listnorthcarolinabusinesses

Need a unique gift, scrumptious bite, a refreshing pick-me-up, or a little guidance from an expert? The vendors at The Market at 7th Street will having you eating, drinking, growing, and gifting at a whole new level—and a few have even been added to the roster over the past couple years. 

Once you make a loop around these shops, you’ll need no further motivation to come back again and again. But you should know, when you shop, sip, and eat there, you are supporting more than just locally owned and operated small businesses. The vendors at The Market at 7th Street include women, family, and BIPOC owners, burgeoning and first time entrepreneurs, and emerging chefs and artists. These vendors operate in the spirit of collaboration and value sourcing locally. You’ll get good, all while doing good. 

Here’s a guide to everything you’ll find at The Market:

Assorted Table Wine & Shop
This wine shop has something for every palate and budget. Whether you consider yourself an amateur sommelier or if you select your wine by the aesthetics of the label, the Assorted Table has an ecletic selection of wines from all over the world, ranging from $5 up to $1000. While you’re there, check out their selection of vermouth, cocktail bitters, mixers, craft beer and sake. You’ll even find some toys, pop-art, and randomly fun collectibles. 

Be sure to ask about their Wine Club, gifting, and delivery options. 

CLT Find
When you shop at the women-owned, CLT Find, you support over 80 regional makers, artists, and creatives. Here you’ll find curated apparel, jewelry, accessories, souvenirs, beauty, and wellness products, all with a local community feel. This is the spot to shop for unique gifts made in small batches with some heart and soul. 

Not a savvy shopper or short on time? Pick up one of their curated gift boxes. They’ll even customize one for you for any occasion, at any budget.  

Geno D’s Pizza
Charlotte magazine first covered about the father-daughter owned Geno D’s Pizza upon its opening, and the Jersey style pizzeria has been on their “Where to Eat in Uptown,” “25 Best New Restaurants,” and “25 Charlotte Pizzas You Must Try” lists since then. Known for their rectangular, thin crust Grandma Pizza, you also won’t want to miss one of their focaccia sandwiches – good luck choosing between the meatball parm, chicken parm, eggplant parm, or sausage peppers onion parm. 

Whether you refer to GDP as Good Damn Pizza or Geno D’s Pizza, this will become your go-to pizza shop. 

Hip-Hop Smoothies
You may have seen Hip-Hop Smoothies’ food truck across town: The beloved business has now moved into a stall at The Market at 7th Street, along with other spots on Mt. Holly-Huntersville Road and Sharon Amity Road. As its name hints, hip-hop is a major influence on the flavors found here. A couple highlights: “Gin and Juice” (peaches, mango, banana, orange juice, turmeric, and ginger powder);”I Got 5 On It” (almond milk, peanut butter, banana, strawberries, and honey); and “Fight the Power “(coconut milk, blackberries, banana, and protein powder) among others.

The spot also serves frappes, iced coffee, and cappuccinos.

It’s Poppin!
You can’t miss this gourmet kettle corn shop at The Market. Even if it wasn’t positioned right at the front door, your nose would lead you to it. Of the over 60 available flavors, Fried Chicken is the local favorite. But if it’s sweet or spice you crave, try the Milk Chocolate Peppermint, Honey Bourbon Bacon, Hot Wings, Carolina BBQ, or Dill Pickle flavors. Overwhelmed by the options? Have a free sample of all the flavors of the day to help decide. 

The family-owned business can also make customized flavors and colors for any occasion. 

Mad Dash
From the Blackened Shrimp Po’Boy to its Pork Belly Tacos, Mad Dish brought new tastes to uptown this past summer. Chef Corey, who heads up their offerings, has particular caused a stir on Instagram, where photos of his massive chicken sandwich has users drooling: The Dasher Chicken sandwich has a massive piece of buttermilk fried chicken, coleslaw, housemade pickles, and Dash sauce on a challah bun.

Reviews from Yelp hint at its immediate impact: “I am blown away with how delicious everything my wife and I shared,” says one user.

