As the buildout for Ames Street Marketplace continues, owner Rob Jacik has shared with What Now Charlotte that The Back Corner will be one of the tenants heading to the marketplace.
The project, which is anticipated to open early next year, will have multiple tenants in addition to Jacik’s own Carolina Beer Temple, which will be undergoing an expansion at the site. Chef Erick Crawford has also been announced as a tenant, expected to bring Chop Chop Red Pot to the marketplace.
The Back Corner will take over a 300-square-foot bar space, owner Brian Lewis told What Now Charlotte.
“For Ames Street, we’re going for a holistic experience, so we have a little bit of everything for everybody,” Lewis said. “Rob has the taproom in the front and there are food options all over the place. Our component of that will be the cocktails.”
The Back Corner will focus on serving drinks to guests at the marketplace, featuring a beverage program of traditional spirited cocktails and zero-proof cocktails. Customers can also expect seasonal cocktails.
The marketplace is designed to have an open floor plan, where guests can wander from business to business. Lewis said he is excited about the concept, which he believes provides a new experience for people in Matthews seeking a marketplace similar to Optimist Hall or The Market on 7th Street.
“You can hang out at some of the tables near us. You can grab a cocktail and then go get a beer from Beer Temple and stay at one of the tables in the center,” Lewis said. “It’s a very social experience in the whole space.”
The Back Corner will open at 215 North Ames Street alongside the other concepts in the pipeline when construction on the marketplace is complete. Jacik told What Now Charlotte that he hopes to be ready to open the new space in January or February.
“I really like the idea of everybody in one space and they’re all separate businesses working to provide one experience,” Lewis said. “That’s just a cool concept for me.”
Emily McGinn is a passionate writer from the Los Angeles area. She has experience reporting on local news and the restaurant industry, and in multimedia writing for podcasts and videos. In her free time, she enjoys exploring restaurants and finding new coffee shops to try.
