City Investment Supports Redevelopment of Historic Excelsior Club
Published on November 06, 2025
Soon, a new generation of Charlotteans will rediscover the historic Excelsior Club.
With dozens of residents holding signs in a show of support, Charlotte City Council on Monday, Oct. 27, unanimously approved funding for a plan to restore and redevelop the Beatties Ford Road landmark.
The city and Mecklenburg County will each invest $1.5 million toward the $8.3 million project. The remaining $5.3 million will be from private and philanthropic support.
“I’m so excited — not just about investing in The Excelsior but also about investing in a community rich in tradition,” said Charlotte City Council Member Malcolm Graham, who represents District 2 where the project is located. Graham also serves as chair of the Jobs & Economic Development Committee. “This project is about more than restoring a building. It’s about supporting Beatties Ford and connecting with the incredible momentum happening here. It shows, in a very visible way, that change is coming.”
Council’s approval follows a similar vote from the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 22.
Restoring a Legacy, Inspiring Renewal
Founded in 1944 by Jimmie and Minnie McKee, the Excelsior Club became one of the Southeast’s most influential African American social and political institutions. It was a favorite spot for movers and shakers, from politicians to musicians, including Bill Clinton, Nat King Cole, Louis Armstrong, James Brown and Sam Cooke. The location was also listed in the Green Book, a guide for African Americans to find safe places to go during the Jim Crow era.
The building has sat vacant since 2016. Several proposals for the site stalled over the years, with the site changing ownership multiple times.
The development is led by Shawn Kennedy, founder of Kennedy Property & Development, and Tim Sittema, managing partner with Crosland Southeast, which is also the master developer of the Eastland Yards project.
The developers plan to purchase and redevelop the property as a community and entertainment venue, honoring its legacy as a cornerstone of culture, music and entrepreneurship in Charlotte.
Over the past few months, the City of Charlotte’s Economic Development staff worked closely with the county and the development team to ensure the project honors the building’s legacy while also aligning with key City Council priorities for community investment and economic revitalization.
The restored Excelsior will feature a modern juke joint restaurant with live music and healthy American cuisine. As envisioned by the developers, community engagement will remain central with festivals, farmers markets, performing arts workshops, mentoring programs, breakfast forums, holiday dinners and free event space for local organizations. The Excelsior will also host culinary training, workforce development programs and second-chance hiring initiatives.
"We are developing more than a project — we are perpetuating a legacy,” Kennedy said. “This strong public-private partnership allows us to preserve the soul and historic character of the Excelsior while activating its potential as a catalyst for community and economic renewal. We want to thank the City Council and Mayor Lyles for their leadership and support in returning the lighthouse back to Beatties Ford Road.”
While the original structure will be rebuilt, key architectural elements — the façade and signature entrance — will be replicated, maintaining the club’s historic character while accommodating modern programming and accessibility needs.
Most of the city’s investment, $1.31 million, is through revenue replacement funds made available through the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA); the remainder is through the city’s Corridors of Opportunity program.
Several safeguards have been added to ensure accountability and preservation compliance. Developers will be required to submit and receive approval of their plans to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission. Also, the city will provide funding only after specific construction milestones are completed.
To monitor the commitment to community engagement, an annual impact report will be provided for up to 10 years.
Construction is expected to begin in 2027 and be completed in late 2029.
Partnerships that Build Charlotte
Charlotte Economic Development advances public-private partnerships to shape transformative real estate projects that foster economic growth and strengthen the city’s business climate. As of Sept. 30, the city’s Tax Increment Grants (TIGs) program reported $196 million in active investment, which will leverage $6.5 billion in private investment.