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By Ted Williams |
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Hello Thursday. It sounds weird, but I love a good corporate campus.
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Yesterday, I did a speaking gig with the newly created Lowe’s Marketplace team led by VP Michael McCluskey. They’re essentially a 100-person startup within the $144B corporate giant.
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After the fireside chat, I gave myself a campus tour while taking creepy videos for Instagram. I got locked out between the Zen Garden and the lake. Very awkward because my badge didn’t reopen doors, but I played it cool.
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I’ll be honest, the energy made me miss working with a team. Business is better as a team sport. Anyways.
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| Creepy selfie inside the Lowe’s campus Zen Garden |
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💼 Hot job: Account Executive at Lucid Bots ($150K OTE). Hybrid. Robotics startup growing around 250% YoY. $18.5M in funding. Hiring manager NC State grad Nick Ruocco.
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🏠 For sale: Painted brick home in Eastover asks $5.3M. Exposed beams. Bougie pool house. 6 beds, 6 baths, 7,816 square feet. $28K under Zestimate. Listing agent Brandon Lawn.
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👨Shout-out: Rob Belk, 35-year-old Duke MBA grad, for acquiring a 51-person retail marketing agency. He looked at over 500 companies during his 20-month “ETA” search.
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MARKETS: YEAR-TO-DATE
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S&P 500 |
6,869 |
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Nasdaq |
22,807 |
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NOW OPEN
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Tipsy Pickle co-founder opens $900K “no cell phone” cocktail bar in South End
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| Famous “Antagonist” like Regina George hang on the walls |
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New concept: Mike Salzarulo, the entrepreneur behind Protagonist Beer and Tipsy Pickle, opened a new cocktail bar named Antagonist last night. It’s two blocks away from Dilworth Tasting Room.
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The hostess provides a Yondr pouch to lock your cell phone.
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I ordered the $17 Patrick Bateman Manhattan. Tasty!
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$900K build-out. 45 seats inside. Reservations on Resy.
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Projections: Mike anticipates the Antagonist will generate $1.67M in annual revenue with $468K in operating income.
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PRESENTED BY RHINO MARKET
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Rhino voted “No. 1 Best Deli & Market” 6 years in a row
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| Chicken Torta with avocado, provolone, and jalapeños on ciabatta |
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Growth: I’m a huge fan of Rob Rondelez, founder and owner of Rhino Market. He’s grown the popular market to 6 locations!
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Power rankings: My go-to Rhino Market sandwich rotation👇
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$10.99 Chicken Torta with melted provolone on pulled chicken
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$10.49 Rhino Club with Applewood smoked bacon
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$11.49 Reuben with Boar’s Head pastrami brisket
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GROWTH MODE
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After teaching Mahjong to 6,000 students, Ashley and Leigh launch app across 27 cities
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| OG Mahjong badasses Leigh Young and Ashley Sigmon |
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New Venture: Ashley Sigmon and Leigh Young, founders of the popular Mahj In The City, are rolling out their Bambird Scramble scheduling web app across 27 cities.
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Booming: Mahjong events are growing 179% YoY across the country, with some Southern cities reporting over 800% growth.
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Early traction: While perfecting the tech, Ashley and Leigh’s app has organically grown to 600 users across 10 cities. User pay $75 per scramble competition (9 weeks or so).
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“Over the past 4 years, Mahj in the City has taught more than 6,000 students across 40 cities,” said Ashley. “That growing national community now fuels the Bambird Scramble app.”
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MONEY TALKS
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43-year-old wealth manager making $525K says “nutty” advice on TikTok hurting people
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| $18 Nikkei Tuna Ceviche at Calle Sol, this guy’s No. 1 spot |
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Money Talks is a weekly series showcasing how real people in Charlotte approach money. Participate.
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Job: “Wealth management executive. Total household income is $525K including salary, bonuses, revenue share, and 1099-contract work. I started my career making $26K.”
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Net worth: “$2.8M. Split between real estate equity and investment accounts.”
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Portfolio: “Probably 90% stock funds, with the remaining 10% in a safe Vanguard money market fund. We’re pretty simple.”
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Splurge: “Other people. I am generous to a fault. I remember what it felt like to be young and broke, so I love treating.”
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Rich in Charlotte: “I’d have said $5M at one point, but these days it’s probably closer to $15M. It’s quiet money or family money.”
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On your mind: “Nutty money advice on social media. People can get hurt. Personal finance should be pretty boring if you’re doing it right. That doesn’t sell ads I guess.”
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Full story: 43-year-old pulling down $525K used to keep cash in envelopes
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MONEY SNACKS
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5 other financial headlines I’m snacking on
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CrossFit Gym for sale in Plaza Midwood asking $150K. Revenue $220K. 115 active members. Owner selling due to military deployment.
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Charlotte FC home opener on Saturday. Tickets start at $32. First soccer fans receive free limited-edition party shirts.
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Golf blogger ranks Charlotte golf logos. CCC in “Elite” tier. Longview described as “Just Plain Bad.”
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Grandfather Golf & Country Club condo hits the market at $690K. Renovated this year. 2 beds. Covered porch with lake views.
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Norse Brewing Company for sale in Wake Forest asking $995K. $1.7M revenue. $382K cash flow. Real estate available too.
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HOUSEKEEPING
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Harriet’s Hamburgers opens $900K location in the heart of Plaza Midwood
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| Harriet’s $11.95 “OG” Hamburger |
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Now open: Harriet’s Hamburgers opened their 4th location in Plaza Midwood 2 days ago. Davidson is up next.
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On a busy day, a single Harriet’s location will do 2,000 fresh, hand-smashed patties.
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Fries are cooked in 100% Creekstone Farms beef butter. It takes 200 pounds to fill up a single location’s fryers.
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Owners: Given their complementary backgrounds, Harriet’s 3 founders make one helluva team👇
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Joe Haubenhofer of Plaid Penguin fame
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Brian Stockholm of Papi Queso fame
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Collin Ricks of Durban Development fame
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Investment: “Build-outs run around $900,000 per location,” Joe told me. “We don’t spare where it counts, because the details ultimately turn a space into a place.”
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Happy Thursday! I’m going back to new hotspot Mi Cariño with my wife tonight. I can’t wait to crush their $24 Argentinian red shrimp ceviche.
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– Ted
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MONEY POLL
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How would you describe the Charlotte real estate market?
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Buyer’s Market
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Seller’s Market
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Last week’s poll results: Best burger in Charlotte right now? (12,998 subscribers)
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