Sparkhouse Uptown: Making History in a Historic Space

The facade of Sparkhouse Uptown, located at 500 North Tryon St.

In Charlotte, the path to opportunity is not always a matter of talent or ambition. Sometimes, it comes down to accessing the right resources and connections. Located on the corner of North Tryon and East Eighth Streets is Sparkhouse Uptown, a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship by Do Greater, created to help bridge that gap. It provides a space where underestimated talent can find the tools, support and connections needed to turn potential into opportunity.

The commercial building at 500 North Tryon St. has long been a space where creativity and industry collide. From its construction in 1921 as an automobile showroom to its time housing former Mayor Harvey Gantt’s innovative architecture firm, the historic structure has remained a steadfast fixture of Uptown’s First Ward. Now, it’s home to a place that honors its legacy while moving the city forward.

A Place Where Up Starts

Sparkhouse Charlotte, known as Sparkhouse, officially cut the ribbon on its 20,000-square-foot location in Uptown on June 19. Since then, creators and entrepreneurs have stopped by to access resources, network, attend events or simply grab a cup of coffee. Thanks, in part, to the City of Charlotte’s $750,000 investment, Sparkhouse is poised to become an essential piece of Charlotte’s economic and workforce development puzzle.

“At Do Greater, we power potential,” Founder and CEO William McNeely said.

McNeely is the man behind the Sparkhouse vision. A native of the Queen City, Do Greater and, subsequently, Sparkhouse Charlotte are part of his mission to help others. This newest building features a coffee shop, an entrepreneurial support center, a creative digital studio, a screen printing hub and much more.

“Space is sometimes not about the physical. We are talking about space as in the environment needed to be successful. We are providing the tools and resources, in addition to the physical space, to be able to achieve greater,” he said.

The desire to achieve greater is etched into the walls of this building as its legacy echoes in the hallways, meeting rooms and creative areas, carrying the history of those who occupied the space previously. 

A Piece of Charlotte History Preserved 

While Sparkhouse provides a new outlook on the future to all who visit, its foundation was first laid over 100 years ago, when Charlotteans of the past looked to make names for themselves in their respective fields. In 1920, local developer Oscar J. Thies purchased the land to house a car sales room and service lot. He commissioned leading Charlotte architect Louis H. Asbury to build on the plot. A year later, the first tenant, Carolinas Nash Company, started selling Nash and LaFayette cars in the newly constructed building. According to the National Register of Historic Places Registration Form, five dealerships would follow before the Great Depression tanked car sales.

From 1924 to 1986, different renters would come and go. Grocers, painters and even a pianist called the coveted spot home before it eventually fell empty in the late 1980s. Despite the revolving door of tenants, the building stood the test of time. That same registration form shows it is one of the oldest remaining small-scale commercial buildings on North Tryon Street. It’s also the only known surviving small-scale commercial building designed by Asbury. That’s just part of the reason why former Mayor Harvey Gantt wanted it.

“I wanted to be on Tryon Street,” he said. “Very few buildings down here were owned by African Americans. My partner and I wanted to make this our home because we never wanted to leave Tryon Street.”

In 1994, Gantt and his partner, Jeffery Huberman, purchased the building from Bank of America as the new space for their architecture firm. After renovations, they spent the next quarter century designing innovative, community-driven buildings from the coveted corner lot. Gantt kept the space, even after selling the firm in 2012. More than a decade later, the space would become Sparkhouse, where innovation and community were once again at the forefront.

“I never imagined it would be Sparkhouse,” Gantt said. “The Lord has a funny way of making things happen. But as the former mayor of Charlotte, and someone who wanted to help people, this pleases my heart. We created here, and they are going to help people to continue creating here."

Walking into the building in 2026, Gantt immediately noticed the differences. The offices he once knew were now classrooms and study spaces. The basement that held storage for his firm was now a full-fledged digital studio fitted with cameras, lighting and a podcast set. McNeely says, however, that while the physical parts of the building are different, the heart of it stays the same. To him, that’s all that matters.

“We could not have imagined a better group to take over this building,” he said. “They are building this into the greatness that it could be, and it is going to get there. It is going to get there by getting more young people in that door, creating more opportunities and giving back to Charlotte.”

Gantt, McNeely, and Executive Director of Economic Development Shadid Rana sit together at Sparkhouse.

