🟢 Cheesesteaks Up 80%

Presented by:

By Ted Williams

Hello Thursday. I’m excited. Tomorrow is our 2nd annual Neighborhood Golf Open. 20 dads on our block are teeing it up at $78 Waterford Golf Club!

On Monday night, I hosted the team draft party and Calcutta auction on my back patio. Suffolk Punch Tropical IPAs (6%) were flowing and the total gambling pot hit 4-figures.

After the golf, we’re heading to Trevor’s house for a blazers-required cocktail party. He’s a software CEO, so I’m anticipating Steak 48-style seafood towers.

As I get older, I've come to realize neighborhood matters. In fact, studies show that people are 25% happier if best friends live within 1 mile. 40% if within 1/2 mile.

Jumping on this trend, west coast startup Live Near Friends recently raised $1.6M to help friends and family buy adjoining real estate. Anyways.

💼 Hot Job: AVP of Communications at Central Piedmont Community College ($120K – $145K). Oversee external, internal, and student comms. Awesome boss in VP Catherine Butler.

🏠 For Sale: Mid-century modern home known as The Glass Bates House hits the market for $1.8M. Located near Raintree, off Providence Rd.

👨 Shout-out: Deepen Patel, owner of PopUp Bagels Ballantyne, for selling 15,000 bagels on opening weekend. Insane. He's building 9 more locations across North Carolina, obvi.

MARKETS: YEAR-TO-DATE

S&P 500

6,699

+14.16%

Nasdaq

22,740

+17.94%

REINVESTMENT

Sales up 80% at Cheat's Cheesesteaks after new 8" Manolo's rolls and fresh ribeye

$18 Cheat's OG with Cooper Sharp, grilled onions, Cheat’s Sauce

Revenue: Despite a $2 price increase, Cheat's Cheesesteaks sales are up 80% since switching to Manolo's rolls and 8 ounces of fresh-shaved ribeye.

"If we had to raise prices (tariffs), why not design an entirely better product, top to bottom?" said partner Ryan Hart.
On busy days, they're now making 600 sandwiches and setting "single-day records."

Instagram: In a long Instagram post, Ryan explained why uncertain beef prices led them to use frozen rolls and beef over the summer. "We weren't proud of that."

"Without transparency we would be leaving our guests to draw their own conclusions," Ryan told me.

Comms strategy: Credit to Ryan for going directly to consumers to explain previous issues, price increases, and reinvestment.

And yes, the reimagined cheesesteak is delicious — even at $18.

Trending: With only 50 available each day, their new Chicken Caesar Hoagie sells out quickly.

"It's a 2-day process. The Springer Mountain Farms chicken breasts marinates in buttermilk overnight. Given the unexpected popularity, we are exploring all options."

PRESENTED BY TOCCARE

Book an award-winning facial at Toccare Day Spa in Dilworth

Toccare lobby in Dilworth, No. 1 best facial in Charlotte

Best facial: My wife and her friends are absolutely obsessed with Toccare. IYKYK.

The award-winning Dilworth day spa sees more than 1,000 clients each month.
Known for its focus on clean beauty and individualized treatments.

Book it: Their most popular first-time service is the Toccare Radiance Facial, which starts at $125 (call or text to book).

BOOTSTRAPPED

24-year-old's golf simulator company surpasses $1M in revenue, growing 100% YoY

Zach Norris, 24-year-old graduate of UNC Charlotte

Idea: When golf courses shut down during Covid, Zach started tinkering with building his own golf simulator.

Fast forward to this year and Virtual Tee will install around 70 at-home golf simulators, generating well over $1M in sales.
"It's been a breakout year for us. Our revenue has more than doubled from last year."
100% bootstrapped. Zach started the business with just a few thousand dollars. It's grown organically.

Pricing: At-home golf simulator installs start at $30K, and include end-to-end setup. Zach also offers a DIY Package at $8K where he provides components and assembly instructions.

