Plaza Midwood slowly turns into an open-container neighborhood

Plaza Midwood businesses say the neighborhood's social district is gradually growing with about 3,000 cups either sold or on bar shelves since the program's launch four months ago.

Why it matters: The social district rollout seems to have quickly squashed any fears Central Avenue would turn into Bourbon Street, but it also hasn't proven to be a huge boost for businesses as promised — at least not yet.

Yes, but: Plaza Midwood Merchants Association intentionally kept the launch low-key to meet the demand for cups.

• "We're very happy with the foundation that's been laid," the association's executive director Jason Michel tells Axios.

Catch up quick: Social districts are newly legalized areas throughout North Carolina where patrons can sip alcoholic drinks in the streets.

• In Plaza Midwood, Charlotte's first social district, one must buy a specific reusable metal cup. They can then carry their drink within the district boundaries and inside shops that allow them.
• Plaza Midwood's social district launched in early March after a tedious, lengthy city approval process.

By the numbers: The 3,000 cups add up to about $9,000 for participating businesses, when taking into account the cost of the cup ($5) and the amount they sell for ($8), but not including the cost of the drinks, according to the Merchants Association.

• Members of the association got their first 50 cups free.

What they're saying: Que Onda 's owner Manny Flores says the first month of the social district was slow, but it picked up in April with about 15 to 20 cups purchased weekly. Sales jumped in May to about 50 to 60 cups a week because of Cinco de Mayo and Mother's Day.

• In June, Que Onda expects its weekly count to be about 25 to 30.
• "We had our doubts about the organization with the metal cup," Flores says. "We haven't seen any of those issues actually. It's pretty organized."

Legion Brewing's cup sales have held steady at about 50 dispersed weekly. Most patrons are buying their first cup.

• "I would say for every 10 cups I sell, two people are probably doing an exchange," says Mary Saric, Legion's general manager, referring to the ability of patrons within a social district to refill/exchange their cup for a new one.
• Legion hasn't noticed problems with customers bringing in outside beverages or taking advantage of the program, Saric says. CMPD hasn't reported any issues either.
• "People are taking the time to educate themselves and are taking the time to listen when my staff is educating them about how the social district works," Saric says.

What's next: Participating businesses hope the district will gain momentum as other restaurants and bars join the program. If cups are sold everywhere, they'll feel the social district is more successful.

• For various reasons, not all establishments opted to participate. Some just wanted to see how the rollout went first. Others didn't want to deal with the insurance requirements.
• Organizers have worried the city was enforcing too many extra rules that would make the program more trouble than it was worth. For example, the 10pm curfew makes it relatively pointless for bars.

Zoom out: A list of other Charlotte neighborhoods , including South End , have considered implementing social districts.

The bottom line: "It seems to be what we'd hoped. Just a nice, positive amenity to the neighborhood," Michel says of the district. "It really does make the whole district feel like a patio."

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