The deep historical roots of this building aren’t lost on McNeely either.

“I couldn't have asked for a better landlord,” he said.

Gantt inspired McNeely long before the building lease. The Do Greater CEO was in high school when Gantt became Charlotte’s mayor. He admired Gantt’s vision for the city and his understanding of the importance of investing in the next generation.

“He was someone I always looked up to, and I knew I wanted to make an impact myself, much like he did,” McNeely said.

While neither of them knew back then Sparkhouse would be the thing that brought them together, they realized their love for their community would inevitably cause their words to collide once again.

Building Charlotte’s Future 

“This is the house where up starts,” McNeely said, “where your upward opportunity starts.”

The vision behind Sparkhouse is rooted in a belief that Charlotte is filled with underestimated talent deserving of greater investment. All resources are open to the public, but the hope is underserved communities and young people in the area will come to the building with the intent to learn new skills and foster old ones. For McNeely, that mission is personal.

“I feel like I was underestimated,” he said. “When I was in middle school, high school and college, I was underestimated, but I was not really in the right rooms to be able to recognize my potential.”

Rather than allowing others to wait for access to those rooms, Do Greater created Sparkhouse to become one. The space provides resources and connections for individuals who may have experienced similar challenges, creating an environment where their potential can not only be recognized, but also developed. It is an intentional effort to bring people closer to the opportunities they deserve, without requiring them to wait for someone else to open the door.

“We want people to say, ‘If I want to start something, Sparkhouse is where I go,’” McNeely said. “This is your purpose, and you don’t need permission to start it.”

With its central location, Sparkhouse Uptown is designed to bring together people who might not otherwise find themselves in the same spaces. At its core is connection. Through programs, events and its community spaces, Sparkhouse creates opportunities for individuals from different backgrounds and industries to interact, collaborate and build relationships. From an equity perspective, those connections are essential.

“When you look at the studies, it all talks about ‘economic connections are the catalyst for growth,’” he said. “We enhance those connections in our spaces and bring them to one place. So, you got the 15-year-old future business owner learning from the 45-year-old current business owner and vice versa.”

So far, McNeely says he is seeing that so far. The response from the community since opening has been encouraging. The coffee shop and lounges have also been well received by the community. Visitors have embraced the space's welcoming atmosphere, reinforcing the importance of creating a place where people genuinely want to spend time making those connections.

“People love the space,” he said. “Love the design and warmth of the space.”

A City Investment in Charlotte's Economic Future

The City of Charlotte's $750,000 investment in Sparkhouse was instrumental in bringing Sparkhouse Uptown to life. According to McNeely, the project would not have been completed without the city's support. Beyond the financial contribution, the investment validated the organization's mission and the work it hopes to accomplish.

“Our supporters looked to the city to validate what we were doing here,” he said.

On Oct. 27, 2025, Charlotte City Council unanimously approved giving the Do Greater Foundation $750,000. It is part of the city’s ongoing commitment to economic and workforce development. This money helped create the City Showroom, which is described as a creative space for co-learning, events, presentations and more. With the city's resources behind the project, Sparkhouse is now positioned to support broader municipal priorities, including small business development, workforce development, economic needs, and literacy.

Part of the City Showroom in Sparkhouse Uptown.

Economic Development Director Shahid Rana is grateful his team was able to push this partnership forward.

“It means a lot because we are a full-service economic development department, and we pride ourselves on working with large corporations and small organizations,” Rana said. “This was a true smell the roses and enjoy the fruits of labor for many people. We take pride in making sure there are opportunities for everyone, no matter their economic status.”

A Place to Start Something 

Ultimately, Sparkhouse wants to become the place people think of when they are ready to take the next step, whether that means starting a business, developing a creative skill, finding a connection or pursuing an idea.

Its vision centers on removing the barriers that often prevent people from getting started. By bringing resources, people and opportunities together under one roof, the organization hopes to create an environment where individuals feel empowered to take action. It is a space built around the belief that people should not have to wait for permission to pursue their purpose.

“Instead of waiting too long to be in that room, we created it, and this is the right room that will tap into that potential,” McNeely said.

 Sparkhouse Uptown is a public-private partnership from the City of Charlotte. Learn more about the many projects we champion by visiting the Economic Development page. If you own a small business, you can receive more support and resources by getting small business certified.