Let's just say what I love, like and do not enjoy about this place... I'm going to make it easy on all of us...
Love: Â
* Studio Movie Grill- They're working out those server kinks and it's coming along nicely... AND they validate!
* Five Guys- There's nothing better than a greasy cheeseburger and fries after a night on the town...
* CVS- It works out great when you're out for said night on the town and you forgot something...
Like:
* Alive After 5- I like hanging out in the cool summer sunshine and there's always a good crowd...
* Mortimer's Pub- Their food is actually pretty good!
* Cold Stone Creamery- Singing and dancing with ice cream? Yep, I'm on it.
Do Not Enjoy:
* That stupid cobblestone on the bottom floor- Even while sober, it is treacherous at best... Are you actively trying to help drunken girls break their ankles? You know they're trying to be vixens!
* Howl at the Moon- I'm not knocking you if that's your bag, but eh... I'm over it... And there's no food? Â Whatevs...
Overall, it's okay... Maybe I'm just not their target demographic... Â You can't win them all, I guess...
so much in one place you don't need to go anywhere else! there is something for everyone and the train drops you off right in the center of it. walking distance to the Cricket arena, shopping, amazing food smells, bowling, movies. It is literally all right there!
I may have to come back for a day trip!
You know, I'm not a big fan of The EpiCentre in general, but there have been a few things lately that have bumped this "what would have been a 2-3 star" review up to a 4. I know. Pretty ridiculous, but here's why.
I'm not gonna touch on the "blah blah blah bar scene, blah blah nightlife, blah blah alive after 5, blah blah clubs," etc. Also, why even bother with the parking situation? If you want to complain, then park elsewhere and walk. Yes, it's expensive. Correct, NO ONE validates. Big deal. What I love is to see who is moving into this space and making it have more hospitable appeal.
Cool Offices:
Charlotte Hounds (Pro Lacrosse)
Charlotte Checkers
New:
Studio Movie Grill
And soon to be more, from what I've heard
I'm excited to see this place get a little bit of a facelift from the besmirched record it has from years past. It's nice to see them motioning towards a "family-friendly" atmosphere and some more daytime appeal.
It's a great addition for the city of Charlotte! Loaded with fun and nightlife with restaurants, bars and clubs for locals and visitors to enjoy!
Some of my friends were in town for the weekend and I took them here so they could see the best of the the city life! They really enjoyed how there were plenty of restaurants and bars to hang out in.
The only downside here is parking, it's a little tricky to find and it's going to cost you at least $10...but I guess that's one of the joys to city living!
Overall, it's a good variety of things to do and places to eat. Great for a fun night out or when you have friends in town.
Look forward to returning again!
I think the Epicentre is a lot of fun during the day and at night. Â There is a good combination of things to see and do in a relatively small area, and it keeps you from having to walk all over the city. Â The bars at night are pretty good, they are at least fun to go to every now and then. Â I think as the city continues to grow it will get even better.
Review Source:If you ask around Charlotte you're going to get a pretty wide variety of opinions on the Epicentre. Myself, I kinda like the place but in small doses. There is a very decent range of bars to go to and with the movie theater and bowling alley it kinda comes off as a amusement park for adults. The weekends are the best though when the place is fairly crowded, the energy is going and the people watching is prime. The only downside with the place is that when you get that many random drunk people together you are going to run into the occasional asshole. So my recommendation would certainly be to check the place out but as the night wears on tread lightly.
Review Source:Being from out of town, the EpiCenter is a total joke. I have never seen such a lump of poorly run businesses all in one place. Although, I do appreciate them all in one clump so I can collectively avoid any happenings here.
I think the literal buildings of the epicenter is set up great- its like downtown Salt Lake City and could be super cool. But its not. Everything seems to usually be closed unless its Friday or Saturday night, and the places I've gone were pretty awful, so much that I've completely ruled epicenter out of my list of destinations. It has just failed too many times.
The concept is there. It's just too bad that all those businesses will have patrons even if the place is run poorly, it'd have to be pretty hard for a club/nightlife bar fail here. Perhaps I have terrible luck with customer service and finding a single employee at any bar in the epicenter that knows what's going on.
Collectively the bars forget THEY ARE IN THE CUSTOMER SERVICE / HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY! This plagues the Charlotte area- all the workers seem to hate their job, while doing it slow and careless. Sorry people came out on Friday to ruin your night.
$10-$15 parking on a regular night is robbery- its a sad tiny little city with few destinations, they should be paying people to come here.
