Bricks 4 Kidz, which offers programs to help introduce kids to engineering and science through LEGO blocks, is opening a Creativity Center in south Charlotte soon.
The owners say they can't disclose the exact location until the lease is signed early next week, but it will be in the Blakeney/Stonecrest area. The new center will offer classes such as engineering, pre-school, kids' birthday parties, stop-motion animation, and summer camps. It will open in mid- to late March.
Bricks 4 Kidz in Charlotte is owned by Tricia Rana and her husband Michael Finkelstein. They've been running the business since last year, and have after school programs at a dozen area schools.
"We teach kids basic math, engineering and architecture using LEGOs," Rana said. "It kind of takes LEGOs to a whole new level."
The center will use different blueprints for the kids' models every week. Many of the LEGO models are motorized. Recent sessions have focused on sports, famous buildings, laws of motion, and transportation.
They're building LEGO models in the "Sports Spectacular" series now. "The models are really awesome," said Rana. "The miniature golf model is really cool."
A class typically costs $15, Rana said, and summer camp sessions and birthday parties usually run around $200.
Here's a link to their Facebook page, where you can follow the latest information about the opening. And for adults who love the idea of playing with LEGOs, have hope: Rana said they're going to try to have grown-up nights at the Creativity Center so we can build some cool models too.
Jersey Mike's going into former Blockbuster
Local blog Charlotte Restaurant Traffic is reporting that a Jersey Mike's Subs will take over the former Blockbuster store on East Boulevard, which is closing this month.
Blockbuster's last day of business is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 19. The store has been holding a going-out-of business sale for more than a month. The East Blvd. location is just one of the hundreds of Blockbuster stores to get the ax since the chain declared bankruptcy and was bought by Dish Network for $320 million.
The Jersey Mike's location will be the restaurant's 19th location in the Charlotte region. No date for the opening has been given. According to Restaurant Traffic, Jersey Mike's will be using half of the old Blockbuster's space. No word yet on what could fill the other half.
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Blockbuster's last day of business is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 19. The store has been holding a going-out-of business sale for more than a month. The East Blvd. location is just one of the hundreds of Blockbuster stores to get the ax since the chain declared bankruptcy and was bought by Dish Network for $320 million.
The Jersey Mike's location will be the restaurant's 19th location in the Charlotte region. No date for the opening has been given. According to Restaurant Traffic, Jersey Mike's will be using half of the old Blockbuster's space. No word yet on what could fill the other half.
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Second Metro Fitness Club to open near uptown
Myers Park-based gym Metro Fitness Club is opening its second Charlotte location, near East 4th Street and Hawthorne Lane.
The gym has been open for 1 1/2 years in its current location on Selwyn Avenue. The second location, called Metro 2, will be 6,000 square feet, the owners said. It's slated to open in April.
“We’re thrilled to now offer this premiere standard of excellence in the Elizabeth neighborhood as well as Myers Park,” said Metro Fitness co-owner Denise Abood, in a statement.
The gym will focus on individualized instruction and small group training programs. Metro Fitness has programs such as crossfit, kettlebell, yoga and Olympic lift training, as well as on-site massage services.
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The gym has been open for 1 1/2 years in its current location on Selwyn Avenue. The second location, called Metro 2, will be 6,000 square feet, the owners said. It's slated to open in April.
“We’re thrilled to now offer this premiere standard of excellence in the Elizabeth neighborhood as well as Myers Park,” said Metro Fitness co-owner Denise Abood, in a statement.
The gym will focus on individualized instruction and small group training programs. Metro Fitness has programs such as crossfit, kettlebell, yoga and Olympic lift training, as well as on-site massage services.
View Larger Map
Efirds Interiors closing, relocating Charlotte store
Efirds Interiors, an interior furnishings store on Monroe Road, is marking down items as it prepares to close its Charlotte location.
Founded in 1959, the company also has stores in Hickory and Concord. The company is still family-run, and specializes in home lighting and furniture.
Justus Efird, the company's vice president, said Efirds will open a new Charlotte location soon. He wouldn't say exactly where it will be, but said it will be located in south Charlotte.
The store has been located on Monroe Road for 22 years, and Efird said the location was no longer working. "It's not in a high retail area," he said. "We want to move to south Charlotte and get into a high retail environment."
A sale to clear out inventory is scheduled to start Wednesday, Feb. 15. The hours will be 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. The sale will continue for 90 days, Efird said. He said the company is putting its lowest prices on items now, to clear inventory as rapidly as possible, rather than progressively marking items down as the sales goes on.
"It's a lot easier for me to sell everything than try to move it," Efird said. "The store is closing, but we're not going out of business."
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Founded in 1959, the company also has stores in Hickory and Concord. The company is still family-run, and specializes in home lighting and furniture.
Justus Efird, the company's vice president, said Efirds will open a new Charlotte location soon. He wouldn't say exactly where it will be, but said it will be located in south Charlotte.
The store has been located on Monroe Road for 22 years, and Efird said the location was no longer working. "It's not in a high retail area," he said. "We want to move to south Charlotte and get into a high retail environment."
