Businesses pull out of lease in new downtown Matthews building

MATTHEWS, NC — Towards the end of downtown Matthews, sits a vacant building.

It used to be a community favorite gas station at the corner of E John and Trade Streets. It was torn down a few years ago by a developer and rebuilt for restaurant and retail space. The move didn’t sit well with people living and working in Matthews.

“I was kind of upset when they got rid of the gas station and then I drive by the building daily, and there’s no occupancy. What is the point of that?” questioned Laurie Bruce.

Last April, we told you that a coffee shop and a burger joint signed leases for the building. More than a year later, town officials tells WCCB those businesses pulled out of their leases and there’s been no inquiries from other potential businesses wishing to locate there.

The building remains unfinished. The building created for the growth of the town, now has a massive weed growing out of it. Taking up a lot of space that could be used for something else needed downtown.

“Also the waste of space and parking, because we can’t find places to park around here. So you have a building that I’m sure they spent a lot of money on. No occupancy. It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me,” explained Bruce.