Excelsior Club plans falter yet again. Historic Charlotte site likely to get new owner

In the latest in a series of setbacks for a once-prominent cite for the city’s Black community, redevelopment plans for the Excelsior Club have fallen through again and property could have another owner by next year.

Redevelopment of the Beatties Ford property had been in the works since 2020. But on Thursday, city Councilman Malcolm Graham told The Charlotte Observer, those plans had fizzled.

“The ownership of the property may change hands in the next three to four months,” he said.

The Excelsior was Charlotte’s first private club for Black residents when Jimmy McKee opened it in 1944 during segregation. The west Charlotte club was a political and social hub of the community, with legendary musicians performing there like Louis Armstrong and Nat King Cole . But in 2016 as business was declining, Excelsior closed for repairs and never reopened.

The club has had several owners through the years.

In December 2019, California-based company Kenwood Investments purchased the club for $1.35 million, including $250,000 in public and private funds with the city of Charlotte , Mecklenburg County commission, Knight Foundation and Foundation for the Carolinas. Graham said those commitments are still there.

Kenwood’s plans called for a 1950s-designed boutique hotel with about 60 rooms, full-service restaurant, small museum and interior courtyard for live music. Standing independently would be an Excelsior building that respects the architecture of the original 1940s building.

But in May 2023 during a community meeting at a local library, Kenwood CEO Darius Anderson said the project was short 15 to 20 parking spaces and he was working with the city on the issue. But nothing has changed since.

Graham said he has not talked to the owners since that community meeting but city staff has.

“A lot of time has gone by since that meeting,” Graham said. “I think he has made a business decision to move on from the project.”

Kenwood Investments officials did not respond to requests for comment Thursday.

Graham said he hopes that any new plans for the Beatties Ford Road property will anchor the redevelopment happening in the Beatties Ford Road corridor off Brookshire Freeway.

“I would like to see someone who wants to invest in the corridor and bring back music or food or entertainment that would demonstrate a wink and nod toward the legacy, history and tradition of what the facility once was,” Graham said. ”I don’t think it’s a redevelopment of the four walls but of the site.”

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