- Press -

Restaurateur Sam Fox Set to Expand Charlotte Footprint with New Locations of North Italia, Flower Child

Charlotte Business Journal

October 5, 2023

Restaurateur Sam Fox has Charlotte expansion in his sights, with two ventures lined up for 2024.

His Fox Restaurant Concepts will bring North Italia and Flower Child to Northwood Retail’s The Bowl at Ballantyne.

The Bowl is part of the $1 billion-plus Ballantyne Reimagined project. The first phase of The Bowl at Ballantyne — an urban district for food, entertainment and shopping — will include up to 70,000 square feet of retail as well as 350 apartments.

“We’re proud to bring these high-caliber concepts to south Charlotte and feel like these deals serve as big endorsements for The Bowl,” said Ward Kampf, president of Northwood Retail.

North Italia is a modern Italian concept known for its scratch kitchen, which dishes up pasta made daily, a chef’s choice daily pizza and entrees such as Squid Ink Tonnarelli and Braised Short Rib. Signature craft cocktails are available. Plans call for a 6,480-square-foot restaurant on Bowl Street in Ballantyne.

Flower Child will occupy a 3,555-square-foot spot. The brand is known for its made-from-scratch meals that cater to different lifestyle and dietary needs. Think customizable bowls, wraps, salads, mix-and-match veggies, grains, fruits and healthy proteins. It will be across from North Italia on Bowl Street.

“We’re happy to be adding locations to this energetic project, and Flower Child and North Italia are the perfect complement,” says Fox, a James Beard-nominated restaurateur.

Ballantyne marks the second Charlotte location for those brands. Both opened locations in South End in 2019. Fox is set to debut a third concept in the market — Culinary Dropout — next week.

The North Italia and Flower Child concepts will join nine previously announced businesses, including anchor tenant The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery, at The Bowl. Construction is underway on OMB’s brauhaus, taproom and biergarten, with a spring 2024 opening planned.

Northwood recently announced Jim Noble’s Bossy Beulah’s Chicken Shack, North Carolina-based Arrow – Cuts & Shaves and fast-growing fitness chain Solidcore had taken space at the center. Noble is bringing his Rooster’s Wood Fired Grill to the project as well. Harriet’s Hamburgers and new coffee concept Fly Kid Fly have also snagged space there, as has Honeysuckle Gelato and Drybar.

A second phase of The Bowl is expected to add another 25,000 square feet of retail space and an additional apartment tower.

Lauren Britt with Northwood Retail is leasing manager for The Bowl at Ballantyne.