Author: Brian Perry

🍔 🏆 2 Gals Kitchen Wins 2023 Cabarrus Burger Madness

Written by Brian Perry on April 4, 2023. Posted in Food & Drink.

🌽 🌶️ 2 Gals Kitchen in Downtown Concord scored their second victory with the Mexican Street Corn Burger which featured two smash patties, Mexican street corn, green chili queso cheese, guacamole, and chipotle mayo. 2 Gals won the Cabarrus Burger Madness challenge in 2022 as well. “This year’s lineup was nothing short of exceptional resulting in participating restaurants selling a combined total of more than 4,800 delectable burgers throughout the month,” said Donna Carpenter, Cabarrus County Convention & Visitors Bureau President and CEO. The Cabarrus County CVB launched Cabarrus Burger...

🧔🏻 💥 💥 Beardy Weirdy to Host Comic Book Convention May 6th 💥 💥

Written by Brian Perry on April 4, 2023. Posted in Shopping.

Contributor: Jamie Richardson In addition to presenting Concord Micro-Con, Chris Rigo also has retail space with over 7,000 comic books for sale at The Depot at Gibson Mill. Chris is the “beard” behind Beardy Weirdy’s, and he is one passionate comic book collector. Collecting since he was 8 years old, he has amassed more than 20,000 comics in his personal collection. 🤯 He prides himself on having the largest selection of back issues for sale in Cabarrus or Rowan County at his retail location inside the Depot at Gibson Mill. He is always in the market to purchase collections and welcomes...

🎮 🚗 Former Video Game Developer Advances to Next Level with Family Business

Written by Brian Perry on March 28, 2023. Posted in Shopping.

Ward Childress worked on Guitar Hero and Skylanders before returning home to start a family and work alongside his mom at Ben Mynatt Family of Dealerships. In today’s world, almost every kid plays video games at one time or another. If only they could grow up and get paid to just play games all day! Well, maybe not play them…but what about creating them? That’s exactly the career goal Ward Childress had when he headed to the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in New York to study computer science and pursue his dream of creating video games. Turns out he was REALLY good at it! In fact,...

Farmer’s Market Season Is Here! 🌻 🍅 🥬 🍋 🌻 🍅 🥬 🍋

Written by Brian Perry on March 28, 2023. Posted in Shopping.

Tipsy Hare Ciderworks is bringing a new Spring and Summer Farmer’s Market to Downtown Kannapolis every Saturday morning from April 15th through Aug 26th. The market will take place inside and outside both Tipsy Hare and Old Armor Beer Co. and then continue up and down West Avenue. 🍓 🥩 Market vendors will feature a mix of local fresh produce and meat as well as other local products. There will be plenty for you to see, taste and buy. The Shops on West Ave will also be participating. Why is it important? Tipsy Hare co-owner Kyle Lingafeld said the idea is to “help promote foot traffic and drive...

🥤 ☀️ Healthy Shakes and Teas Served with a Side of Sunshine

Written by Brian Perry on March 28, 2023. Posted in Food & Drink.

Updated 8/23/24: This business has closed. With all the hustle and bustle going on in downtown Concord, we all just need a place to chill and relax…Welcome to Union Street Nutrition! ✨ Serving healthy shakes, energizing teas, and good vibes. What’s on the menu… 🐵 Most Popular Shake: Chunky Monkey. It might sound like a dessert, but it is also good for you! All shakes have less than 1% dairy, 24 g of protein, and 21 vitamins and minerals. 🍓 Most Popular Tea: Berry Happy. The teas are energizing and are more like a clean energy drink than a typical tea because they include antioxidants and are...

🍻 🎉 CBC Celebrates 7 Years of Community and Great Beer

Written by Brian Perry on March 14, 2023. Posted in Food & Drink.

CBC’s Anniversary Celebration on March 17th at 4pm Welcomes the Return of Food Truck Friday, Live Music from Unknown Artist, and a New Beer Release! Cabarrus Brewing Company (CBC) is Cabarrus County’s largest full-scale craft brewery, and it was also one of the first, opening in March 2016. However, it is their commitment to the community, and the community’s commitment to them that has them still raising a glass 7 years later. The CBC Difference… From day one Steve Steinbacher saw CBC as a community gathering spot as much as a brewery. “We wanted a place that brought people together.”...