Mano Bella Artisan Foods
It won’t take much convincing that owners Raffaele and Madison Patrizi know authentic, artisanal Italian foods. 

At Mano Bella, you’ll find fresh pastas, breads, taralli (a classic Italian cracker), biscottis, fresh spice blends and more. The couple believes that taking the time to handmake foods from scratch is a priceless aspect of Italian culture. Thankfully, you can bring that delicious authenticity home or send as a gift when you shop at Mano Bella. 

Want it right now? Enjoy a freshly made, customized pasta dish right at The Market in Mano Bella’s “Bottega.”

Momo Station
Don’t be thrown by the name. What those in the Himalayan foothills know as MoMo, we know as Dumplings. And Momo Station is serving them up in their most authentic and delicious form. 

Whether you enjoy spicy or savory dishes, their dumplings come intensely flavored with special hand-crafted sauce. Once you’re hooked on their dumplings, give the lo mein, rice bowls, or Asian tacos a try. All of their Asian-fusion dishes offer a unique blend of aromas and spices that make for a delicious quick bite, or full fledged meal. 

Not Just Coffee
When you grab that cup of joe from Not Just Coffee, it’s more than a liquid delivery of your daily dose of caffeine. It’s an experience. Their educated baristas and innovative equipment offer a beautiful, handcrafted beverage, precisely how you like it. Just a regular cream and sugar drinker? Let the baristas show you something new with their interactive brewing or classes.

There are a lot of coffee options around town. But when you choose Not Just Coffee, you are supporting their local business, along with their local partners, Homeland Creamery and Night Swim Coffee. 

Orman’s Cheese Shop
Whether you are hankering for a delicious grilled cheese sandwich or need to curate an impressive charcuterie, Orman’s Cheese Shop has you covered. With a hearty selection of local and regional cheeses, the shop’s specially trained cheesemongers can provide cut-to-order cheeses, guide you through their offerings, make recommendations, or whip you up a specialty sandwich. 

Orman’s also offers pairing classes, tastings, catering, gift boxes, and team building events. Cheese lovers – this is the spot for you!

Sweet Crunch Waffles
If you’ve ever been to Brussels and bitten into a liege waffle, you know that there’s no turning back. The addictive waffle is made from rising dough mixed with sweet chunks of pearl sugar that caramelize when baked in an iron. Hence, Sweet Crunch Waffles. 

To make your potential addiction stronger, they offer an endless variety of flavor choices including maple bacon, cookie butter crunch, smores, and chocolate stuffed. And they’re not just for breakfast! Come grab one for lunch or even a snack. That sweet crunch is irresistible. 

Viva Raw
If you treat your body like a temple, you’ll love and appreciate the convenience of Viva Raw’s cold pressed juices and raw snacks. If you treat your body like more of a dumping ground, you’ll be amazed to see how a little raw juice delivers a nutritional boost. 

Viva Raw welcomes one and all to experience their products sourced with the freshest ingredients from sustainable farms. With over a dozen different fresh juices and milks, even the pickiest palate can find a nutrient rush at this market stop.

Verde Tribe
It doesn’t matter if you’re a first timer plant owner, a regular horticultural killer, have a seasoned green thumb, or just need a gift. Verde Tribe is your one-stop-shop for bringing some green into your life. 

Perhaps you’ve heard how plants purify the air, help lower stress levels, improve productivity, memory, and concentration. Head to the Verde Tribe shop to bring those benefits right to your home or office without the mess of assembling yourself. Need a hostess gift or to brighten someone’s day? Go pick out a ready-made plant in a beautiful, locally designed planter. Maybe you have some plants that are looking sad and need to some advice to bring them back to lushness. Verde Tribe to the rescue!

COMING UP:

◉ Jimmy Pearls, a popular food truck run by award-winning chefs Oscar Johnson and Daryl Cooper, brings Tidewater-inspired flavors to The Market in September.

◉ Later this year, The Third Rail, a new craft beer bar that celebrates Charlotte’s beer scene, comes to the roster.

◉ To keep up with the latest additions, events, and news at the Market, head to its website or its Instagram account!