24 years ago, he started photographing Charlotte landmarks. How many of these iconic places are left?

In 2001, fourth-generation Charlottean Andrew Taylor picked up his camera and started taking pictures of the city’s landmarks.

The now-48-year-old didn’t set out to capture history — not initially, anyway. A relative asked him to take photos of six places that were sentimental to her. She framed them and put them in her home. A friend of hers saw them, then she asked Taylor to take photos of six more places, ones that were special to her.

“Those 12 photos gave me the idea to go around and find as many places as I could remember from growing up that I loved,” Taylor told CharlotteFive. “I started sharing them and framing them and people just kept asking for me to take photos of other landmarks.”

A decade later, Taylor had more than 165 photos of “nearly every remaining landmark in Charlotte,” he said. Wads , The Drum, Coffee Cup, Leo’s Deli, The JFG Sign , Price’s , Queen Park, South 21 , The Manor , Neighborhood Theatre, Center Theatre, Magic Maze ...

“So I gave it a name,” he said.

Now, in 2024, The Charlotte Landmark Series is a storied collection, perfect for anyone wanting to reminisce or perhaps learn something new.

[‘LOOK WHAT WE PASS EVERY DAY.' Charlotte’s history, told through signs.]

How to enjoy The Charlotte Landmark Series

How can you see the series for yourself? We’ve got a gallery below ⬇️ with some of the photos, and here are some other ways:

BUY PRINTS: Prints are for sale on Taylor’s website, along with T-shirts sporting the logos of some of these old places. He plans to update and republish a coffee-table book he created with his father (who was a writer) years ago.

A RESTAURANT’S WALL: The next time you’re dining at Eddie’s Place, look around. “I get text messages from people all the time having breakfast or lunch at Eddies Place who see my artwork and send me kind messages of how much they love seeing the old landmarks in a local restaurant.”

Taylor has tried to share his photos with other local businesses, with the hope some would display his photos, but he said most don’t want to spend the money on framing. “The series just sort of exists with no real fanfare. Kinda like the memory of the landmarks themselves. They exist in the memories of us Charlotteans, but those new to the city don’t much care about the places that were here before.”

[LOSING A LANDMARK: A look back at when Dairy Queen closed in Plaza Midwood.]

Why nostalgia is important

“Longtime Charlotteans are always so incredibly supportive. But most of the images mean nothing to the transplants who have moved here in the last 10-20 years. That makes me very sad those people will never experience a milkshake at Park Place Pharmacy or a hot dog at Wad’s or a cheeseburger from Zack’s or standing in line for fried chicken at Price’s.”

In 2001, Taylor could see that Charlotte was starting to really grow. Many of the landmarks were still around, but they were beginning to be torn down. “I thought it would be wonderful if the places that replaced these landmarks might pay tribute to them.”

[‘THE CBGB OF THE SOUTH.' There’s a film on Charlotte’s The Milestone Club]

Many of the properties became offices, restaurants or business after the landmark was demolished. “How incredible would it be to walk into a restaurant or condo on the site of Zack’s Hamburgers and to see a photo of the place that was once there?” he asked.

“I’ve heard it said time and time again that this city has no history or soul. I’ve heard that for years, and it breaks my heart, because I know the people of this city. We didn’t leave. We aren’t unicorns. We are all still here.”

Taylor blames city planners and developers for allowing these special places to be torn down. “I wish everyone who lives here now could have seen movies at Queen Park or ice skated at Eastland or known the joy of having an ice cream from Dairy Queen on the Plaza on a summer night as a kid. Those are special memories new Charlotteans will never have.”

Which is his favorite landmark?

Without question, Taylor said: His favorite Charlotte landmark was Wad’s. It’s the place of fond memories for many Charlotteans, including him.

“When I was a kid, my mom would sometimes come get my sister and me out of school early and take us to Wad’s for a hot dog and a milkshake.” Etched in his memory: “The gold letters hand painted in the glass. The heavy door and the speckled concrete floor. The round vinyl stools bolted firmly to the floor that spun around and around.”

It was a special moment for a kid. “We would sit at the counter and watch the cooks grill up cheeseburgers. I think technically, it was still a pharmacy with shelves of aspirin and toiletries, but I don’t think I ever saw anyone buy anything other than food from the counter. On the way out, you had to get on the scale beside the door and weigh yourself. Originally, if you put a penny in the scale it would give you a fortune ... but it never worked.”

Price’s Chicken Coop is a close second favorite, he said.

See more of The Charlotte Landmark Series in the gallery ↙️ :

PLEASE DON’T FORGET: “Charlotteans want to share their city with you. They welcome anyone and I feel like these landmarks were places Charlotteans wanted to take you when you came to visit,” Taylor said. “And now that they are gone, Charlotteans want you to remember them. I want you to remember them.”

Uniquely Charlotte: Uniquely Charlotte is an Observer subscriber collection of moments, landmarks and personalities that define the uniqueness (and pride) of why we live in the Charlotte region.