carolina ranks No. 21 among the league's 32 teams; the Dallas Cowboys topped the list for a 12th consecutive year with an estimated value of $5 billion. Forbes says the average worth of an NFL team is now $2.57 billion, up 2% since last year.
In other Panthers news, Tepper and a star-studded cast of players packed boxes for hurricane relief yesterday at Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina. It's part of a larger plan detailed by the team last week to help with recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Florence, flooding from which has devastated a number of communities in the Carolinas. The Panthers, now 2-1 after Sunday's 31-21 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, have a bye this week.
The Charlotte Hornets — who, along with team owner Michael Jordan, packed boxes at Second Harvest on Friday — have announced the team's training-camp roster for 2018, and ESPN reports star player Kemba Walker has every intention of remaining here despite speculation that he might look to join a so-called "super team" after becoming a free agent next summer.
And NASCAR drivers reportedly are gearing up for a new course at this weekend's race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. As previously reported by CBJ, the "Roval" road course is aimed at reviving fan interest in the sport. The Bank of America Roval 400 on Sunday will mark the start of NASCAR's wild-card eliminations, and Panthers head coach Ron Rivera is serving as grand marshal.
This week and beyond:
Upcoming CBJ events include the International Business Awards on Thursday — find details and register at bizjournals.com/charlotte/event.
The Carolina Renaissance Festival opens this weekend in the woods north of Charlotte.