Charlotte jewelry brand KIKI will open its first permanent store at Camp North End on Aug. 16.

Why it matters: Known for its waterproof and hypoallergenic gold-filled jewelry, the pop-up-turned-permanent shop joins a growing list of local businesses in one of Charlotte's most talked-about developments.

What to expect: KIKI's products are all 18-karat gold, filled with a stainless steel base.

• The brand is primarily known for its gold hoop earrings but offers everything from rings and pendants to anklets.

• Last week, Cox launched KIKI's "brother brand" called "Daddy," which sells gender-neutral accessories that lean more masculine-looking.

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Life is Sweet is expanding its footprint in the Charlotte market.

First up for the old-fashioned candy store is a Camp North End location, set to open Aug. 1. It will be at 701 Keswick Ave., suite 104. Expect a community-focused sweets shop with a mix of bulk candy, chocolates, retro treats and gifts.

“Our brand is all about connection and celebration,” says Tracy Gunn, founder. “We want this to be your candy store — the one you bring your kids to, the one you visit for a treat after school or on a Friday night. We’re building something that feels like home, and Camp North End just fits.”

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Minnesota-based Centene Corp. (NYSE: CNC) has renewed its local office lease at the Camp North End adaptive-reuse development.

The Fortune 50 health-care company signed a lease renewal earlier this month for its 37,129-square-foot space at 1701 N. Graham St. in Camp North End’s Keswick District. The lease term was not immediately available. Centene first leased the space in 2020 and took occupancy in 2021. The Charlotte office now employs several hundred people.

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The developer behind Camp North End has successfully refinanced the first multifamily community built as part of the adaptive-reuse complex.

Atco Properties & Management closed July 7 on a three-year, $66 million bridge loan for Kinship, a 301-unit, 240,390-square-foot community at 110 and 115 Razades Way, said Damon Hemmerdinger, co-president of Atco Properties & Management.

Hemmerdinger said Atco, in partnership with Los Angeles-based Standard Communities, is working on Camp North End's second multifamily project. Standard Communities filed a land development construction plan in late June with the city of Charlotte. According to the filing, the project will be located on the north side of the development at 921 Woodward Ave. and include up to 141 apartment units.

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ATCO Properties & Management closed on a $66 million refinancing for Kinship, the first multifamily buildings to rise at Camp North End, a 76-acre adaptive reuse development located just north of Uptown Charlotte. 

ATCO secured a three-year bridge loan from Benefit Street Partners. Mark Gallinaro of WelcomeLend sourced and secured the financing. Partners within the Kinship project include opportunity zone funds sponsored by Tishman, Altes Capital, and Blueprint Local.

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Voyage, a new women's boutique dedicated to all things travel, recently opened in Camp North End.

Why it matters: The locally-owned business is not just a retail store. It's part boutique, part travel agency, part social club.

The vibe: The 2,285-square-foot space, in Camp North End's Boileryard District, aims to be a destination for women who love to travel, want to travel more, or simply connect with a community of like-minded adventurers, explains owner Ophelia Allman.

What to expect: Shelves filled with practical travel products, such as Cotopaxi backpacks and cooking sets for nomads, as well as globally inspired decor and apparel. Everything is primarily sourced from women-owned brands worldwide.

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A new sweet spot is joining the food and drink lineup at Camp North End.

Oh My Ganache, a family-run bakery known for its specialty cheesecakes, is officially setting up shop in its first permanent location in the space formerly home to Wentworth & Fenn — which closed around the holiday season.

Though this is the cheesecake bar’s first location, owner and Charlotte native Brittani Sheppard has been serving up her sweets since 2019, inspired by her late grandfather’s sweet potato pie recipe. Now, it’s a full family-run business focused on cheesecake.

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The new concept is the seventh and final live/work retail unit to be leased at The Kinship, a new apartment complex at Camp North End.

How Sanguine, a “food-centered experience” concept,” will open at Camp North End on June 14 with a public launch party.

Launched in 2024 by personal chef Montrel Little and influencer Chann Litte, the concept will host culinary events, private dining experiences, and hands-on cooking classes.

The aesthetic, according to a release, will blend Southern hospitality and Black and queer culture. “Our vision is to create a safe, luxurious third space — a home for creativity, connection, and culinary exploration,” Chann said in a statement.

Montrel is known for his viral recipes on the social media platform TikTok. “With a growing community of over 400,000 followers, we are redefining what modern dining experiences can feel like: intentional, artistic, and deeply human,” Little said in a statement.

Montrel will helm the culinary-focused side of the business while his husband, Chann, will manage operations and content.

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Surefire Market is a modern bodega opening at Camp North End inside the former Leah & Louise spot this summer.

Why it matters: Surefire Neighborhood Market was a popular food stop in Rock Hill before a fire destroyed it last July, the Observer reported. Its owners took their smash burgers and fried chicken sandwiches on the road, and their food truck quickly built a fan base in Charlotte.

Context: Surefire Market  is the brainchild of brothers Magloire Lubika, Joel Lutuangu and Edric Lutuangu, who grew up running their family's longtime west Charlotte convenience store Jeman Express.

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One of the best places to experience this newfound creative energy is Camp North End, a former Ford Motor Co. factory and missile production plant that’s now a 76-acre playground home to more than 60 shops, restaurants and small businesses, with vibrant murals covering seemingly every door and dumpster and wildflowers blooming between the abandoned railroad tracks. Grab a coffee or wine at HEX and go for a wander. 

“There’s a surprise and delight factor here,” Olin said. “You never quite know what you’re going to get.”

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