CHARLOTTE
NORTH CAROLINA
Charlotte's historic snowfall of 2026
LISA SHERRILL Editor Owner
SCOTTIE AKINS Co-Editor
STYLE, FROM THE START
Laura Vinroot Poole on Charlotte’s Fashion Legacy
A large part of my job is spent traveling to buy for Capitol in markets across the world. The silver lining of these (o en exhausting) journeys is the opportunity to share the wealth of culture from our impossibly beautiful Queen City with the people I meet along the way. I find that they are most surprised to discover an important part of our story… that fashion and trade built the foundation of our fine city from the very beginning.
Charlotte was formed o of the back of a trading post in the 1770s: the Uptown Square of Trade and Tryon Streets, known then as Old Osborne Center, is still a major business center today. Commerce, goods, new ideas, and perspectives were traded here well before the city was formally established.
It’s no coincidence that leaders and entrepreneurs found their way to these fertile grounds and quickly identified the opportunity for growth. William Henry Belk, from nearby Monroe, opened his first store there in
LAURA VINROOT POOLE is a Charlotte native and the founder of Capitol, an internationally celebrated specialty store now in its 28th year, with locations in Charlotte and the Brentwood Country Mart in Los Angeles. Laura is a recognized leader in the fashion industry and a proud ambassador of Charlotte.
1888. He quickly chose to open a store in Charlotte just 7 years later, recognizing the city’s growth and possibility. He took a chance and invested in Charlotte and the city invested right back—Belk continues to be one of the last, great privately owned retail chains in the country.
There have been many other burgeoning retail businesses in Charlotte over the twentieth century; the very first Reid’s was opened on Morehead Street in 1928. Jim Wilkerson opened the first Blackhawk Hardware in 1976, and it continues to be run by his family today. Morrison Smith (now Bailey’s) was established in 1956 and has been in Myers Park since.
Ivey’s Department Store, a premier retailer known for high-quality goods, opened its iconic flagship at 127 North Tryon Street in 1942.
By the way, we know that Uptown is actually uptown from an old adage shared by native Charlottean and dapper haberdasher, Jack Wood of Jack Wood LTD. Wood told stories of rollerskating from Myers Park to Uptown in the 1930s, and it was most definitely UPtown.
I fell in love with shopping from the experience of helping my besotted father shop for my glamorous mother every year. Early in December my father and I selected Christmas, anniversary, and birthday gi s for my mother (all fell within a couple of weeks.) We selected a jewel at Morrison Smith, a painting at Jerald Melberg or Hodges Taylor, and a chic suit and peignoir set from the legendary Montaldo’s. Still in its
storied Uptown location at the time, Montaldo’s was a place that brought clients a bottled Coke while they surveyed models wearing the latest European fashions. What I didn’t appreciate at the time was that this was one of my first experiences with importing culture into Charlotte, a concept that I later built my business upon. They stocked the latest fashions from New York, Paris, and Milan and did it with aplomb.
I’ve always thought of Charlotte as an unusual southern city because of its warm inclusiveness, which has allowed for both natives and newcomers alike to contribute to our business landscape. This is more evident than ever through the growth we are experiencing at this moment and it’s something to be celebrated and embraced with our Charlotte spirit.
The Scout Guide champions that spirit for those of us who have chosen to build our businesses here, endure the changes and challenges, and inevitably pen the future of our beloved Queen City. I could have never built this business anywhere else and I can’t wait to see the new ideas that continue to enrich this (wonderful) old trading post.
For more information on Laura Vinroot Poole: shop-capitol.com | @shopcapitol
Laura Vinroot Poole’s grandparents in Uptown Charlotte
Montaldo’s of Charlotte ad from 1949
Shelly Landau Co - Founder
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Leah Norwood Co-Owner
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ERFUL
LIZ HILLIARD CREATOR + OWNER
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#1 MORTGAGE BANKER IN NORTH CAROLINA IN 2025 AND 2026
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CURATED SKINCARE, EXPERT ADVICE
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THE SCOUT GUIDE ® CHARLOTTE
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Anne Fechtel Run Coaching Lead
Paige Richardson
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Catering from our family to yours since 1999. pqpine @ porcupineprovisions.com @ porcupineprovisions
Full - service event space in the heart of Dilworth. Roof top deck and parking. 1514 East Boulevard info @ thedrumdilworth.com @ thedrumdilworth
Organize your kitchen like a chef. pqpine @ porcupineprovisions.com
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This mother - daughter duo works closely with clients to create interiors that feel authentic and classic. Focused on large - scale renovations, new construction, and full - service interiors, our designs are tailored to each client’s unique needs.