🥞 Annual Pancake Day Brings Community Together

Written by Brian Perry on March 7, 2023. Posted in Connect.

For 65 years, our community has come together to enjoy pancakes, sausages, and of course Sun Drop during this day-long event to benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Cabarrus County. If you have never been to this event, it really is a special day to share a meal with friends, coworkers, or your family. Check out the photos from last year, courtesy of Michael A. Anderson Photography, to get an idea of what this event is all about. Come by for breakfast, pop in for lunch, or even make attending your dinner plan on March 16th anytime between 6:00am and 7:30pm. 🎒 📓 Funds raised from Pancake Day...

🪖🪖🪖 World War I Exhibit Opens with Generous Donation

Written by Brian Perry on March 7, 2023. Posted in Things To Do.

The “Collecting the Great War” exhibit features over 200 World War I items collected and donated by Dave Goff (pictured above) and supplemented by items from the ECHS permanent collection. Editor’s Note: There is so much new happening in Cabarrus County, but we are also a community that treasures history. Dave Goff was a special friend of ours here at Cabarrus Weekly and we can’t wait to spend time with these items he collected over the course of his lifetime at this exhibit, and we encourage you to take a Saturday afternoon to do the same. The Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society Museum...

📢 💼 Can’t Miss Community-Wide Career Fair Is Like No Other

Written by Brian Perry on March 7, 2023. Posted in Connect.

Cabarrus County Career Connections Day (C4 Day) is a community-wide career fair for job seekers of all ages with access to over 60 CabCo employers! Whether you are seriously looking for a career opportunity for yourself, want to be educated about opportunities for your kids, or just curious about the many companies that operate in Cabarrus County, this is an event you won’t want to miss! C4 Day is a unique opportunity to visit with over 60 Cabarrus County-based employers to learn about jobs currently available and how to prepare for those in their future pipelines! The event will take place...

🎪 🌊 Magical Water Circus Coming to Concord!

Written by Brian Perry on March 7, 2023. Posted in Things To Do.

We are “flying high” over Cirque Italia presenting their Water Circus Gold show at Concord Mills (parking lot near AMC Concord Mills 24) from March 16-19th. ✨⏳ Attendees will travel back to the 1950s to an era of sock hops, drive-in theaters, muscle cars, and poodle skirts in this new 2023 show. The stage holds 35,000 gallons of water that performers dazzle over while thrilling the audience with every move. With this unique feature under the tent, guests will be surprised, for it’s a show of its own! Cirque Italia was created in 2012 by Italian entrepreneur, Manuel Rebecchi and has advanced...

Activities for Seniors to Love this March!

Written by Brian Perry on February 28, 2023. Posted in Things To Do.

Contributor: Jamie Richardson Clearly, Cabarrus County values its seniors because there is SO MUCH to do just in the month of March. We’ve rounded up just a few to spotlight. Senior Health and Wellness Expo: The Whole U Wednesday, March 8, 2023, from 10:30am-2:00pm Get ready to experience top-tier education that fuels the mind, body, heart, and soul! See you on campus! Free health screenings, exhibits, medication disposal, informative displays, door prizes, and refreshments will all be available. Learn about the health and well-being resources available to you! 2023 Cabarrus Senior Games...

🎉 🥂 Dream Come True for West Ave’s Newest Business Owner

Written by Brian Perry on February 28, 2023. Posted in Shopping.

Contributor: Jamie Richardson The Bronzed Beauty Lounge officially opened on West Ave in Downtown Kannapolis on Saturday, Feb 25th! This elevated salon provides luxury services including custom spray tans, facials, and lash extensions. Gigi Palacios is the owner and is an expert spray tan artist, practicing for over five years and LOVING EVERY SECOND. She said, “Opening The Bronzed Beauty Lounge is such a dream come true.” Previously, Gigi worked in the Beauty Bar at Maven Salon for three years before deciding she was ready to go out on her own. She originally looked for space in Charlotte,...

