Put your Amazon Prime purchases on hold and show your support for the local small business community by shopping analog and In Real Life at SOUTH END’S SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY.
How to Do The Day
Take the lightrail or park in one of several options (see below), then start at East-West Boulevard and Camden, arm yourself with a map and directions from a friendly tour guide and set out to explore the great shops, restaurant and art galleries on and around Camden. Pop-up shops will line the street leading you to the brick and mortar shops who will have doors open, music playing, festive snacks and gifts.
Don’t miss some special happenings inside the shops of South End:
Ciel Gallery is hosting the Jingle Jangle Holiday Market at 128 E Park with a great selection of one of a kind, original art; paintings, ceramic sculpture, artisan jewelry and other goodies. They are also offering hot chocolate, gingerbread cookies and complimentary gift wrapping.
Look for two airstreams and a cute craft trailer in the old Phat Burrito parking lot on the corner of Camden and Park, there you can shop The Usual CLT, Crowned Sparrow Co. and Urbean.
Then take the free trolley to the next stop…
2525 Distribution Street, with Dudeapalooza at C3 Lab. 11am – 5pm. Plentiful parking, local shops including Glory Days Apparel, Rebellious Beard, Blue Heel Socks and Johnny Fly Co. featuring gifts for dudes (and no potpourri), and the C3 Biergarten with Triple C beer and food trucks slinging BBQ and taco goodness. Everyone is asked to bring new school supplies to donate to Classroom Central and all proceeds from the beer tent will go to the Charlotte Community Toolbank. Check in and use the #DudeCLT hashtag to show Wilson your cool Dudeapalooza finds!
Then take the free trolley to the next stop…
Lincoln Street, between Church and Mint, where pop-ups will line the streets in front of Magnolia Emporium and next door to Craft Tasting Room and Growler Shop. You can explore music, outstanding curated shopping for gifts, art and decor, and locally crafted beverages. The Unknown Brewing Company will have live music and a food truck starting at noon, you can jump back on the trolley there to grab a bite to eat or back to where you started…
Those #ShopSmall Shopping Totes
The wildly popular #ShopSmall totes from American Express and new hot-off-the-presses South End shopping totes sponsored by the Design District will be available to shoppers at all participating brick and mortar shops in South End. Stop in a shop to ask about them – while supplies last!
In addition to food trucks at some of the shopping spots, South End is home to tons of dining options, take a moment to check out your options and plan for a lunch stop and after shopping drinks.
Here is the full list: Dining in South End
Getting There + Parking Options
There is plentiful parking on-street and off-street throughout South End. Here are a few options:
- Design Center parking deck at Doggett & Hawkins (paid)
- Design Center surface lot at Worthington & Hawkins (paid)
- Little Hardware parking lot at Mint & Bland (paid, $3/day)
- Gravel lot across the street from Little Hardware at Mint & Bland (paid, $3/day, via app)
- Gravel lot at Mint Street between Palmer and Quincy (paid, via ParkIt app)
- Free weekend parking is available on-street throughout South End, try Church, Summit, S Tryon, Camden, Kingston, Hawkins or Distribution streets
- Free parking is available in the surface lots near C3 Lab (2525 Distribution St)
- Free parking is available at the free park-and-ride lots on the light rail line at Scaleybark station, and the stations further south at Woodlawn, Tyvola, Archdale, Arrowood, Sharon Road West, and I-485 S. Ride the light rail for $2.20 per trip or $6.60 for unlimited rides on a day pass
Full details for South End’s Small Business Saturday can be found on Historic South End’s site.
