JJ’s Red Hots’ Dilworth location

JJ’s Red Hots will be serving up its tasty hot dogs and sausages from a new location at 400 S. Tryon next year.

The Queen City’s self-proclaimed “hot dog joint” signed a lease for 1,500 square feet of space in space across from Romare Bearden Park. JJ’s already has locations in Dilworth and Ballantyne as well as a food truck.

According to the JJ’s web site, the restaurant serves sausages and hot dogs from Sahlen’s, a brand that has been around since 1869. JJ’s offers a variety of house made toppings for its sausages and dogs, including homemade chili.

JJ’s will share space in the renovated 400 S. Tryon location with Rhino Market and b.good restaurant. The new space is expected to open somewhere between spring and summer 2017.

400 S. Tryon, which is owned by Trinity Capital Advisors and DRA Advisors, currently is under renovation. The 33-story building in the Third Ward recently opened its newly renovated lobby and fitness center. The building is currently 90% leased.

East Boulevard is the heart of Dilworth and is the main thoroughfare with restaurants, retail shops and everyday necessities close at hand. Dilworth’s borders are formed roughly by Morehead Street, South Boulevard and Ideal Way to Freedom Park.

The neighborhood’s charm comes from its many 1920s to 1940s homes that have been converted to local businesses and offices as well as the residences that have been lovingly updated and renovated. The neighborhood is mainly bungalows, however, there are a few Queen Anne and Colonial Revival homes.

Dilworth’s side roads and Dilworth Road East and West have sidewalks shaded under centuries old oaks, making the neighborhood a comfortably walkable place to enjoy the outdoors and the lush, mature landscaping surrounding homes.

Carolinas Medical Center, the area’s only level 1 trauma center, is located on the edge of Dilworth and is just a few minutes away from any point in the neighborhood.

Dilworth borders neighboring Sedgefield and South End, which is home to some fantastic restaurants, shops and breweries. People living on the west side of Dilworth can take advantage of LYNX light rail service into Uptown or toward Pineville. Even without light rail, Uptown is just a short walk, bike ride or drive!

Dilworth’s central location and beautiful homes make it one of the most sought-after neighborhoods in the city. A renovated home or new construction in the neighborhood can easily cost upward of $1 million.

In the last 12 months, a total of 109 homes have sold in Dilworth. Sales prices ranged from $250,000 to $1,624,750, with an average sales price of $731,306 and $282 per square foot. Those sales averaged nearly 98% of list price; many homes sold at or above full list price.

There are currently 32 homes listed for sale in Dilworth, which are a mix of new construction and older, renovated homes. Ten of the properties are under contract as of Sept. 25. List prices range from $387,000 for a 1941 bungalow to $1.34 million for a brand-new modern craftsman home.

Dilworth is zoned for some of Charlotte’s top-rated schools – Dilworth Elementary School, Alexander Graham Middle School and Myers Park High School.

A loss for real estate developer Pulte Homes is a win for the Sedgefield neighbors who want to see the green space remain in their community.

Mecklenburg County commissioners voted in favor of asking Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools to not sell the 3.7-acre plot of land for a townhome development, according to an Observer report.

In addition, the commissioners OK’d purchasing the land with money slated for the school system, should CMS decide to go against commission wishes and sell the land. The county has right of first refusal on any CMS sale.

The popular in-town Sedgefield neighborhood has seen rapid growth and density increases in recent years. Residents of the Sedgefield and nearby Dilworth neighborhoods were largely against the sale that would take away a large chunk of green space near Sedgefield Neighborhood Park and Sedgefield Middle School.

With the South Boulevard corridor also seeing exponential development due to added light rail service and residential construction, the 3.7 acres on McDonald Avenue south of Ideal Way, is one of the last green spaces in the neighborhood.

Pulte offered more than $3.8 million to buy the land for a townhome development of approximately 30 residential units.

Interested in some popular Sedgefield real estate? There are older and newer homes alike on the market in beautiful Sedgefield!

A aerial computer rendering of the 300 North Tryon tower.

National boutique hotel company Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants announced it is bringing 2 hotels to the Queen City as part of the company’s plans to expand in the southeast, according to a company press release.

One of the hotels, Charlotte Kimpton, is to be located at the corner of Third and Church streets as part of  Spectrum Properties’ planned mixed-use development 300 South Tryon. The 18-story hotel will have 216 rooms, 9,200 square feet of meeting space and rooftop bar.

Charlotte-based Catellus Group is developing the second Kimpton Hotel location in Dilworth. Catellus purchased the 1.2 acre site at the corner of East Worthington and Cleveland avenues for $2.5 million in mid-2014.

At the time of the purchase Catellus announced it planned an upscale hotel with a restaurant, pool and skyline views.  According to the Kimpton press release, the “lifestyle boutque” hotel will be a six-story, 128-room hotel at the site, which is a block from the light rail station.

The Dilworth location is to be called The Worthington. It will have 4,500 square feet of meeting and event space, a fitness center, an outdoor pool and bar and a rooftop lounge.

“Charlotte has long been a financial and cultural hub; it’s always been on our radar as a city that admirably balances both history and modern day appeal,” said Kimpton CEO Mike DeFrino, in a statement. “Travelers to Charlotte have missed a true boutique experience and we’re excited to be in a position to offer two distinctive hotels that bring Kimpton’s heartfelt hospitality to this special city.”

Kimpton has 66 boutique hotels in 34 cities nationwide. Tentative plans are for the hotels to open in 2017.

Yiasou Greak Festival 2015

It’s that time of year again– the leaves are starting to fall, football season has begun and Autumn wreaths are hung on doors– so get ready for some delicious Greek food, music and dancing… that’s right, synonymous with fall in Charlotte is the best Greek Festival in the Southeast, the Yiasou Festival.  The warrior reenactments are so much fun to watch and the folk dance performances are also very entertaining, you’ll want to get up and dance too!  Admission is just $3 and children under 12 free.

Greek Fest has been a Charlotte tradition since 1978 when Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral first held the festival in the heart of Dilworth.  Since then the Yiasou Festival has become one of the Queen City’s most popular cultural events.  Drawing huge crowds each year, many Charlotteans eagerly await Charlotte’s first festival of Fall. Yiasou  is the Greek word for Hello, Goodbye and Cheers and you will certainly feel cheerful at the festival.  Featuring Hellenic cultural exhibits, to-die-for Greek food, Cathedral tours, entertainment, art, shopping and more, Yiasou will not disappoint!  Fun for the entire family, this is Charlotte’s time of year to embrace all things Greek.