Women-Owned Businesses in Charlotte
Celebrate and experience Charlotte’s women-owned businesses.
by Rosa Sprinkle
There’s no better time to celebrate the woman-led entrepreneurship that thrives in the Queen City. From crafting unique dining and sipping opportunities to creating innovative retail and service experiences, industrious women are shaping Charlotte’s economy and community.
Eat & Drink
Abugida Ethiopian Cafe & Restaurant
Neighborhood: Plaza Midwood
Mother-and-daughter team, Shito Negussie and Yodite Tesafye, own Abugida Cafe. Together they have created an inviting and welcoming cafe serving Ethiopian dishes that include tender chicken legs, spicy stews, fragrant lentil and split pea dishes, and the tangy sourdough bread injera. Abugida is also known for its amazing coffee and attentive service.
Archive CLT
Area: West Charlotte
Cheryse Terry birthed Archive CLT from a lifelong passion of collecting vintage magazines depicting Black lives, experiences, challenges and accomplishments. Terry’s vision was for Archive to be a vintage book and ephemera store in a historic Black-owned location. That vision has expanded to create a community hub and coffee shop where everyone can feel welcome and safe.
The Artisan’s Palate
Neighborhood: NoDa
Owner Christa Csoka has worked to preserve the local art and history of NoDa in this restaurant, art gallery and gathering space. With an emphasis on fresh, local and organic ingredients, Csoka has made sure that each shared plate and custom drink delivers flavor and an experience reflective of the area.
The Batchmaker
Neighborhood: Wesley Heights
Cristina Rojas has loved baking cakes and preparing batches of cookies and brownies since she was a child growing up in Honduras. She began honing her baking skills after moving to Charlotte in the early 2000s, perfecting her cakes and popular Oatmeal Creme Pie cookies.
The Bevery
Neighborhood: Wesley Heights
Kristin Cagney opened the first craft seltzer brewery on the East Coast in 2020. The Bevery uses unique flavor combinations and fresh purees to flavor the spiked, nonalcoholic and cocktail variations of house-fermented seltzer. Cagney was inspired to open the brewery as both a spot to find alternative beverages and an energetic gathering place.
Enat Ethiopian
Neighborhood: Optimist Park, Plaza Midwood
With locations at Optimist Hall and East Charlotte, chef and owner Tina Tedla is making it her mission to introduce diners to Ethiopia’s rich culture and cuisine through Enat. Literally translating to “mother” in Amharic, one of the many languages spoken in Ethiopia, Enat pays homage to many of Tedla's mother's recipes.
Honeybear Bake Shop
Neighborhood: Lower South End
Hannah Neikirk has held the position of pastry chef at some of Charlotte’s most esteemed restaurants, including The Ritz-Carlton Hotel. She fulfilled her lifelong dream of opening her own bakeshop in 2020 and continues to provide the Queen City with some of the most unique and fun cookie flavors.
Jazzy Cheesecakes
Neighborhood: University City, Huntersville
Gerri Brown-Simmons opened Jazzy’s in 2004 and is still going strong 20 years later. Jazzy’s offers cheesecakes in over 75 flavors, along with other baked goods such as cookies, cobblers and pies. Two of the shop’s signature items are the cheesecake duo and the cheesecake-stuffed apple.
Lang Van
Area: East Charlotte
Dan Nguyen began at the beloved Vietnamese restaurant in 1999, working her way up from server to cook to full owner by 2009. Her emphasis on hospitality makes every customer feel like family. Nguyen helps select meals for individuals who need guidance and sends them home with cookies and cheers to come back soon.
Orrman’s Cheese Shop
Neighborhood: Uptown
Founder Rachel Klebaur established Orrman’s as a full-service cheese shop based on her values of care, attention, obsession, service and quality. Orrman’s supplies restaurants, breweries and wine shops all over Charlotte with locally and regionally sourced cheese and specialty products.
Pilot Brewing
Neighborhood: Plaza Midwood
Owner and head brewer, Rachael Hudson, has created award-winning beers working in small batches and using local ingredients whenever available. Pilot Brewing partners with local charities and strives to operate within ethical guidelines to create a family-friendly environment for employees and guests.
Smelly Cat Coffeehouse & Roastery
Neighborhood: NoDa
First opened in 1999, Smelly Cat Coffeehouse grew in recognition under the influence of owner Jolly Dale, a community-minded businesswoman who knit together a loyal base of regulars. Cathy Tuman took the reins in 2006 and has continued Smelly Cat’s commitment to community and the pursuit of quality coffee for its loyal customers.
