Downtown in the News

Spend a day in Concord: More than 20 things to eat, drink, see and do

BY McKenzie Rankin and Danielle Chemtob | Dec. 19, 2023

CONCORD, N.C. (Axios Charlotte) –

Concord, Charlotte’s northern neighbor, is growing rapidly, and that expansion is bringing new businesses and life to the area.

Driving the news: Concord is about 25 miles north of Charlotte and is North Carolina’s 10th largest city, with a population of 109,896 (July 2022). The polulation of Cabarrus County, which Concord is part of, grew at a faster rate in the 2020 census than that of Mecklenburg County. 

Why it matters: The majority of the Charlotte region’s population lives outside of teh city limits. Charlotte’s developmentis fueling demand for new homes and businesses in teh region as a whole.

Here are some ways to eat, drink and play through Concord:

Hometown heroes recognized during annual Celebrate Cabarrus

BY Julie Hinson, TMP | Dec. 11, 2023

CONCORD, N.C. (The Cabarrus County Convention & Visitors Bureau) –

The Cabarrus County Convention & Visitors Bureau honored area hospitality and tourism professionals on Thursday, December 7 at the 10th Annual Celebrate Cabarrus and Golden Helmet Awards event.

“Visitor spending has once again reached record-breaking levels in Cabarrus County and that would not be possible without dedicated, talented and enthusiastic hospitality partners,” said Cabarrus County CVB President and CEO Donna Carpenter. “We’re grateful for the opportunity to recognize their achievements and thank everyone in our industry who works to represent this destination so well.”

Downtown Concord recipents include:

Small Business of the Year – ShoeBeeDo

Hospitality Professional of the Year – Alan Bishop, The Smoke Pit (Concord Downtown Development Corporation, Board Chair)

Unsung Hero – Lisa Baker McCombs, Cabarrus Arts Council

Hometown Hero – Terry Crawford, City of Concord

Get in the Spirit: Local businesses need your support now more than ever

BY Jamie Richardson | June 27, 2023

CONCORD, N.C. (Cabarrus Weekly) –

As many of you know,  Downtown Concord is undergoing a significant transformation. The city has embarked on an ambitious project to revamp the Downtown Streetscape, which promises to transform the area into a more pedestrian-friendly and visually appealing space. While the construction may cause some temporary inconvenience, it is important for the community to continue to support local businesses during this time.

The Downtown Development team is partnering with downtown businesses to create events such as “Christmas in July” to encourage community members to support local. This fun and festive event is designed to bring holiday cheer to the community during the summer months. This event will feature holiday-themed decorations, music, and activities, and will provide an opportunity for local businesses to showcase their products and services.

From historic sites to homemade Cuban food, here’s how to spend a day in Concord for $50

BY: Ebony L. Morman | April 20, 2022

CONCORD, N.C. (CharlotteFive) – While Charlotte is a place where there’s always something fun to do, it’s surrounded by a variety of charming cities that have their own aesthetic and pockets of excitement that can be a breath of fresh air for those who live in the city.

One of HGTV’s most charming small-town downtowns in America is about a 30-minute drive from Charlotte’s city center in Concord, an area that has locally-owned businesses, a street art scene and more. (Cabarrus County is also known for its NASCAR roots, of course. Plus, Concord is the hometown of the Avett Brothers.)

If you’d like to spend an afternoon enjoying a new area, here are five things to do in Concord for less than $50 a day:

HGTV Names Concord One Of America’s Most Charming Small-Town Downtowns

BY: Brittney Melton | February 24, 2022

CONCORD, N.C. (WCCB) — Concord has made HGTV’s shortlist for having one of America’s most charming small-town downtowns.

Downtown Concord made HGTV’s list of the 30 Most Charming Small-Town Downtowns in America. The well-known home improvement and real estate TV network chose Concord for its lively historic district with small-town charm, vibrant art scene, and unique boutiques and restaurants.

Concord is the only city in North Carolina to make the list.

Concord makes the list of “Boomtowns”

BY DAVID WHISENANT | November 8, 2021

CONCORD, N.C. (WBTV) – The City of Concord is one of the nation’s top “boomtowns” according to a new study released by SmartAsset. Concord tied New Braunfels, TX for the No. 14 spot with a score of 89.83 and is the highest ranked city in North Carolina.

The study by SmartAsset looked at data from the 500 largest cities in the U.S. to identify the nation’s fastest growing cities or “boomtowns.” The study scored cities based on seven metrics: population change, unemployment rate, change in unemployment rate, GDP growth rate, business growth, housing growth and change in household income.

Concord’s ranking by SmartAsset follows news of the city breaking into North Carolina’s Top 10 most populous cities for the first time following the release of the latest U.S. census data.

Three new apartment buildings in downtown Concord expected to bring in more than 500 people

BY Sydney Heiberger | August 12, 2021

CONCORD, N.C. (FOX 46 CHARLOTTE) – City leaders and developers in Concord put shovel to ground Thursday and launched work on three new apartment buildings. The Novi Flats, Novi Rise, and Novi Lofts are expected to bring more than 500 people to downtown Concord.

The buildings include 304 units and 15,000 square feet of commercial space. Together, the projects bring more than $70 million in private investment to the city. The three buildings are part of 10 developments currently in the works in Downtown Concord.

Concord Mayor Bill Dusch says now that Concord has several new major developments underway, he hopes the city can stand apart from downtown Charlotte.

‘We want our own identity’ | Concord city leaders plan for growth, maintain small-town feel Unique opportunities are expected to help Concord grow on its own.

By Chloe Leshner | May 27, 2021

CONCORD, N.C. (WCNC) – WalletHub recently ranked Concord, North Carolina in the top 25 fastest growing cities in the country. City leaders say that growth is accelerating.

About 25 miles north of the Queen City, they’re working to make Concord have its own identity, and not just be known as a suburb of Charlotte.

It still has historic charm, but downtown Concord is evolving.

“It’s truly amazing the amount of growth we’re seeing and we’re very fortunate. And we know that,” Steve Osbourne, the Director of Planning and Neighborhood Development for the City of Concord said.

Concord’s cat cafe opens this weekend — how to get reservations

By Jessica Swannie | April 30, 2021

CONCORD, N.C. (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER) – 2020 was a big year for Mac Tabby Cat Café. In March, it celebrated its 300th adoption. In July, it pulled off the purr-fect surprise engagement. In October, it announced its new location that will open in historic downtown Concord.

Now, here comes 2021’s adventures: Mac Tabby Concord will open on Saturday, May 1, 2021. You can book your reservation now on its website.

Concord will be Mac Tabby’s second location, a milestone three years in the making since opening its flagship location in Area 15 in 2017. While walkable, artsy NoDa is now home to the original cat cafe, owner Lori Konawalik is confident that Concord is the ideal spot for its second home.

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