Chef adding health-focused restaurant to Camp North End's food lineup

 A new wellness-focused restaurant has inked a deal at Camp North End. 

Sage & Citrus will open at the Keswick food stalls in March. That’s located at 1801 N. Graham St., suite 100. It replaces Eggroll Co., which is slated to move to 301 Camp Road this winter. 

Chef Darius Johnson — a military veteran — is behind the fast-casual concept, which looks to redefine eating well while on the go. Expect a menu built around bowls, smoothies, sandwiches and soups. 

All dishes take a health-conscious approach, with a focus on energizing and nourishing diners. There will be macro-counted and seasonal items, with plant-based, vegan-friendly and kid-friendly options. 

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Damon Hemmerdinger
‘Awe-inspiring’: Camp North End showcases over 100 murals

At Camp North End, creativity is at the forefront of its design.

Developers call the 76-acre historic industrial site a “large scale adaptive reuse project.” With over 100 years of local history ingrained in the campus, it’s a place where the past seamlessly melds with the future.

Around every corner, repurposed sculptures and massive murals adorn the old warehouses and sidewalks.

Camp North End will soon unveil its 106th mural at the site.

The latest design is by Charlotte artist Matt Moore — one of the first mural artists to contribute to the space.

Smith says mural artists serve a unique role at Camp North End. As a public-facing artform, he says they often contribute to the sense of community the site aims to cultivate — sparking conversation and inspiration in those who pass by.

“I think that this place is just kind of awe-inspiring,“ Smith said. ”I think that anybody who comes here is kind of just blown away by the scale of the site.”

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Damon Hemmerdinger
Queen City News: Springclean

“I love what I do, I really do,” she said. “It’s just who I am, I don’t’ know how else to explain it.”

Sewing hasn’t always been her thing, but fashion has.

Each item of donated clothing is repaired and resold, recycled, rented or turned into something new.

“What I’m making is wrapping paper,” said CT, sewing together donated fabric samples from an interior design company.

From 2019 through 2024, the shop has diverted 7,000 pounds of clothing from the landfill. That’s not including this year, when they made their biggest move yet — to Camp North End.

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Damon Hemmerdinger
Queen City News: Camp North End's History

The oldest parts of Charlotte’s Camp North End were first developed 100 years ago. For much of that time, what went on there was top secret. 

It wasn’t until a couple of years ago that the barbed wire fence surrounding the property was torn down. Now, it’s all out in the open.

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Damon Hemmerdinger
WCCB: Up ‘n Adam: Surefire Market

Adam Wurtzel went to the new Surefire Market in Camp North End to get a taste of their signature menu items.

Part convenience store and part restaurant, Surefire offers handmade smash burgers, chicken sandwiches, sides and more.  The business is owned by three brothers, whose parents inspired them to follow in their footsteps.

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Damon Hemmerdinger
Room Service Is a Shining Light in a Camp North End That Has Come of Age

If you’d asked me seven years ago whether Camp North End could turn into what it’s becoming, I would’ve rolled my eyes. Back then, I was perched on abandoned factory parts at a Sofar Sounds show, sipping BYOBs in the middle of warehouses that looked like they may be home to a zombie or two.

At the time, the idea of rejuvenating the 76-acre site felt like yet another overly ambitious project — a graveyard of “bandos” foreshadowing the idea that developers maybe had bitten off more than they could chew.

But every return visit chipped away at that doubt. First, it was returning to the familiar water tower corridor known as The Boileryard to buy cacti from an Airstream and realizing a few displaced city favorites had found new homes. Then it was celebrating QC Nerve Editor-in-Chief Ryan Pitkin’s engagement party at NoDa Company Store’s little sister, Canteen.

Later, I placed an order at Gravity Sourdough Pizza Co. for their Friday pizza flights (RIP to the three-mini-pie special, on pause since August).

But my most recent visit sealed the deal: Room Service, the sleek cocktail bar and restaurant that opened in late 2023, proves Camp North End isn’t just a destination — here, it’s a daycation in the Queen City.

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Damon Hemmerdinger
'Like a deli,’ but there's no food at this café moving to new space in Charlotte

Charlotte is getting another café — but it isn’t what you think.

La Bodeguita is expanding its footprint at Camp North End with a new brick-and-mortar space, opening Saturday, Oct. 4, according to a news release sent to CharlotteFive.

The creative wellness studio and craft café has outgrown its post — a vintage Airstream trailer — and will relocate to an 835-square-foot storefront studio at 1824 Statesville Avenue in the coming weeks.

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Damon Hemmerdinger
Surefire Grill: Charlotte’s newest bodega passes the vibe check. Is the food good too?

On my way out of Surefire Market, I ran into its owner, Edric Lutuangu, and decided to ask the question that had lingered since I walked in: What was behind the name “Surefire”?

His answer immediately won me over.

“It means ‘certain to succeed,’” Lutuangu said with a smile. “We want to succeed in everything we do.”

Lutuangu has lived up to the name, building on past family ventures that have thrived and now adding Surefire Market to their growing list of successes.

Honey Butta chicken sandwich

With a name like “Honey Butta,” I figured it was safe to not expect an average chicken sandwich — and I was right.

On the first bite, the sweetness hits first — rich and decadent — before a subtle heat sneaks in, giving the sandwich a kick that lingers just enough to keep each bite exciting. Nestled on a soft brioche bun, it’s a balance of comfort and indulgence, with seasoning that proves someone in the kitchen knows exactly what they’re doing.

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Damon Hemmerdinger