A sale to clear out inventory is scheduled to start Wednesday, Feb. 15. The hours will be 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. The sale will continue for 90 days, Efird said. He said the company is putting its lowest prices on items now, to clear inventory as rapidly as possible, rather than progressively marking items down as the sales goes on.
"It's a lot easier for me to sell everything than try to move it," Efird said. "The store is closing, but we're not going out of business."
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Einstein Bros. plans two new bagel stores
Einsten Bros. Bagels will open two new Charlotte stores in late March or early April, according to a real estate broker.
One will be in Myers Park Shopping Center, in the former Wolfman Pizza store there. The 2,500 square-foot store is in the shopping center that's being upgraded with a two-story Harris Teeter at Queens and Providence roads.
The other Einstein will go into a 3,100 square-foot store that was formerly home to Ikos Aegean Grill and Backyard Burger, on Conlan Circle, in Ballantyne.
Bryan Wyker and Malcolm McLean, of The Providence Group, represented Einstein in the transactions. Patrick McCoy of Cushman & Wakefield/Thalhimer, as well as Spencer Brown and Steve Pharr of Collett & Associates, represented the landlords.
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One will be in Myers Park Shopping Center, in the former Wolfman Pizza store there. The 2,500 square-foot store is in the shopping center that's being upgraded with a two-story Harris Teeter at Queens and Providence roads.
The other Einstein will go into a 3,100 square-foot store that was formerly home to Ikos Aegean Grill and Backyard Burger, on Conlan Circle, in Ballantyne.
Bryan Wyker and Malcolm McLean, of The Providence Group, represented Einstein in the transactions. Patrick McCoy of Cushman & Wakefield/Thalhimer, as well as Spencer Brown and Steve Pharr of Collett & Associates, represented the landlords.
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Supermarkets pull toilet paper believed dangerous to tigers
Harris Teeter, Bi-Lo and Food Lion are among supermarket chains the World Wildlife Fund says have agreed to stop selling toilet paper products made from wood pulp harvested from sensitive Sumatran jungles.
The jungles are one of the last remaining habitats for wild tigers in Indonesia, of which there are only about 400 left, the WWF says.
"WWF believes that consumers should not have to choose between tigers and toilet paper," the WWF wrote. "And responsible U.S. companies should not source tissue products that are driving Sumatran tigers to local extinction."
The company in question is Asia Pulp & Paper, which provides pulp for the brands Paseo and Livi, the WWF said. The company's pulp is also used in other "away from home products" sold to places that maintain public restrooms. WWF accuses the company of destructive practices that are harming the jungle.
For more details, you can read the WWF's report here.
The jungles are one of the last remaining habitats for wild tigers in Indonesia, of which there are only about 400 left, the WWF says.
"WWF believes that consumers should not have to choose between tigers and toilet paper," the WWF wrote. "And responsible U.S. companies should not source tissue products that are driving Sumatran tigers to local extinction."
The company in question is Asia Pulp & Paper, which provides pulp for the brands Paseo and Livi, the WWF said. The company's pulp is also used in other "away from home products" sold to places that maintain public restrooms. WWF accuses the company of destructive practices that are harming the jungle.
For more details, you can read the WWF's report here.
Charlotte woman wins Family Dollar recipe contest
Janice Elder's "Rockin' Roundup Fish Boats" have won the Charlotte woman a $500 Family Dollar gift card and tips from the host of Food Network's "Ten Dollar Dinners."
Elder entered her recipe in a Family Dollar contest to find low-cost customer recipes. The company is also donating $1,000 to the charity Feeding America.
The Matthews-based chain has been stocking more groceries and more aggressively promoting its food offerings. Family Dollar's partnership with Melissa d'Arabian, the Food Network chef, is part of that effort.
Groceries and other consumable items have been a big focus of many stores lately, as they drive customer traffic and mid-week "fill-in" visits, where shoppers grab a few items they need, such as bread and milk. Target is another chain that added to it's food offerings last year.
Consumables tend to have lower profit margins than other goods, but the hope is that by driving store traffic, including more groceries will help lift a store's bottom line. After all, a customer who stops in to grab a gallon of milk might be tempted to pick up a new desk lamp they walk by, or a toy for their kids that catches their eye.
You can see Elder's recipe, along with the secondary winners, here.
Elder entered her recipe in a Family Dollar contest to find low-cost customer recipes. The company is also donating $1,000 to the charity Feeding America.
The Matthews-based chain has been stocking more groceries and more aggressively promoting its food offerings. Family Dollar's partnership with Melissa d'Arabian, the Food Network chef, is part of that effort.
Groceries and other consumable items have been a big focus of many stores lately, as they drive customer traffic and mid-week "fill-in" visits, where shoppers grab a few items they need, such as bread and milk. Target is another chain that added to it's food offerings last year.
Consumables tend to have lower profit margins than other goods, but the hope is that by driving store traffic, including more groceries will help lift a store's bottom line. After all, a customer who stops in to grab a gallon of milk might be tempted to pick up a new desk lamp they walk by, or a toy for their kids that catches their eye.
You can see Elder's recipe, along with the secondary winners, here.
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