Inside: Health inspectors grade area restaurants • Page 2A
Brought to you by Charlotte Media Group Friday, Feb. 5, 2021 • Vol. 14 • No. 6
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Family Dollar HQ sold for $10.5M Dollar Tree has sold the Family Dollar Distribution Center for nearly $10.5 million to a private equity and real estate development firm, according to Avison Young. Family Dollar has been part of Matthews since 1974, when it opened its headquarters off Monroe Road. Dollar Tree acquired Family Dollar in 2015 and announced in 2018 that it was closing the Matthews headquarters after consolidating store support centers to a new office tower in Chesapeake, Virginia. The Silverman Group bought the 354,518-square-foot crossdock building, which sits on 43.5 acres. Avison Young said the sale demonstrates the momentum in the Charlotte area for infill industrial properties. “This is an exceptional industrial location suit-
ed for light manufacturing and warehousing with tactical last mile logistics,” said Chris Skibinski, principal of Avison Young. “Although infill industrial acquisitions in Charlotte are a rarity, the industrial sector continues to be bolstered by the ongoing upsurge of e-commerce.” The Eastside Logistics Center, as dubbed by The Silverman Group, is for last mile distribution, light manufacturing and other uses that will have direct impact to nearby household density areas. “With development costs and industrial land prices on the rise in the greater Charlotte industrial market, we see great opportunities with repurposing existing second generational assets that can be acquired, improved and brought to the marketplace to rival any brand new industrial building,” said Blake Silverman, president of The
WHAT'S INSIDE:
Gagis serves up smiles at Stacks, 2B
Divine creativity Matchin elevates tattoo industry, 2B
Gifts galore DePrater not deterred by pandemic, 1B
Loyal support Sottile’s market supports community, 4B ALSO:
Galloping on Woof 'n Hoof store overcomes hurdles, 3A
Pup hub Adams creates doggy destination, 1B
The buyer plans to keep the site industrial. Photo courtsy of Avison Young
Silverman Group. “This particular asset’s infill location is irreplaceable.”
Cooper calls for in-person learning
This special edition features profiles of finalists for Charlotte Media Group's 2020 Small Business Person of the Year. Finalists were selected from a pool of community nominations. A panel of judges will evaluate finalists based on criteria that included the successful operation of the business, leadership and community contributions. We will announce a winner in the coming weeks.
Plates of joy
@mmhweekly
by Nyamekye Daniel Contributor
Steven Reid was among the thousands of people to get vaccinated from Jan. 29 to 31 at Bank of America Stadium. Emily Barnes/Atrium Health
County expanding vaccine outreach Mecklenburg County Public Health Director Gibbie Harris said there's still more work to do to ensure Black residents are getting their COVID-19 vaccinations. The county continues to administer the vaccine to health care workers and people over the age of 65.While 26.1% of the county's population over the age of 65 are Black, only 16.8% of those getting the vaccine have identified as Black. Mecklenburg County has developed a COVID-19 vaccine equity plan that targets four areas: • Education, awareness and
trust building, which include outreach through community leaders and town halls. • Low-barrier vaccine appointments, which include free drive-thru and walk-up options. • Targeted distribution. • Data and monitoring. County Commissioner Vilma Leake praised the health department Feb. 2 for its outreach and work in getting people vaccinated. Leake encouraged older adults, including Black residents, to get the vaccine after she experienced no problems. “Those who have some doubts about whether you should or should not, it's imperative for
longevity, so I'm begging you to take the time to go,” Leake said. Commissioner Pat Cotham said getting vaccinated was somewhat emotional for her, having received the polio vaccine in youth and knowing people who passed away from the virus. Commissioner Mark Jerrell expressed concern for disabled and homebound residents who don't have access to transportation or information. He hopes the county can go to people. The county is also bracing for the next wave of vaccine takers. The county is developing a plan on distribution that is effective, efficient and equitable for front-line essential workers once it's their turn, Harris said. One of the biggest challenges for the county has been availability of the vaccine.
(The Center Square) – On the same day legislation requiring schools to resume full in-person learning started advancing in the N.C. Senate, Gov. Roy Cooper said all K-12 schools in the state should allow in-person instruction. Cooper announced Feb. 2 updated guidance on the state's school reopening plan to allow students in fifth through 12th grade to attend in-person classes under the state's Plan B, with smaller classes to allow for more social distancing. K-5 schools can have full classes, and students who want to stay home can continue remote learning conducted by teachers who are at high risk for severe COVID-19 complications. “This pandemic has tested us in different ways, but our educators and school staff have never stopped showing up for our students,” Cooper said. “Our teachers have worked to engage our students, whether remotely or in-person. Our custodial staff has worked to keep schools clean and safe.” Cooper ordered all K-12 schools to convert to remote learning in March, during the onset of the pandemic. After scientific data pointed to lower risks in younger children, he called for full attendance in K-5 public and charter schools on Oct. 5. Cooper said at least 90 school districts are providing in-person instruction. The governor cited new research that shows schools have kept their COVID-19 numbers down despite the rising numbers in their surrounding communities. “Even with the thousands of students and teachers attending school in-person across the state, we have seen few COVID-19 clusters in our public schools," said Dr. Mandy Cohen, N.C. Department of Health and Human Services secretary.
Used bikes help homeless save time, money Tom Williamson started Ride Again Bicycle Ministry after serving a meal at the Community Shelter of Union County and learning that many residents had no way to get to work. Many residents living temporarily at the Monroe shelter spend $100 or more a week piecemealing transportation options together to get through a week of work. Sometimes they walk multiple miles each way. Williamson’s mission to get people moving started at a men’s church retreat when a speaker talked about it being more important to spend time doing something rather than trying to be someone. As an avid cyclist, his first plan was to repair bicycles at the shelter. That quickly segued into soliciting unused bikes, cleaning and repairing them before donating them. Williamson does all the repairs himself, but he solicits donated bikes that can be repaired or sold for parts, which underwrites part of his replacement parts cost. By year’s end, he donated 21 bikes to the shelter, 19 to Hoskins Park Ministries, four to Roof Above and eight to the Waxhaw Police Department. Williamson asks anyone with an unused adult-sized bike to contact him on Facebook at @RideAgainBicycle or
Bridge building program looks at last lynching
Tom Williamson helps homeless people in Union County save by providing them bikes to ride to work. Photo courtesy of Community Shelter of Union County
email at RideAgainBicycle@gmail.com. His Sunday School class at Matthews United Methodist Church has donated bike locks to ensure security at worksites. Why does he do all this? “I like to work on bikes and help people,” he said. “I get to combine two passions.”
Tonya Rivens will facilitate the 11th Community Forum on Racial-Bridge Building, called “The Carolina’s Last Lynching,” with William Willimon, author of “Who Lynched Willie Earle?” The 1947 lynching of Willie Earle and the subsequent trial in South Carolina attracted international attention. The nation's first Civil Rights Commission formed after an all-white jury exonerated Earle’s confessed killers. The event starts at 7 p.m. Feb. 16. Visit www.YouTube.com/MatthewsUMC for details. Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist, Matthews Presbyterian, First Baptist Church of Matthews, Cross & Crown Lutheran and Matthews United Methodist are hosting the event.
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