Vote for the best Charlotte bakery + stop for a limited-time pumpkin spice treat
CharlotteFive’s Readers’ Choice bakery race just narrowed to two, and Krispy Kreme is rolling out pumpkin spice for a blink-and-you-miss-it run.
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Meanwhile, Sheetz is planting another flag near Lake Norman, and Southern Living wants you to spend a weekend in Davidson. If you missed today’s CharlotteFive newsletter, here’s what to know to keep up. ☕
CharlotteFive readers started with 40 nominated bakeries. After multiple rounds of voting, it’s down to two finalists battling for the Readers’ Choice crown: Innescas Sweets of Europe and The Sweet Spoon.
Voting is open now through Friday at noon — so grab a coffee, pick a side and make it count. It’s not a scientific survey. It’s a fun way to spotlight the local spots keeping Charlotte in croissants, cakes and other sweet treats. 🥐
👉 Cast your vote in Heidi’s Readers’ Choice bakery finals.
Need to unplug without burning a vacation day? Southern Living recommends Davidson, the North Carolina college town just north of Charlotte, as a lakeside weekend getaway.
The town has an estimated population around 16,000 and is home to Davidson College, a small liberal arts school with just over 2,000 students. Downtown brings old-school streets, a local bookstore, a village shop and a mix of nostalgic and award-winning restaurants. The campus itself is worth a wander, with modern sculptures set against Greek revival architecture.
Southern Living’s suggested itinerary: spend Friday in town, Saturday on Lake Norman and Sunday exploring campus. Start Saturday with a sweet treat from milkbread at the Davidson Farmers Market, where all produce is grown within 100 miles, then head to the lake for kayaking, paddle boarding or pontoon boating. Rentals are available through several businesses.
👉 Read Eva’s full Davidson weekend guide.
Sheetz is growing its Lake Norman footprint. The nine-member Mooresville Planning Board voted unanimously Tuesday to recommend a rezoning for a Sheetz on Alcove Road near Langtree Road, just off the Interstate 77 Langtree Road exit 31.
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Sheetz is known for its made-to-order food and customizable coffee. The convenience stores also offer groceries, touch-free restrooms and free Wi-Fi. The proposed Mooresville store would include a counter-service restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating and a mobile-order drive-up window.
This would be Sheetz’s second Lake Norman area location. In June, the chain revealed plans for its first, a 12-pump station on 2.7 acres at Westmoreland Road and Statesville Road (U.S. 21) in Cornelius. 🛻
👉 Read the details on Sheetz from Joe.
Pumpkin spice fans, you’ve got reason to celebrate. The pumpkin spice Original Glazed doughnut returns to participating Krispy Kreme shops nationwide for four days only, starting today, the Charlotte-based chain shared this week.
The seasonal treat — a pumpkin spice-flavored pastry finished with the brand’s classic glaze — will be available through Sunday, Aug. 30. Grab them individually or by the dozen, while supplies last.
👉 Get the full Krispy Kreme pumpkin spice rundown from Tanasia.
The CharlotteFive newsletter lands in your inbox every day with the best food, things to do and lifestyle news across the Queen City — no endless scrolling required. Sign up here for free. ✉️
Keep up with what’s new, what’s opening and what to eat: @cltfive on Instagram, @cltfive on Threads, @cltfive on TikTok and @charlottefive.com on Bluesky. 💙
This report was produced with the assistance of a proprietary tool powered by artificial intelligence and using our own originally reported, written and published content. It was reviewed and edited by our journalists. To learn more about how The Charlotte Observer is using AI in our newsroom, see our policy here.
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