If you followed our news in recent months, you may have noticed a trend — Black businesses opening at Camp North End.
The latest, announced this week, is Oh My Ganache, a family-run bakery where customers can build their own cheesecakes.
That brought to eight the total number of Black-owned businesses to announce openings at Camp North End so far this year. Brittani Sheppard, owner of Oh My Ganache, said she was drawn to the area because of the diversity.
Many of the new businesses are opening in ground-level retail spaces at The Kinship, a new apartment complex at Camp North End.
Varian Shrum, Camp North End’s community manager, said the development looks for “community-minded ” businesses when considering new retail tenants. “We like them, and they tend to gravitate to us,” she said.
In 2024, the Charlotte Bu-siness Journal reported that roughly 70% of Camp North End’s businesses are women and minority owned. Shrum said diversity and inclusion have been a part of Camp North End’s lens for almost a decade. “It was never a trend, it was never a fad; it’s ingrained in our DNA as something we value,” Shrum said.
Here’s a list of the new businesses:
Oh My Ganache
- Announced: June 2025
- Business sector: Food & Beverage
- Owners: Brittani Sheppard
Oh My Ganache, a family-run bakery, will open on June 14. The bakery lets customers build their own customized desserts and order “specialty crafted drinks.” Cheesecakes can be ordered whole or by the slice.
Owner Brittani Sheppard said the area’s diversity is what drew her family to choose Camp North End as the business’ new home.
“We were really big on being somewhere where people embrace unique experiences. And that’s really and truly what Camp North End embodies.”
How Sanguine
- Announced: June 2025
- Business sector: Events
- Owners: Chann and Montrel Little
How Sanguine, a “food-centered experience” concept, will open at Camp North End on June 14 with a public launch party.
Launched in 2024 by personal chef Montrel Little and his husband Chann Litte, an influencer, the concept will host culinary events, private dining experiences, and hands-on cooking classes.
Chann said that he and his husband always considered setting up shop in Camp North End because they had enjoyed visiting the venue since 2020, when the pandemic started. Chann said they enjoyed the area’s art and open space. He said he has fond memories of Camp North End.
“I feel like this when my husband and I truly fell in love,” Chann said. He also noted he appreciates the diversity of the area. Initially, Chann and Montrel had plans to open an Airstream but found they needed more space for their business. Chann said the Camp North End team contacted them after seeing videos of How Sanguine’s dinner parties on social media.
“It really is a special place. I feel like it has a great community of people, and I look forward to growing more here,” Chann said.
Surefire Market
- Announced: May 2025
- Business sector: Dining & Retail
- Owners: Magloire Lubika, Joel Lutuangu and Edric Lutuangu
Surefire Market, a concept that blends fast food and bodega-style shopping, will open a brick-and-mortar location at Camp North End.
Brothers Magloire Lubika, Joel Lutuangu and Edric Lutuangu founded the business in Rock Hill. Their family also operated the former Jeman Express restaurant and convenience store in West Charlotte for over twenty years.
The 1,832 square-foot space will offer indoor-outdoor dining, plus convenience store-style shopping.
Surefire Market is open seven days a week at Camp North End and will also operate from a food truck at HopFly Brewing.
The Finance Bar
- Announced: March 2025
- Business sector: Coaching
- Owners: Marsha Barnes
The Finance Bar, a mobile hub that provides clients with “financial therapy.” Barnes said she focuses on helping women and couples. She wanted her bus to be able to visit high schools and colleges to help students learn financial literacy.
With a new location at the Boileryard in Camp North End, Barnes said she will have a permanent place for the bus when she’s not traveling to speak to college students and a base of operations on site.
Barnes said she wanted to be in Camp North End because of its community and affordability.
“It feels like something always going on at Camp North End that’s cost effective,” Barnes said. “It’s a perfect alignment with the finance bar because it’s something that I wholeheartedly believe in.”
Springclean
- Announced: February 2025
- Business sector: Retail
- Owners: CT Anderson
Springclean, a nonprofit boutique dedicated to reducing waste, moved to Camp North End, in winter earlier this year. Anderson, who has more than two decades of experience in the sustainability field, described herself as a fashion lover.
Anderson said the move puts her close to one of Charlotte’s “corridors of opportunity,” low-income neighborhoods identified by city leaders for increased investments. She described the area as a “melting pot.”
“No matter where you come from, your economic background, your racial background, your beliefs, everyone comes to Camp North End, and I like that,” she said.
The Zen Cave
- Announced: January 2025
- Business sector: Cosmetology
- Owners: Tia Wilson
Owned by Tia Wilson, The Zen Cave is a tattoo shop that also sells crystals, sage and other items.
House of Akasi
- Announced: January 2025
- Business sector: Retail
- Owners: Courtnye Jackson
A boutique that offers clothing, candles, home goods, pet items and more. House of Akasi, owned by Courtnye Jackson
Cell Therapy
- Announced: January 2025
- Business sector: Cosmetology
- Owners: Dion and Davita Galloway
The Galloway, a brother-sister team that also owns DUPP&SWATT, is set to open a salon and barbershop.
The new business will be called CELL THERAPY, named after one of Davita Galloway’s favorite songs. The salon, scheduled to open this spring, would be the third Camp North End business owned by the brother-sister team.
Honorable mentions
Not every Black business announcement involved a new tenant. Some businesses announced moves into a bigger space.
Eggroll Company, founded by Daphne Alexander, expanded into a new 1,500 square foot space. Alexander said the expansion will allow the business to serve its growing customer base better. “The demand for Eggroll has exceeded our wildest expectations, ” Alexander said.
FITTEDS, a custom hat company, is also moving into one of the retail spaces in The Kinship.
