{"id":903,"date":"2026-05-30T09:34:11","date_gmt":"2026-05-30T09:34:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/?p=903"},"modified":"2026-05-30T09:34:11","modified_gmt":"2026-05-30T09:34:11","slug":"west-charlotte-applauds-plans-for-resurrecting-excelsior-club-long-time-coming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/?p=903","title":{"rendered":"West Charlotte applauds plans for resurrecting Excelsior Club: \u2018Long time coming\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Inside First Baptist Church-West on Thursday evening, it felt less like a fundraiser and more like a family gathering, a sentiment immediately recognized by those who remember the iconic Excelsior Club<\/a> that was being honored.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIt\u2019s like a family reunion in here tonight,\u201d said Angie Drakeford, whose uncle, Jimmie McKee, founded the club<\/a>.<\/p>\n

About 150 people filled the church space to celebrate the history and potential new beginning for the Excelsior Club<\/a>. The latest plan to revive the site<\/a> includes knocking down the building and rebuilding a near-replica that will be part community gathering space and restaurant and live music venue.<\/p>\n

The church is about a half-mile from the historic two-story, white and black-trimmed building at 921 Beatties Ford Road<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The \u201cCelebration of Life\u201d event honored the landmark that has sat vacant for a decade, its roof caved in, while looking ahead to a promised resurrection.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe room is filled with not only the history of our community but the people who have continued the vision. The vision of their families, the west side and our community,\u201d said neighborhood leader Roslyn Dixon introducing sponsors of the redevelopment project.<\/p>\n

Founded in 1944 by James \u201cJimmie\u201d Robert McKee and his wife, Minnie, the Excelsior Club<\/a> served as Charlotte\u2019s first exclusive nightclub for Black residents.<\/p>\n

During the Jim Crow era and beyond, it was a vital social and cultural hub, hosting iconic performers like Nat King Cole and Louis Armstrong. Beyond entertainment, the club was a cornerstone of nightlife and a primary gathering place for Black political and community leaders to network and develop strategies related to the civil rights movement.<\/p>\n

The club also was recognized nationally as a travel sanctuary for Black Americans, having been listed in \u201cThe Negro Motorist Green Book\u201d<\/a> from 1963 to 1967.<\/p>\n

Architecturally, the building is one of the last remaining Art Moderne-style structures in Charlotte.<\/p>\n

But following integration, club attendance declined. The building closed for repairs in 2016, and never reopened. In 2019, it was added to the National Trust for Historic Preservation<\/a>\u2019s list of 11 most endangered historic places.<\/p>\n

The site has faced multiple failed revival attempts, and is now listed as not being fit for occupation in city property records.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve watched it decay, and it\u2019s time for it to resurrect,\u201d said Thelma Byers Bailey, a former school board member who held her bridal shower at club. Her parents, including her father were longtime members of the club. Walter G. Byers Elementary School is named for her father, who was a principal of Fairview School, an all-black elementary school during segregation.<\/p>\n

Local developer Shawn Kennedy of Kennedy Properties & Development, in partnership with Tim Sittema of Crosland Southeast, is determined to be the one to bring the Excelsior back<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Ken Koontz, one of the club\u2019s former owners, called Kennedy\u2019s plan \u201cbold\u201d and in the \u201cright direction\u201d following in the same spirit of past generations. The goal is ambitious: to build Excelsior back into an arts, civic engagement and hospitality destination.<\/p>\n

The developers have determined the original century-old structure is no longer salvageable.<\/a> The plan involves demolishing the building and constructing a near-replica on the same Beatties Ford Road footprint.<\/p>\n

The replica building will include the second floor and awning, with the addition of rooftop seating, Kennedy said Thursday. While the building footprint is the same, two back lots will provide additional parking, helping to solve an issue that had stalled a previous boutique hotel plan.<\/p>\n

Kennedy, who has had site control of the property for about a year, recently filed a rezoning petition<\/a> through his nonprofit, Historical Excelsior Inc., to develop the site.<\/p>\n

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The property is currently owned by Kenwood Investments, which purchased it in 2019 for $1.35 million. Kenwood also bought two lots behind Excelsior on Sanders Avenue for $325,000 in 2022, Mecklenburg County property records show.<\/p>\n

Kenwood Investments\u2019 plan was to establish a 1950s-designed boutique hotel and museum. Those plans failed<\/a> following a May 2023 community meeting, primarily due to a shortage of parking spaces.<\/p>\n

The total reconstruction cost is now $8.3 million, up from an initial $7.8 million proposal. The project is backed by $3 million in public funding, split evenly between the city and the county, and includes $2.3 million the developers are placing into the restaurant.<\/p>\n

With most of the funding raised, Kennedy said Thursday that $300,000 is still needed<\/a> to fill the gap to \u201crestore the lighthouse on Beatties Ford Road.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a long time coming. We all who we\u2019ve been waiting for,\u201d Kennedy said. \u201cWe were waiting for somebody else when it was this community that needed to bring back Excelsior.\u201d<\/p>\n

The rebuilt facility, expected to open in early 2028, is envisioned as having a dual purpose.<\/p>\n

During the day, it will operate as a living museum, offering free meeting space for nonprofits, John C. Smith University and West Charlotte High School.<\/p>\n

In the evenings, it will revert to its social function as a restaurant and live entertainment venue.<\/p>\n

Marcellie Johnson of the University area said she misses the club\u2019s food and dancing. She\u2019s excited for the new vision.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey need to go ahead and tear it down and rebuild it,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Before filing plans to demolish the building within the next two weeks, Kennedy planned Thursday night\u2019s event to honor the structure. \u201cI would just like to take a moment to think back and remember and pray for what the structure was and all the beautiful members we had,\u201d Kennedy said.<\/p>\n

The sentiment was echoed by others eager to see the revival succeed.<\/p>\n

Charlotte attorney Jay Ferguson, son of iconic civil rights attorney James \u201cJay\u201d Ferguson III, called it a very important vision. \u201cWe need to support this. This is the beginning of something new,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Stanley Wade, who moved to Charlotte 21 years ago, recalled visiting the club for Thirsty Thursdays and Tuesday Fish Fry.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have fond memories of the Excelsior Club, especially during the CIAA (basketball tournament) to get some fish and grits.\u201d He added: \u201cIt was a wonderful establishment, and everyone talked about it and what it meant to the community. I\u2019m excited about the development.\u201d<\/p>\n

City Councilman Malcolm Graham lauded Kennedy for succeeding where others have stalled.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been at this door before trying to get it done. Shawn has gotten it done. I want to congratulate him, and thank him for believing in us. Our history. Our traditions. Our corridor. And he\u2019s not by himself,\u201d Graham said. \u201cIt\u2019s we the people.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shamaiye Haynes, a former nonprofit leader and CMS board member, said the work doesn\u2019t end with the building. \u201cIt\u2019ll be up to us to make sure that it remains,\u201d Haynes said, \u201cand that it is what we want it to be.\u201d<\/p>\n

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This story was originally published May 29, 2026 at 11:40 AM.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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