Plaza Midwood is growing, changing. Does it still have a ‘good soul’?
As clouds rolled in on a Friday evening in Plaza Midwood, the strum of an electric guitar and thumps of a drum kit nearly drowned out the whir of passing cars and nearby chatter.
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A crowd of young adults, some dressed in baggy jeans, others decked in camo, flooded the lawn space on the bustling corner of Central Avenue and Thomas Avenue — the front yard of barbecue joint The Improper Pig. People perched on the restaurant’s brown fence blocked the view from afar, but closer up provided a glimpse of the lively scene: a punk show — and by no means the area’s first.
Across the street, passersby strolled in their floral summer dresses and heels while others rocked darker colors and piercings. Myers Park resident Hannah Adams, who popped in the neighborhood to meet a friend, summed it up: “It’s eclectic. It kind of has its own vibe.”
Plaza Midwood (located just east of uptown off Central Avenue) has changed drastically in recent years with new apartments and national retailers. But for those who pack the area’s restaurants, bars and music venues, choosing where to pass the time holds weight. Preserving the neighborhood’s artsy and alternative identity factors into which businesses they support every time they eat, drink and shop.
Charlotteans still find pleasure in the area’s classic establishments, even if their prominence is fleeting.
“I still feel like the neighborhood has good soul,” said Danielle Moody, who has lived in Plaza Midwood for eight years.
Moody chose The Workman’s Friend on a humid July evening to watch a World Cup game. The popular neighborhood pub at 1531 Central Ave., opened in Plaza Midwood in 2015, and its convenience keeps Moody coming back.
The people who work at these neighborhood establishments are no strangers to Plaza Midwood, Moody said. They jumped around the area’s commercial district as places shuttered. So, did customers.
After popular pool hall Elizabeth Billiards closed in 2020, Moody’s friend began to work at Diamond Restaurant instead. Now, Moody frequents the restaurant, with roots back to 1945, for a burger and the joy of familiar faces. At these neighborhood spots, she often sees someone she knows without even planning to.
“The people that hang around here have been hanging around here for many years,” Moody said.
But national chains have attracted newcomers. Kenna Shelton, who moved to the neighborhood in 2023, said Plaza Midwood’s additions bring more things to do.
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Not everyone agrees. Moody said Plaza Midwood has strayed from a culture that supports the arts and local businesses, especially compared to its northern neighbor, NoDa. After trying Commonwealth’s new Japanese-inspired restaurant Uchi, Moody said the establishment “catered to a different crowd,” with its valet parking and draw of people outside Plaza Midwood, than her neighborhood favorites, including The Diamond and The Common Market.
“They feel very local,” Moody said of these Plaza Midwood cornerstones. “They have the people that actually live in the neighborhood and artists that are creating for the neighborhood.”
Rita Snead, who grew up in Plaza Midwood, witnessed new condos and restaurants replace local classics like Zada Jane’s Corner Cafe, where they used to work. Snead wants to make sure their dollars go toward keeping the places they care about open.
Matt Sexton, who was walking with Snead, said the people who once made the place “cool” have since been displaced.
“When we’re talking about serious social issues like gentrification, part of going to Plaza Midwood is to show up and keep it weird,” he said. “Be present. To take up space.”
A handful of gems remain where locals gather.
Moody still remembers the first time she went to Petra’s — it was nearly a decade ago for Su Casa, an Afro-fusion dance party. The 2007 establishment is more than just a bar. It hosts karaoke nights and live music from bluegrass to psychedelic soul
“It’s very reliable. These things are always happening,” Moody said. “It really shows the culture of the neighborhood.”
Other hallmarks include The Common Market and Snug Harbor, said Greg Russell, who’s hung out in Plaza Midwood for over 30 years. While the neighborhood changed, the character of these establishments did not — and that’s what he likes about them.
Russell said local joints maintain a commitment to music and culture. Petra’s art gallery transforms into a vintage market on weekends, and Snug Harbor hosted the Charlotte Punk Flea Market a few months back, helping keep Plaza Midwood’s funky, eclectic vibe alive.
“It’s becoming more developed, especially in (the Commonwealth) corner,” Russell said, “but I think it’s still a fun place to hang out.”
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