🏃🏿 👟 🏃‍♀️ Lace Up for 5K Season in Cabarrus County

Written by Brian Perry on February 28, 2023. Posted in Things To Do.

Whether you are a seasoned runner looking to cross the finish line first in your age group or a long-time Walk Cabarrus participant striving to complete your first 5K, Cabarrus County has a race for you. Our friends at Walk Cabarrus have compiled a list of 5K races taking place in Cabarrus County this year. Don’t see your favorite race on the list? Help us compile as many races as we can by filling out our online content suggestion form and we will make sure it is included. Not quite ready (or interested) in running? Many of these events have a 1-mile walk or fun run component, so check their...

☕ 🍷 This European-Style Café Has Locals Cozying Up Inside and Out!

Written by Brian Perry on February 28, 2023. Posted in Food & Drink.

Contributor: Jamie Richardson We RARELY encourage our readers to watch a video before reading our wonderful words about a local establishment but consider this virtual tour our way of “setting the table” for this feature. Just be sure to come back to read the rest of the article… 😊 Located in the restored historic Lentz building in the quaint town of Mount Pleasant, Café Lentz greets customers with a warm and inviting atmosphere whether dining inside on the comfy furniture or outside on their double-decker patio. Their menu features something for everyone for any meal of the day: ☕...

Hospice of Cabarrus County Hosts Annual Spring Fling

Written by Brian Perry on February 28, 2023. Posted in Connect.

Saturday, March 25 – 5-10:30pm at the City Club at Gibson Mill Hospice & Palliative Care of Cabarrus County invites you and your friends to attend their 14th annual Spring Fling featuring too MUCH SyLviA. Food, Fun, and Friends The event kicks off with a reception and the opening of a silent auction at 5:00pm. Dinner will be served by The Smoke Pit at 5:30pm, and a live auction takes place at 7:00pm. After that, everyone is invited to hit the dance floor with music by “too MUCH SyLviA.” >> Get Tickets to the Spring Fling! << All sponsorships and ticket purchases benefit the...

Hospitality Group Believes in Making It “From Scratch”

Written by Brian Perry on February 28, 2023. Posted in Food & Drink.

Contributor: Jamie Richardson Scratch Made Hospitality has opened three new food concepts at Gibson Mill Market in the last few months, but they have been creating great food from scratch since right before COVID started. But even a pandemic couldn’t slow these motivated chefs down! 👨‍🍳 When they say, scratch-made, they mean it! From the ice cream at Churn Buddies to the noodles and sauces at Kuni’s Kitchen, owner Ryan Bybee and his business partner David Herzing say, “We believe where our food comes from matters most!” The much anticipated Barcos Sports & Raw Bar opened in Gibson...

Cigar Loft Owner Took His Passion and Made a Living Out of It

Written by Brian Perry on February 21, 2023. Posted in Things To Do.

Updated 8/23/24: This business has closed. Contributor: Jamie Richardson Derek Kilgore has been passionate about cigars for over a decade, which is why he opened The Cigar Loft in January 2020. Whether you are a cigar aficionado or a novice looking to learn more, The Cigar Loft has something for everyone. Kilgore opened his business right before the pandemic and is now surrounded by the courthouse and apartment construction in the middle of downtown Concord. But the oasis he has created, tucked away on the second floor of the building at 76 Union Street, keeps members coming back again...

Cabarrus Chamber Recognizes Outstanding Achievements

Written by Brian Perry on February 21, 2023. Posted in Connect.

Cabarrus County has a vibrant and diverse business community that is led by an outstanding Chamber of Commerce. In addition to hosting dozens of networking events for members to build relationships, they also actively represent the needs of small and large businesses through advocacy work. Each year, at their annual meeting, they also recognize those businesses, nonprofits, and citizens who are leading the way in our community. Take a few minutes to get to know this year’s award winners in these videos produced by Market Street Studios. 🏆 Community Impact Award – El Puente Hispano [watch video] 🏆...