And Charlotte- why do you call downtown Uptown? If that's uptown, then where the heck is downtown?!? Haha.
Appropriate name since it really does pull together the Charlotte nightlife uptown. Â There is a variety of things to do here. Â You can go bowling at StrikeCity. Â You can eat at Enso or Blackfinn or several other places. Â And you can even catch a movie at the theaters located on the second level. Â
They just put in a Gold's Gym which really comes in handy for those that work and live uptown.
I'm certainly a fan!
A nice array of restaurants but not much else here. I was happy to see one nice store near the top, but the rest of the storefronts belonged to expensive restaurants and entertainment (bowling and a movie theater). I think this place could be pretty cool if it had a bit more shopping. It would definitely be more well rounded.
Review Source:There are two things that redeem the EpiCentre from being a pitiful one star for me. 1: Living a couple blocks away, I might conceivably find one or two of the shops here convenient one day. And 2: It's quite an attractive building if you can ignore the unfinished bits of concrete and rebar sticking out of the top like broken promises. But that, I'm afraid, is as far as my considerable generosity will stretch.
I suppose if pretentious places like Mez, Kazba or (heaven forbid) rapey places like Whiskey River are your scene then this place is probably "totally sick" or even "wicked awesome, bro". But it's not mine. And well, it's my review. Let Fratty McKegstand and Roofy McDouchebag write 5-star reviews in between fist-pumps.
Out celebrating multiple January birthdays, one of my fellow newly 30-somethings decided he wanted to go to Kazba so badly that he paid the cover for all those that didn't want to go. After 45 minutes witnessing the sort of behavior that makes one wonder if humanity would even be worth saving from a global cataclysm, we decided to leave. Once out the door and past the velvet rope (how cliche!) a friend of mine decided to say "bye, douche bag" to one of the ruder bouncers.
Evidently the bouncer's Napoleon complex would not let such an affront to his character stand and tried to forcibly keep my friend there against his will. After some tugging on shirts and threats of violence, cops were called and the little shit actually had the nerve to claim legal high ground. I'll admit it wasn't the most dignified action I've seen from my friend but it was a personal remark of someone as he was leaving. He broke no law. So if I'm not mistaken, that's false imprisonment.
Fortunately, an employee from next door who was apparently familiar with the little Road House Bonaparte's antics saw the whole thing and made sure the cops knew what happened. Still, the officer told us to leave the EpiCentre; which was pretty fucking convenient as that's exactly what we were trying to do in the first place.
This reminds me of a City Walk, Hollywood/Highland or a Downtown Disney. Â Gentrified restaurant choices, movie theatre, area for live music, etc..
The people milling around seemed a bit off to my husband and I.
We wondered if there was a chubby prostitute convention in town.
Plus, alot of people smoking and getting rowdy in the later hours. It was fine for a place to grab a bite and a movie, because we were staying across the street at the Ritz. But I would not pick it as a destination.
The EpiCentre is great for a few things; plenty of places to eat, drink and be entertained. Â These are all the great reasons you would visit the EpiCentre. Â On the other hand you better be prepared for crowded bars, expensive drinks, and a whole lot of chaos. Â My favorite time to visit the EpiCentre is during the day it's more chill you can sit outside, relax and enjoy some great people watching. Â
I recently had a chance to check out the Biergarten at Pavilion on the top floor of the EpiCentre. Â The place was dead when I was there I was 1 of 4 customers there but I liked the atmosphere and they had a good selection of beers on tap. Â
If your looking for a place to entertain some out of town guests the EpiCentre has plenty to offer.
I don't know what to make of the EpiCentre. Is it an outdoor mall? This is nothing to what we have in Dallas, TX. It had restaurants, a CVS, a bowling alley, a movie theatre and a parking gargage. Since it is right across from my hotel, the Ritz Carelton, I had dinner at two of the restaurants, Vida and Enso on two different nights. I even went to the CVS for snacks and drinks. I may go to the movies at the Mez if they are showing anything I'm interested in watching. To me, this is just run of the mill. Maybe I am just pissed because my hotel room faces the EpiCentre and I can hear drunkards yelling at the top of their lungs at 2am while I am trying to sleep and get to work the next day. During the daytime it is nice and quiet. However, if there is an event, which there are a few while I am here, it gets pretty rowdy.
Review Source:I am in LOVE with the EpiCentre! Who wouldn't love a three story complex full of bars, restaurants, nightclubs, hotel and a movie theater? You will find me here at least 1-3 times a week if I'm in town! It has something for everyone and I definitely recommend it, my favorite part is when Alive After Five starts up and last till it starts to get cold. Great spot!
