‘I don’t see anything positive’: Five EpiCentre tenants evicted

CHARLOTTE — The demise of the EpiCentre in uptown Charlotte continues.

It was once the hot spot for nightlife in uptown, but the entertainment venue is now rattled with closures and evictions.

The Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office said five evictions have been conducted at the property: Vida Cantina LLC, BF EpiCentre LLC, Sterling Restaurants LLC, CCD V LLC/ Epicentre III LLC and CCD III LLC/ Pavilion LLC.

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BF EpiCentre LLC is Blackfinn, Ameripub. Sterling Restaurants LLC operates Moe’s. The ABC Commission identified EpiCentre Three LLC as Suite and Pavilion LLC as Rooftop 210.

A spokesperson for the sheriff’s office said the evictions were because of nonpayments.

At the EpiCentre, notices from the sheriff’s office are on the doors of Moe’s and Blackfinn. Fencing is inside Vida Cantina. Rooftop 210 is cleared out, and there is a lock on the doors of Suite.

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“There is nothing positive about this,” Murray Edwards II, an EpiCentre patron said. “I don’t see anything positive. Whenever I do come here, it is nothing but fun but for some reason, everything is closed.”

Almost all establishments in the EpiCentre are currently closed. The few that are open include Insomnia Cookies, Mortimer’s, World of Beer and CVS Pharmacy.

“This is just one of the areas that are being hard hit right now, and people should appreciate it more,” LeBaron Frost, another EpiCentre patron said.

Representatives of the five establishments that were evicted could not be reached, but on Wednesday the EpiCentre sent Channel 9 the following statement:

“Epicentre, a prominent destination offering an array of businesses serving the Uptown Charlotte community, is focused on meeting state and local health and safety guidelines of when and how to reopen safely, and provide a positive guest experience as it navigates the reopening during the pandemic. The pandemic has caused significant disruptions to businesses across the country and throughout Charlotte -- including those located at Epicentre. Today there are many businesses operating at Epicentre with others anticipated to reopen. However, prior to the onset of COVID, management was working with some tenants that were not in compliance with their lease agreements and despite these efforts some tenants remained non-compliant and have now closed. Beyond the pandemic and planning for the future, options are being evaluated for Epicentre to ensure that it remains a vital contributor to Uptown and the greater Charlotte region. Epicentre’s web site continues to be updated to reflect open business and their hours of operations along with Epicentre’s health and safety protocols.”

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Cox Media Group