🟢 45 Chicken Caesar Salad Wraps

Hello Thursday. Last weekend I went to Primland Resort with 8 Charlotte buddies on a dudes’ golf junket.

My thoughtful friend Garry asked a staff member, "Our friend George just turned 40 and organized this trip, can I surprise him with a nice bottle of champagne at dinner?" The staff member kindly replied, "Yes, of course!" End of convo.

After golf course beers, post-round cocktails, and dinner red wine everybody was feeling good. That's when it happened.

Before Garry could stop him, the staff member uncorked a magnum bottle of 2005 Cristal at the table!! Price tag $2,200. Unreal 🤣 

Garry was in utter disbelief. Head in hands. Mistake cost him more than the entire trip. Anyways.

💼 Hot Job: Senior Partnerships Manager, Innovation Labs at Lowe's ($95K – $181K). Source and develop startup partnerships. Trendy South End office.

📈 Number: 110 hours. Typical workweek for junior bankers at Baird. Are Charlotte bankers too soft?!

👨Shout-out: Zach Current, co-founder of Moo & Brew, for creating a new chicken spot named Painted Rooster in the former Zada Jane's space. Opens in 30 days.

MARKETS: YEAR-TO-DATE

NEW CELEBRITY

35 year old IT system admin Mark Engels ranks 45 chicken caesar wraps on TikTok

Over the past few months, Mark has spent over $800 visiting 45 restaurants in search of Charlotte's best chicken caesar wrap.

Audience: Typically eating in his car, Mark's videos have generated over 1.4M views on TikTok.

Results: Mark's official chicken caesar wrap rankings👇

Making money: Mark makes about $1,000 per month from his TikTok views. "So far, it's just a fun hobby."

What's next: Chicken finger rankings, of course!  "It's amazing how many different hand-breaded chicken finger options there are in North Carolina," says Mark, who moved to Charlotte 3.5 years ago.

Celebrity status: "I never know how to respond to people… A few girls were coming back from the apartment pool, recognized me and yelled out, 'Oh my gosh, you're the chicken Caesar guy! We love you!' The only thing I could come up with on the spot was a timid, ‘Love you too!’“

PRESENTED BY CHARLOTTE VINTAGE

Mid-century Modern retail store sees 3x revenue growth in Villa Heights

Stan and Katrina Teague launched Charlotte Vintage from their vast personal collection of iconic Mid-Century Modern (MCM) furniture.

Bullish: "The market for modern vintage furniture, barware, art, and home décor shows no signs of slowing." Go check out Charlotte Vintage!

FOR SALE

758-acre "Sportsman's Paradise" ranch asks $17.5M

This private family farm features a swanky main lodge, 2 guest cottages, caretaker's quarters, and garden prep house.

Current amenities:

Half-baked idea: Given high demand (5-8 year waitlists), one of Charlotte’s big 4 country clubs should purchase and develop the property as an “out-of-town” course with cabins.

TINY MONEY JOB BOARD

Who’s hiring in Charlotte? 5 trending jobs

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Hunting? View all 84 job postings on the Tiny Money Job Board 🚀

MONEY TALKS

38-year-old insurance guy spending $3,600 on youth sports aims to hit “Coast FIRE” by 50

Money Talks is a weekly series showcasing how real people in Charlotte approach money. Participate.

Living situation: “We own. Mortgage is a 30-year fixed at 5.5%. We've got kids, so our grocery budget actually eclipses the mortgage.”

Job: “I'm an insurance professional. My base is $120,000 with an additional 15% annual bonus.”

Other income: “We own a rental property. Purchased as primary residence pre-COVID and refinanced when rates were at 2.5%. Mortgage is $1,200/mo and we rent it at $2,200/mo.”

Favorite expense: “Youth sports. Watching my kids excel in sports is one of my favorite things, period. We spend over $300/month.”

Retirement: “I want to hit Coast FIRE by age 50. I’ll keep a low stress job after that for as long as it makes sense. To fully retire, I’m aiming for $1.5-2M with a paid-off house.”

Rich in Charlotte: “$150K income with a $2M net worth.”

Full story: Investment strategy of 38 year old making $138K

MONEY SNACKS

6 other financial headlines I’m snacking on

HOUSEKEEPING

Cowfish unveils $1M renovation just in time for PGA Championship weekend

15-year-old Cowfish has reopened after a $1M renovation that includes new seating, finishes, millwork, bar, wallpaper, and private dining room. No more red walls!

Golf roll: Justin Thomas is a Cowfish fanboy, so in May they're doing a sushi collab with the star golfer.

Happy Thursday! Today is my middle daughter’s 8th birthday. I’m taking her on a fancy date tonight to Leluia Hall at 5pm (private test night). She has more of a chicken finger palate, but I’m ordering us a giant seafood tower and Prime Cut ribeye. “Phone eats first, sweetie!!”

– Ted

MONEY POLL

Last week’s poll results: No. 1 best golf course in Charlotte? (8,716 subscribers)