Review Source:The EpiCentre, as a whole. Â It's a tricky mess trying to lump it all into one category, and one review. Â As others have said - Daytime EpiCentre and Nighttime EpiCentre are two totally different beasts. Â One more beastly than the other, for sure. Â
During the day/lunchtime there are tons of quick and tasty places to eat (5 Guys, Firehouse, Moe's, Jason's Deli, Libretto's), some sit-down places (Mortimer's, Vida, Enso) and dessert choices (Cold Stone, Yoforia) and if you're coming from the Wells Fargo campus, you can get there and not have to venture outside (unless you count that section of parking garage you have to walk through in the BB&T building "outside"). Â And if you need a go-to pharmacy, the CVS downstairs can't be beat.
I'd give it a 5 star rating for the daytime. Â Super convenient for uptown workers and dwellers during the day (we're already parked here somewhere, so it's not an issue).
Now, the evening on the other hand... beast-a-rific. Â Dress code issues (really? you're not going to let us in to see X-Men because the hubs is wearing flip flops?), accidentally going to Suite on college night (get off my lawn), parking, traffic, and oh my the drunkie-poos. Â Those things all make it a tad unpleasant.... but yet.... There's something about it. Â Something about the closeness of the establishments, and the options that you have. Â You can go to a few different places that have totally different vibes and never have to walk more than 100 yards. Â It's just such a cool concept, and I really do love it.
What we really need to work on fixing is the type of people that end up here. Â Maybe... a test before you are allowed on the premises. Â I can picture it now. Â Set a beer, a funnel, and a tube out on the sidewalk - if you put the 3 together and crush the beer, you aren't allowed in. Â Put up a sign with some glitter tubes "Free Glitter!" Â If you apply the glitter to yourself, you aren't allowed in. Â Think that would work?
The timer on parking is inaccurate. It rounds up by several minutes. I know this because I timed my stay for a mystery shop, so I had the correct time down to the second. I brought this to the attention of the parking staff, and they were inexcusably angry because I wouldn't trust their computer's time. They eventually let me pay the correct amount, but not before the manager AND janitor got into a shouting monologue at me.
So the next time you're there and your parking fee is doubled, remember this, and be prepared to be "banned" from ever parking at the Epicenter again. ;)
I really like the concept of EpiCenter, but I'm not a fan of the location & the parking situation. Charlotte is notorious for "let's see how much we can pack into downtown / uptown".
I worked an event there Saturday night & the place was packed full of people - all walks of life & all ages.
Pros: Plenty of opportunities to entertain yourself, whether it's Mez (movies), dining, dancing, bowling or drinking. Â I like the idea of being able to have everything all in one space. Â The layout is really nice.
Cons: As others noted, it's busy. Traffic is horrible trying to get in. Â There's limited parking & you have to pay for it. Â I've also heard via friends that the attitude is very stiff & as always dress code is not "one size fits all". Â Some things are acceptable at some places, but may not be at another establishment. Â If you're looking for shopping / retail, you won't find it here (which is what uptown / downtown lacks).
All in all, it's a money maker for Charlotte & that's a plus!
Depending on what you come here for, if you're visiting Charlotte and you want to check out the night life this is mostly where it's going to be at (there are other options though!) This place is full of restaurants, clubs, and bars. I have came here several times for clubs, movies, sushi, and well for this time to bowl (my review in StrikeCity is listed). However, every time I come here I'm reminded of how limited the spots in Charlotte are and how special this place is. It's always packed with people, so if you're in a social mood this is where to go.
So, come here and have some fun! If you go to the Mez, they have a high class restaurant and a movie theater (and you can eat in there) but make sure to reserve for opening nights. I came here to watch the final Harry Potter movies (which was amazing).
Epicenter has places to park, and close to mostly everything if you want to walk around Charlotte. And it's also very close to the light rail if you don't want to drive all that way (just get off at 3rd street and walk there!)
If you live in Uptown Charlotte, you most likely have a love-hate feeling towards the EpiCentre. The reason for that is you probably visit this place very often and are ABSOLUTELY sick of coming here, but you always come back because there's really not that much to do in Uptown Charlotte.
The clubs here are pretty good for the nights when I want to dress up and go out to meet new people. You can easily move from one place to another, hopping from Black Finn to Mez and then to Suite or Whiskey River.
