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Writer's pictureJim Fagan

Plaza Midwood Review: Exploring Charlotte's Historic and Diverse Neighborhood

Located east of Uptown, off Central Avenue, Plaza Midwood is one of Charlotte’s oldest and most historic neighborhoods. Although Plaza Midwood was not formalized until the 70’s, its rich history begins at the turn of the 20th century. Originally developed as a streetcar suburb, the neighborhood flourished throughout the early 1900’s all the way up to the 1950’s. A streetcar suburb is a community that was formed and grew due to the development of a streetcar through the land. Back before the cars we have now, the streetcar paved the way for many suburbs. For various reasons the neighborhood began its decline until the 70’s when a group of its residents banded together to prevent a highway from being constructed through its heart. This association got a “historic neighborhood” designation from the city and ushered in a new wave of reinvestment.




Eclectic and Nature-Centered Design


Today, Plaza Midwood contains an eclectic mix of homes fit for anyone. A plethora of architectural styles include Victorian, Bungalow, Colonial Revival, Tudor, Farmhouse, and even Prairie Style - amongst others.


Midwood Park is centrally located giving all residents easy access. On the eastern side, part of Charlotte Country Club, one of Charlotte’s oldest and most historic, crosses over the border. The country club’s famous golf course was designed by Donald Ross before his passing. Ross designed over 400 courses across the U.S. and Canada including another Carolina legend Pinehurst No. 2. On the south side, Central Ave is home to many great restaurants and other locally owned businesses. 


Plaza Midwood is widely considered one of the most diverse parts of Charlotte. Its residents, homes, and businesses are all charming and unique. 


It was first called Chatham Estates  and developed by Paul Chatham who envisioned it to be a neighborhood of wide streets (The Plaza being the first) with large homes. When Chatham Estates was developed they intentionally ran all of the pipes and wiring through the backyards of the homes. The goal was to make sure no one's beautiful front lawn was ever torn up for repairs or extensions of the utility lines.



Foodies Welcome


On Central and Pecan Avenues sits a remodeled version of the very first popular grocery store, Harris Teeter. Originally Harris Supermarket, and opened in 1936, this grocery store was the first in Charlotte that allowed customers to pick their own groceries. It also was the first to have air conditioning. In 1959 Harris Supermarket merged with Teeter Food Market to become and grew to be Charlotte’s premier grocery store.



One of Charlotte’s famous barbecue joints also got its start in Plaza Midwood, Midwood Smokehouse. One of our city's premier restaurateurs, Frank Scibelli, opened the restaurant in 2011. When looking for a place to plant his new restaurant, Frank says he chose Plaza Midwood because the people are more likely to adopt unusual things compared to other Charlotte neighborhoods.



If you’re looking for some classic Carolina soul food you should head to Dish. You can check it out in our Foodie Review here. If you’re more in the mood for a getaway to Europe give Workman’s Friend a try. It was recently named one of the best authentic Irish Pubs in the United States. There’s a great review of it here.

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