Renowned Black-Owned Restaurant Leah & Louise To Move To Charlotte’s West End

Leah & Louise, a well-known restaurant in Charlotte, NC, is preparing for a relocation from Camp North End to the city’s West End, according to QCity Metro. Owned by Greg and Subrina Collier, the Bayhaven Restaurant Group’s proprietors, the move is part of their broader initiative to contribute to the revitalization of Charlotte’s West Side.

Greg Collier expressed the long-standing plan to bring Leah & Louise to the West End, emphasizing the significance of introducing one of the city’s top-rated restaurants to the area. In an exclusive interview with QCity Metro, Collier mentioned that the project’s specifics, including a pending lease at an undisclosed West End location, are still being finalized. He anticipates the lease agreement to be concluded in the coming weeks.

The Colliers, who reside in the West End, view the relocation as a positive development for the area, characterizing it as the “reemergence of Beatties Ford Road.” Greg Collier acknowledged the historical importance of the Beatties Ford Road corridor and its heritage of Black-owned businesses, expressing hope for the area to thrive once again.

“It’s not just about taking our restaurant to the West End, but we’re taking one of the city’s top restaurants to the West End,” Collier said to QCity Metro. “It’s not just about us. [Leah & Louise has] been mentioned on national restaurant lists, so it’s about what that means…what bringing that kind of restaurant to the West End means for the west side.”

Leah & Louise’s move aligns with the trend of attracting Black-owned businesses to the West End, including establishments like Archive CLT, Mackins Bridal Boutique, 704 Cleaners, and Pauline’s Tea Bar Apothecary. The Colliers see their restaurant’s presence as a meaningful addition to the West End’s evolving landscape.

While the new space will be larger, Greg Collier assured that Leah & Louise would retain much of its original essence, including the signature playlist. Although the menu will maintain its core offerings, there will be slight modifications, such as the introduction of small plate options and enhanced to-go choices, including weekly family-style meals. The couple also envisions incorporating live music, a facet that was not fully realized at the previous location, and catering menu options to better suit the community’s needs for a more inclusive experience.

Greg Collier expressed excitement about the move, stating, “I don’t think the magnitude of being [on the west side] can even be quantified.” He revealed that the restaurant could potentially open by the end of the year, contingent on the construction timelines of the new space. The relocation of Leah & Louise to Charlotte’s West End is anticipated to bring a fresh vibrancy to the local culinary scene and contribute to the ongoing revitalization efforts in the area.

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