Dandelion Market to close in Uptown and reopen as a food truck

Dandelion Market's last day in Uptown will be Sunday, July 21. The restaurant and bar has called 118 W 5th St. home for more than a decade but will leave due to a 60% rent hike, co-owners Tommy Timmins and Maynard Goble tell Axios.

Why it matters: Rising rent has weighed on several local businesses as Charlotte grows — from Soul Gastrolounge in Plaza Midwood to Central Coffee in South End and now Dandelion Market.

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Zoom out: In the years since Dandelion Market opened in early 2010, the business became an Uptown hotspot, known as much for its late-night DJs and dancing as for its weekend brunches.

Context: In recent years, Dandelion Market endured both the pandemic and rising inflation. But a rent hike of this magnitude wasn't doable, Timmins tells Axios.

• "We're lucky to have options," Timmins says.

State of play: Dandelion Market will be reborn as a food truck, for now. The goal is to eventually reopen Dandelion as a brick-and-mortar spot.

• Until then, you'll see the food truck around town and at its sister bar, Tyber Creek Pub, once the popular bar opens its new home on Mint Street .

Between the lines: All profits Dandelion Market makes on its last day will go to the staff, the owners say, which is also what they did when Tyber Creek closed in March.

• Staff will have the opportunity to work at the owners' other establishments, including Workman's Friend in Plaza Midwood and The Daily , Prohibition and Connolly's on 5th in Uptown.
• Their other locations aren't due for a lease renewal any time soon, the owners say.

What's next: The owners are in the process of securing a food truck, Timmins says, and they're waiting on a permit to move forward with Tyber Creek.

What to expect: Dandelion Market's food truck will include a few staples like cherry glazed lamb lollipops, pork belly and sweet potato gnocchi, plus seasonal favorites like the charred Brussels sprouts. The restaurant's chef and back-of-house team will remain.

Pork belly ($14). Photo: Ashley Mahoney/Axios Sweet potato gnocchi ($11). Photo: Ashley Mahoney/Axios Charred Brussels sprouts ($10). Photo: Ashley Mahoney/Axios Cherry glazed lamb lollipops ($24.5). Photo: Ashley Mahoney/Axios Photo: Ashley Mahoney/Axios

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