Latest news with #Customshop
Axios
01-05-2025
- Business
- Axios
Customshop chef cooking up new dining spot with Rally owners
The owners of popular pickleball spot Rally and one of Charlotte's best restaurants are teaming up to open a restaurant this summer. Why it matters: Andres Kaifer, the chef-owner of Customshop, will develop the menu for the new spot, located adjacent to the popular pickleball facility. Driving the news: The new restaurant, which does not yet have a name yet, will be located at 117 Southside Dr., the bar/restaurant adjacent to Rally. It will be revamped and will have a separate identity from the pickleball complex. The 2,000-square-foot space can accommodate up to 80 people across its dining room, which features U-shaped booths and an indoor-outdoor bar overlooking Rally's outdoor pickleball courts. Context: The space, previously known as The Annex at Rally, has been mainly used as a private event venue since Rally first opened. What they're saying: "We love the social aspect of food, and this restaurant will help us share our passion for cultivating community, similar to the energy felt at Rally every day," Rally's co-founder, Barrett Worthington, said in a release. Dig in: Expect rotating seasonal dishes designed by Kaifer, who is also the chef-owner of Marianas Tapas, and a new wine bar opening in Dilworth this fall. There will also be a full bar and cocktail list. "Andres's incredible talent and expertise alongside our personal love for Customshop made the choice to work with him clear," said Worthington. Between the lines: The new restaurant's menu will not affect Rally's menu, which was crafted by chef Cory Chunn, a former Top Chef contestant and previously the executive chef at La Belle Helene. What's next: More information, including the name and menu, will be released in the coming weeks.
Axios
18-03-2025
- Business
- Axios
Team behind Customshop to open wine bar in Dilworth
The owners of Customshop and Marina's Tapas are opening a wine bar in Dilworth this fall. Why it matters: The duo behind both restaurants, Andres Kaifer and Alex Bridges, have a knack for bringing international flavors to Charlotte. The new wine bar, which doesn't have a name yet, will be no different. "It's also important for us to introduce people to regions and varietals they haven't had and will love," Bridges said in a statement. Catch up quick: Marina's Tapas is a Spanish tapas food stall in Optimist Hall, featuring recipes from Kaifer's family in Spain. Customshop has a seasonal rotating menu with dishes inspired by North Carolina agriculture and his upbringing in Miami. Yes, but: The wine bar's menu is still being developed. "We designed a concept where [Bridges'] expertise on wine will be the main event, and the food menu can be a culinary playground not tied to any genre," said Kaifer. What to expect: The 1,200-square-foot wine bar and retail shop will open in Mere's old spot in The Courtyard shopping center off Park Road. It'll have bar seating, a large communal table and a patio with outdoor seating. They'll serve wines by the bottle, and it will have an extensive by-the-glass list. "We're creating a place we'd both want to hang out with friends on a free afternoon or night," Kaifer said.
