Scoop and sip: Juice bar and ice cream shop will open in NoDa
A juice and smoothie bar and an ice cream shop are joining Charlotte’s Centro NoDa. They will be part of a curated lineup that includes a Yemeni café, a Philly hoagie restaurant, a children’s boutique and a local clothing store. These retailers will be on the ground floor of the new mixed-use development, which also includes one- and two-bedroom apartments, some as small as 425 square feet, for micro urban living.
The building is just a five-minute walk (0.2 miles) from the light rail’s 36th Street Station, offering shoppers and diners an easy way to explore the new shops. In total, 11,000 square feet of retail will be filled, with spaces ranging from 640-2,850 square feet. Its largest space is still available — intended for a restaurant near the building’s courtyard. “We’ve been intentional about selecting tenants that not only serve the needs of our residents, but also contribute to the culture of the neighborhood,” said Jon Dixon, managing principal at Cedar Square, which is the developer for the mixed-use project. “Centro NoDa is more than just a place to live — it’s a destination, and this tenant mix brings that vision to life.” These shops are designed to complement the developer’s vision of enhancing NoDa’s walkable neighborhood charm.
Here’s what to know about each of the new shops:
Food and drink shops
Opening fall 2025 Instagram: @bayt_almocha Bayt Almocha is a Yemeni coffee shop offering a traditional Middle Eastern café experience. It also has locations in Louisville, Kentucky; and Ann Arbor and Dearborn in Michigan. Its vision is to serve Charlotte’s multicultural community, as well as bring people together over a cup of coffee. Expect handcrafted coffee, pastries and savory sandwiches when it opens. Menu items include: Mocha latte with Bayt Almocha spices, pistachio latte, iced spiced shaken espresso, coffee with cardamom and cream, cappuccino, mocha, and other coffee and espresso-based drinks. Dragon fruit mango smoothie, strawberry acai, pistachio frappe, berry hibiscus juice, and other smoothie and juice drinks. Matcha latte, chai tea and other organic herbal teas. Zaatar comb (honeycomb drizzled with a Middle Eastern spice blend), khamir (a deep-fried Yemeni bead), chocolate croissant, cheese danish, tiramisu and other pastries. “We want to be known as the best place for premium, organic coffee, promoting a sustainable and inclusive coffee culture,” said Fawaz Alabsi of Bayt Almocha.
Opening summer 2025 Instagram: @paletasmorelia You’re already familiar with Morelia Gourmet Paletas, as it has locations in South End, Birkdale Village and Fort Mill. What are Paletas? Paletas are Mexican-style frozen ice cream pops made with fresh natural fruits or rich, creamy ingredients such as Belgian chocolate and Sicilian pistachio. Morelia’s menu has more than 18 different flavors, made with fresh ingredients. Look for paleta shakes, waffle bowls and burritos, vegan dark chocolate and cookie butter, as well as mango, passion fruit and more. Most of its items are gluten-free and it is certified kosher.
Opening summer 2025 Instagram: @puregreen Pure Green is a health-forward juice and smoothie bar focusing on nutrient-rich ingredients. Pure Green serves cold-pressed juices, acai bowls and superfood smoothies. The New York-based franchise opened in 2014 and had 39 locations as of a year ago. Many of its shops are in Florida. Menu items include: Juice blends like Pure Greens ALG (apple, cucumber, celery, romaine, zucchini, kale, spinach, lemon, ginger), Rockin Beet (apple, carrot, beet, lemon, ginger) and Soul Kick (apple, pineapple, lemon, ginger). Cold-pressed juice shots Superfood smoothies including Pure Green, Mocha Cold Brew, Blue Royale, Banana Nut and Pure Berry. Acai and Pitaya bowls made with organic and wild-harvested acai sourced from Brazil, blended with frozen fruits and topped with organic hemp granola, fresh fruits, nut butters, and superfoods. Many of its cold-press juice flavors contain up to five pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Opening summer 2025 Instagram: @original.riccis.hoagies Missing the authentic Italian sandwich shops of the Northeast? Ricci’s Hoagies will come to NoDa straight from Philly, offering meats and cheeses sliced in front of you for your 6-inch roll, 9-inch hoagie, or 18-inch Italian loaf. Its other two locations are both in Philadelphia, in South Philly and Logan Square. Its original location was opened by Carlo Ricci in 1920, and the shop remains family-owned. It’s also popular on Goldbelly, so you can brag to your out-of-town friends that you no longer have to pay for shipping to experience this slice of Italian-American culture. Menu items include: Antipasta, Buffalo chicken, Italian, pepper ham, prosciutto, roast beef, turkey and other hoagies Vegetarian hoagies including roasted peppers, with options to add eggplant and cheese Chicken cutlet hoagies with the option to add cheese, including sharp provolone. “We can’t wait to get involved in the community in NoDa by actively participating in local initiatives and events and making meaningful connections that go beyond just serving hoagies,” said Tod Garofalo, the local franchise owner and operator.
Clothing and boutique retailers
James+Joy Open now Instagram: @shopjamesjoy When it opens, James+Joy will be NoDa’s first children’s boutique, selling gifts, educational toys, and special-occasion clothing for babies and toddlers. The store will be focused on offering items that are both ethically-sourced and trendy. “We’ll be a destination where you can stop in for last-minute gifts for new babies or moms but also where kids choose to come after acing a test or scoring a goal,” said co-owner Kiki Poland. Queen & Cotton Open now Instagram: @queenandcotton West Coast vibes meet NoDa streetwear at
Queen & Cotton, Open now Instagram: @queenandcottona new local clothing retailer that promises clothing with “irreverent takes.” The West Coast influence compliments Charlotte’s eclectic style, its website states. T-shirts include sayings like: “Oh no, not another brewery.” “Another day in Paradise” with the city skyline behind a drunk skeleton atop a panther. “Queen City State of Mind.” “Our goal is to contribute to the artistic vibes of the neighborhood with our irreverent takes on life in Charlotte with our shirts, hats, and art prints,” said co-founder Travis Blain. The shop sells short and long-sleeved tees, kids’ shirts and onesies, trucker hats and beanies, stickers and more.
Centro NoDa Location: 715 E 36th St, Charlotte, NC 28205 Instagram: @centronoda A version of this story published on Nov. 14, 2024, and it has been updated.
https://www.charlotteobserver.com/charlottefive/c5-food-drink/article305332591.html#storylink=cpy