"The reality is that it takes a tremendous amount of time and hands-on effort to design, build, and manage each project the right way."

Growth: Zach is adding another 4 employees and expanding into 5 additional states.

"Sustainable growth comes from patience and smart planning, not just chasing revenue."

TINY MONEY JOB BOARD

Who’s hiring in Charlotte? 5 Trending jobs

Staff Product Manager, Money at Credit Karma ($250K plus equity). Use consumer insights to inform product decisions.
Founder’s Associate at Lucid Bots. Robotics startup on pace for "8-figures" in revenue. Stock options. Work with CEO.
Director of Brand Experience at Driven Brands ($98K – $175K). Player-coach role on their Take 5 Oil Change brand. Reports to CMO.
Brand & Creative Project Manager at Krispy Kreme. Manage multiple creative projects. Vibey South End office.
Marketing Operations Analyst at Bankrate ($80K – $100K). Hybrid. Build the systems, reporting, and data for marketing.

Hiring? Post a job

Hunting? View all 94 open jobs on the Tiny Money Job Board 💰

MONEY TALKS

40-year-old nonprofit exec making $65K uses beach rental to build $2.5M net worth

$39 Shrimp Cocktail at Beef ‘N Bottle, her No. 1 dish

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

Living situation: “Own. Purchased in 2016. 30-year mortgage at 4.25%. We put more than 20% down to negate PMI. It was a FSBO property. They paid our agent's commission.”

Job: "Nonprofit professional. $65K salary. I know I'll never break 6-figures here, but the culture and flexibility are priceless to me."

Side hustles: "$40K in short-term rental (STR) income and $20K in photography income."

Best investment: "During the 2010 recession, we bought a beach lot for $42K. We continued to save for 2 more years, then built a house on the lot for $285K. It's now worth $850K."

Money hack: "I drink a lot of water, but I LOVE tea. I joined Panera's Unlimited Sip Club at $3 per month for unlimited drinks."

Rich in Charlotte: "I used to think it was your zip code, but now I believe if you're able to own a home, you're rich. I cannot imagine trying to buy a starter home now."

Full story: 40-year-old making $65K automates 28% of rental revenue to savings

MONEY SNACKS

5 other financial headlines I’m snacking on

High Point University becomes magnet for wealthy students, says WSJ. On-campus steakhouse. 68% acceptance rate.
Leluia Hall debuts brunch this weekend in Dilworth. Order the $28 Jerk Duck Benedict or $28 Crab-Topped French Omelette. Bougie.
Charlotte FC playoff tickets start at $40 for Tuesday's match against New York City FC. 6:30pm kickoff.
Bedding company for sale asking $1.5M. 40 years old. Revenue $1.7M. 25% margins. Owner retiring.
Pied-à-terres on the rise for wealthy parents in their kid's college town. For example, Maryland parents buy cozy Chapel Hill condo.

NOW OPEN

PoppyCox enters the “Best Chicken Sandwich” chat with its $14 Nashville hot Sando

$14 “The Sando” with slaw, pickles, and comeback sauce

Now open: After grinding as a food truck for 3 years, PoppyCox recently opened a permanent home inside Optimist Hall.

It’s easily a top 5 chicken sandwich in Charlotte, maybe No. 1. Although Bossy Beulah’s $9 “Beaut” and Milkbread’s $9 “Original” may have something to say about that.

Innovation: Next time, I’m taste-testing PoppyCox’s $16 Crazy Daddy Fries. Loaded fries with chopped Nashville hot chicken, comeback sauce, slaw, and pickles.

Happy Thursday! I’m predicting a 76 at Waterford and 100% chance of me ordering a $16 Bloody Mary at on Sunday. I’m a sucker for a jumbo shrimp garnish (I’m kinda basic, but whatevs).

– Ted

MONEY POLL

Are you interested in starting a business within the next 12 months?

Yes

Last week’s poll results: Is $100K in annual income enough to live comfortably in Charlotte? (11,427 subscribers)

Yes – 33%
No – 67%

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