Meet 3 Black Innovators Redefining Charlotte’s Cultural Scene

This is your sign to book a trip to an affordable destination that’s bustling with new opportunities, mouthwatering cuisine, and a rich history. Charlotte has become the rising star of the Southeast, and it’s not hard to see why. The rapidly growing Queen City is home to entrepreneurs and creatives who are passionately celebrating and preserving Black culture while driving a new era of innovation.  There are plenty of cities across the US with trendy coffee shops, but only Charlotte has a Black-owned, unofficial meeting spot for locals and culture-centric travelers. Archive CLT is a coffee and culture shop that serves every cup with a side of nostalgia. Every inch of the space showcases ephemera like vintage magazines, VHS tapes, and even Black dolls, turning the coffee shop into a safe haven for Black culture. “I would describe [Archive CLT] as what some beauty parlors were in the ‘90s and what some barber shops currently are,” explained Charlotte native and Archive CLT owner,...