The people here are pretty stuck up. You have really average looking people strutting around thinking that they're Michael Jackson. Absolutely ridiculous! They also have some food places like Librettos and Strike City that serve decent food. After a few months of the EpiCentre, you can seriously use a new city to visit!
This place has 2 different times. Day and Night. Day time is not bad. Good little spot to go have lunch or just hang out, but the night time brings out the drunks and losers.
If you want to see drunks, throw up, hookers, and a lot of testosterone then come out at night. This place turns into a sewer at night. Why must this place have so much security? Is it to keep the bouncers/security from beating anyone they want ? Is it to keep an eye on the doorman who sell drugs? All I know is there is security and customers still get beat and robbed.
I would rather not pay for over priced drinks, not step around vomit, and I surely do not want to go any place where the owner is a CROOK!!! Epic center will continue to be a herpes sore on queen city Charlotte.
By far the best strip I have been my entire life! We visited for several nights and loved every night. You definitely shouldn't visit by yourself due to the amount of drunk people exiting the businesses at night.
They have everything, still don't understand why Raleigh doesn't have a block like this?????
We will definitely be back, as Arnold would say.
I usually love downtown spots like this, but as I get older I realize that they often house spots that are way too mainstream and overpriced. Â With that said, this place SERIOUSLY reminded me of the Denver Pavilions on the 16th St. Mall. Â
We happened to stop in here late on a Monday night, so our options were limited. Â We ended up going to BlackFinn, which was a similar A-OK experience. Â I could see how this place would be nuts on the weekend! Â We only ran into one tool that night - some dude hit us up for a cab fare, and after my buddy gave him $5, he was like "that's it?". Â Nice. Â Jackass.
I really like EpiCentre, but I hate the people that roam around the place. You know the people that I'm talking about, the preppy frat guys, college kids, and the people with inflated egos. Well that mostly changes when you walk into some of the venues offered here surprisingly. I guess most people just come here to wander around and look important.
There's not much to buy here but plenty to eat and do. I love the theater here, cause it has a bar and other theaters don't duh! But the Mez it's attached to is a let down. Â I think I'll stay away from Suite and Whiskey River where the college kids hang out and head over to Kazba which tends to draw a more mature crowd. Strike City is a little expensive but it's worth paying a little extra for a full bar while bowling! I haven't tried much of the food here, but Libretto's has a satisfying pizza, and cold stone is good as usual. I'll have to try to come to an Alive After Five sometime as I hear it's a ton of fun.
At the end of the day I wish I could hate you Epicentre, but I love all the interesting things you have to offer. So like an addict I'll keep coming back for more.
The EpiCentre...the center of tons o' commerce, boatloads of people, and many a frat boy also plays host to some real gems.
If you don't like tourists, crowds or popped collars, you may tremble at the thought of EpiCentre on a Thurs-Sat evening. However, take a little time and explore the place when it's not a mass of people and you may grow to appreciate it. Allow me to break it down for you...
The Great: The place is kept up extraordinarily well from the ongoing maintenance and, I assume, a great cleaning crew. Some of my fave non chain places here to hit up when EpiCentre is not overflowing with people: Mortimer's: Catch a bite and a game, Revolution: Cute clothes and shoes, Strike City: Watching any Big 10 game and bowl on someone else's dime, Biergarten: Casual place with long tables with solid beer, Vida Cantina: Guacamole. Done, Mez: Great movie theater when you don't want to deal with lines and such, Libretto's: Tasty quick slice of 'za.
The Suckage: Parking. Sucks. The only two places (that I've found) that validate are Mez (if you go to a movie and even then it's a limited amount of time) and First Physicians. Yup, that's it. So, be prepared to either pay the automatic meter or shell out cash during for an evening parking job. And frankly, these parking attendants have been total ass bags to me in the past...but whatever. And as mentioned previously...The EpiCentre can be quite young and really touristy.
While Epi brings in about needed traffic and dollars to Uptown, you just have to plan accordingly to avoid the occasional rage of 22 year old frat boys and drunkies.
I want to hate you, EpiCentre, but I can't deny what you have done for Uptown. I hate your cookie-cutter nightlife, I hate your faux-cobblestones, I hate your cheap beer and your frat-tastic crowd. But I love that Uptown has a life now. There are people around on the weekends, and it's (mostly) because of you.
I liked Alive After Five when it was on Wachovia's plaza and I cursed your name when you stole it up to your rooftop. But I can't deny how nice it is there. Despite my best efforts, I have even enjoyed some of the musical acts. The EpiCentre crowds can be pretty homogeneous, but you do draw an interesting group from time to time.
