Developer plans to revitalize Charlotte’s historic Excelsior Club

CHARLOTTE, NC — Everything old is a new again. A historic club that catered to African-Americans in west Charlotte, could be coming back.

In the historic Washington Heights neighborhood, sits a decrepit building surrounded by fencing. Not long ago, this was one of the most famous clubs in the Queen City.

The Excelsior Club’s history started in 1944 as the city’s first black nightclub. It remained that way for decades until it closed in 2016 when repairs became too costly for the previous owner.

The property has changed hands a couple of times and is now owned by Kennedy Property and Development who presented their plan to county commissioners by Zoom on Wednesday.

The project is expected to cost about $8 million. The developer is asking the city and county to each chip in $1.5 million.

Charlotte City Councilman, Malcolm Graham, believes that money will improve the Beatties Ford Rd area which has already seen some change by bringing in a couple of new banks but it still needs a lot more.

“There’s no sit down restaurants on Beatties Ford Road. This will create that Betty Ford Road is still considered a food desert. This will help address that,” said Graham.

The projected opening is 2028. Graham believes there’s some rezoning the city can do to speed up the process for a 2027 opening.