Mary Cannon Frye Senior Designer
Mary Margaret Underwood Owner Principal Designer
301 PROVIDENCE ROAD CHARLOTTE
115 CHURCH STREET NORTHEAST CONCORD
UNDERWOODDESIGNNC.COM @ INTERIORS BY UNDERWOODDESIGN @ MARYCANNONFRYE UDESIGN
Photos by: Chris Edwards and Laura Sumrak
Dr. Jeff Goldsmith DDS, MS
Sarah Turza Program Director
Rachel & Andy Lee Founders
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Integrating the ART of medicine with the SCIENCE of beauty
130 Providence Road Charlotte, NC
9920 Kincey Avenue • Suite 190
Huntersville, NC
charlotteskinandlaser.com i @ charlotteskinandlaser
Emily O. McLean, MD, FAAD Board-Certified Dermatologist
Elizabeth Rostan, MD, FAAD Board-Certified Dermatologist
Photo by: MB Photography NC
Specialty Shops SouthPark features a curated blend of more than a dozen exclusive boutiques, national brands, luxury services, and upscale restaurants, all in a beautiful outdoor setting in the heart of SouthPark.
FEATURED TENANTS:
LEFT: BEDSIDE MANOR | AMINA RUBINACCI | LAKE | ANN MASHBURN
RIGHT: BRICKTOP’S | RENAISSANCE PÂTISSERIE | SCOUT & MOLLY’S | PACO’S TACOS
Rush Shull IV and Lanier Shull
Elizabeth Anne Russell Founder
MODERN MANNERS & ETIQUETTE
Esther Farnham Executive Director
Kori Bolles Associate Designer
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Layton Campbell Owner & Principal Designer
Blair Hayes, PA-C Owner
Dr. Michelle Mumford, Owner
Bruce Moffett
Meredith Beregovski Owner & Lead Designer
Photo by: Brie Williams
Lori Hefner
Caroline Cabana
by: The Plaid Penguin
Morning, noon, or night, Salted Melon is here for you. Grab coffee and breakfast on the go, stop in for a healthy lunch, recharge with a smoothie, or settle in for dinner.
Photos
MATT CABANA OWNER
THE AFRICAN ART GALLERY AT MINT MUSEUM RANDOLPH highlights the richness and diversity of African artistic traditions, with works spanning the continent in style, material, and purpose—among them the 2024 commissioned “Kimi Masquerade Ensemble” by Burkina Faso artist David Sanou.
MINT MUSEUM RANDOLPH
2730 Randolph Road
MINT MUSEUM UPTOWN
Levine Center for the Arts | 500 South Tryon Street
704.337.2000 | MINTMUSEUM.ORG | @THEMINTMUSEUM
Left to right:
Weston Andress, Board of Trustees Chair Elect
Beth Quartapella, Board of Trustees Chair
Milton Prime, Board of Trustees Immediate Past Chair
Photo by: Adam Eugene Willis Photography
by:
Photo
Shayan Asgharnia
A METICULOUSLY CURATED COLLECTION OF FINE JEWELRY
CELEBRATING VOLUMES
THANK YOU, CHARLOTTE.
It has been an incredible journey working together for more than 8 years to bring The Scout Guide Charlotte to life. We are grateful for the opportunity to celebrate the people, stories, and small businesses that make our community so special. It brings us immense joy to help shine a light on the entrepreneurs who shape Charlotte in such impactful ways.
This year, we are especially grateful and honored to have The Scout Guide Charlotte, Volume 14 recognized with a Gold Award at the 21st Annual Davey Awards. This recognition celebrates the outstanding creative work of our team and the dedication and talent of our photographers and clients who elevate this publication and bring its pages to life.
We are excited for what the future holds for our growing vibrant community and for our own small business, The Scout Guide Charlotte. Thank you for being on this journey with us. We look forward to continuing growing, creating, and celebrating alongside you.
XX, Lisa + Scottie
Dr. Stephan Finical
Dr. Ashley Chandler
LIVE. LOVE. LOCAL.
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LISA L. SHERRILL | Co-Editor . Owner
SCOTTIE AKINS | Co-Editor
OLLY YUNG
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