I am utterly disinterested in every piece of retail in the complex, but I appreciate the effort. A few more stores (maybe one selling clothes for normal people to wear during the daylight hours?) and I won't have to drive to SouthPark for every single purchase. I hate to say it, EpiCentre, but you are a step in the right direction.
Best of luck with your foreclosures.
Living down town, this combination of eateries, movies, bowling, shopping, dancing, and dining along with live music in the summer is what every downtown needs. Â Add in a huge sport venue a block away and it cannot be beat.
Being a resident it is my go to place that I can walk too........and walk home from......let me repeat that for all you folks that take cabs back to whereever and drive after hitting the bars......it is my go to place that I can walk too........and walk home from when I get my party, food, whatever on.
I don't club that much and so many other establishments are within 2 blocks there is never a situation that cannot be adjusted, changed, or improved by going somewhere else.
Great setup for great times.
This Centre is Epic! har har, I so funny. I'm not particularly fond of the "EpiCentre" nor am I partial to any spot. But I do greatly appreciate the vision and this mini mall concept for adults they got going on.
Live concerts, MMA fights, pretentious bouncers and shady management. From classy women in prom dresses (and no it's not actually for prom), to skanky, I mean swanky chicks in mini skirts & halters in 43 degree weather, to D-bags rockin' Afflliction & Ed Hardy to country boys with cowboy boots and hats. Cougars chasing the polo shirt kids, and old timers in three piece suits looking for their Anna Nicole.
EpiCenter has something for everyone!
Seriously? They took a six story outdoor mall and leased to any business with money in hand ready and willing. There are like six random trendy night clubs (we went to Mez) blaring deafeningly loud techno to country, a few fast foodish or bar food type restaurants, an urgent care medical center, and a doctors office. Let's just say it's a well appointed cluster.
Lest we forget the patrons ... Sleezy and cheesy, slutty and smutty - also a total cluster. Like the random pervy man that just started taking our picture without permission or the Very Short Jersey Shore type man that tapped me on my shoulder and gave this gem:
"Brian?"
Me: (insert puzzled look here) "No."
Very Short Jersey Shore type man: "Can we have your name? I seem to have lost mine."
Shaking my head...
Jay R pretty much sums it up with "something for everyone". Yeah it's a little corporate and ostentatious in some spots, but Charlotte needed something like this in Uptown. While I prefer the surrounding neighborhood spots around town, Epicentre does have some fun spots, such as the theater and the rooftop pavilion for events like Alive After Five in the summer. I enjoy Strike City as well, for sports watching, though the OSU fans can kiss my...well, you know...ha.
Overall, the concept is right, though some of the execution and attitudes of the business owners makes me laugh...you can't deny it adds something positive to the Uptown scene...especially for those short-term out of town guests (insert smile).
One word to sum up the Epicentre = It has it ALL!
Yea so it's not one word. Â You can't use one word, well at least I can't. Â Seriously though this place has everything. Â The Epicentre is three levels and most every space in the center is filled with great places. Â Check the lists below
Nightlife:
Mez
Kazba
Enso
Howl at the Moon
Whiskey River
Suite
Blackfinn
Strike City
Vida
Wild Wings
Other:
Liberettos
Mez Theaters
Five Guys
Jason's Deli
And more..
I know I forgot some there but damn there are a ton of places in this party center. Â Parking garage below it and generally will cost ya $10 and its cool if ya leave it over night. Â They never give me a hard time when I pick my ride up the next day. Â FYI Take a cab home! There are cops everywhere and its not worth the DWI.
During the summers they have an even, Alive After Five, every Thursday. Â A free concert at night and the party starts at 5. Â The place gets packed with everyone getting off work from all the banks and what not. Â Definitely worth checking out in the summers.
Occasionally a live concert is thrown on a Saturday as well. Â There is a decent size stage on the third floor and little building that opens up as a bar to serve on the stages patio. Â Also live MMA fights are held on the third floor.
Seriously you can spend a whole day here. Â Mexican, Sushi, Sports bars, Upscale Lounges, Dance clubs, Shopping of all sorts, bowling, great pizza, and a ton more!
Look at the lists, read reviews on each place. Â My general routine is the following:
Enso around 8 PM for Sushi, Blackfinn for a few drinks, Whiskey River for a few more, Mez/Kazba to chill and do shots, back to Blackfinn for shots, then if enough people convince me I'll hit up Suite (I care not for this place), more likely I'll hit an "exotic" dance club later... or after Suite.
Come to Epicentre, it has something for everyone.
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