CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The company behind the Charlotte Hornets is teaming with two real estate firms to take over Queen City Quarter, the struggling uptown block once known as the EpiCentre, with plans to bring crowds back to the complex across the street from Spectrum Center.
Hornets Sports & Entertainment, Charlotte-based Lincoln Property Co. and Vision Ventures announced the joint venture Tuesday. The buyers did not release a price.
The multi-level complex at 210 E. Trade St. covers more than 3 acres and 302,324 square feet. It opened as the EpiCentre in 2008 and drew big crowds when Charlotte hosted the Democratic National Convention, an NBA All-Star Game and CIAA weekends, before business drifted toward South End.
The property slid into receivership in June 2021 when it missed payments on an $85 million loan, and its lender, Deutsche Bank Trust Co., took it at a foreclosure auction in August 2022 for $95 million. A rebranding to Queen City Quarter in 2023 aimed at families, shops and restaurants rather than late-night bars, but vacancies stayed high. When the site went up for sale in April, its owner reported that only about 32% of the space was leased.
Vision Ventures has history at the address. The firm owned the complex from 2010 to 2015 and lifted occupancy from roughly half to 95% during that stretch, the partners said in their announcement.
Hornets Sports & Entertainment, which runs the neighboring arena, has spent millions in recent years on the fan experience uptown. The group said it wants the block to become a gathering spot that draws locals, out-of-town guests and fans to linger downtown. The owners said they are still weighing options for the property and will share more details as that review moves along.
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