Wentworth & Fenn
Neighborhood: Camp North End
Samantha Ward was nominated for Best Pastry Chef in the Southeast by the James Beard Foundation in 2017 and Best Pastry Chef in Charlotte by Charlotte Magazine. Ward bakes and sells seasonal pastries, artisan bread, custom cakes and wedding cakes at her Camp North End storefront.
Shop
CLT Find
Neighborhood: Uptown, Dilworth
Toni South and Christy Pope have curated products from over 90 Charlotte-area artisans and vendors to create the perfect destination shop for customers looking for high-quality, locally-made goods. CLT Find carries an assortment of unique souvenirs and gifts, jewelry, children's items, accessories, and beauty and wellness products.
Good Earth Essentials
Neighborhood: South End
Tatyana Reisini opened Charlotte’s first zero-waste brick-and-mortar store in 2022. She works with local sustainable makers and artisans to supply Good Earth Essentials with environmentally-friendly kitchen and bathroom wares, skincare and haircare items, and everyday essentials such as laundry detergent and bath soap.
Moxie Mercantile
Neighborhood: Plaza Midwood, Matthews
Michelle Castelloe brought her dream to life when she opened Moxie Mercantile in Plaza Midwood in 2015. Moxie Mercantile is a curated shopping experience featuring home decor, jewelry, vintage finds, and more that supports both makers and the community. Castelloe also created the boutique, Betty, to focus on children’s clothing, adult apparel, toys and gifts.
Pura Vida Worldly Art
Neighborhood: NoDa
Teresa Hernandez opened Pura Vida in 2004 to create a venue for artisans in poor countries to sell their wares. The store carries bright and colorful clothing, accessories, housewares and art, all handmade, fair trade and ethically sourced.
Southern Blossom Florist
Neighborhood: Dilworth
Giovy Buyers first became interested in flowers while working for a flower exporter in Ecuador. With a degree in business from American University and her perceptive and artistic eye for flower arrangement, Buyers was able to open Southern Blossom Florist in 2008. Buyers continues to support other women-owned businesses by carrying their products in her shop on East Boulevard.
Things to Do
AerialCLT
Neighborhood: Uptown
Amy Tynan Chirico is founder and head instructor of AerialCLT, teaching everyone from beginners to practiced pros how to fly on silks, trapeze and lyra. Classes are available every day in the Uptown fitness facility, with other events such as kids summer camps and student showcases that take place throughout the year.
Charlotte NC Tours and Charlotte Joy Rides
Area: Citywide
Dianna Ward knew there was no better way to get to know Charlotte’s history and highlights than by foot, bike, van or Segway. This inspired her to open Charlotte NC Tours, a full-service tour company. Ward is also the proud owner of Charlotte Joy Rides, a fleet of more than 300 pedal-assist e-bikes with 33 stations in and around Uptown.
Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen
Neighborhood: Lower South End
Award-winning chef Alyssa Wilen opened the doors to her kitchen in 2013 to provide a comfortable place where guests can learn to cook and eat well. She has since expanded her kitchen to accommodate catering services and classes for individuals, couples, groups, parents and children, teens and culinary camps.
Issa Vibe Adventures
Area: Citywide
Lisa Colvin is co-founder and director of community relations for Issa Vibe Adventures, LLC, an outdoor adventure business whose mission is to reconnect Black people to nature. Colvin says that nature showed her a form of peace and clarity that helped to combat anxiety and depression, inspiring her to share this outlet with her community.
Khali Yoga Center
Neighborhood: NoDa
By opening Khali Yoga Center, Lindsey Crisp has shown it is possible to create a successful studio that provides full-time work, a living salary and paid time off for her and her team of teachers. Classes, including drop-in classes, affordable and welcoming to students of all skill levels.
Lip ‘N Pour
Area: East Charlotte
Diamond Weems always had difficulty finding a lip color she thought suited her skin tone. Realizing there were many others who felt the same, Weems decided to create a custom blend lip cosmetic studio. Lip ‘N Pour pairs quality ingredients with a fun instructional experience for individuals and groups.
Mood House
Neighborhood: Dilworth
Cristina Wilson reimagined the traditional massage spa to create Mood House, a modern massage studio with a resort vibe. Clients choose one of four moods: calm, clear, abundant or awake, and the massage style, music and aromatherapy all work together for their chosen mood experience.
