Right in the middle of the city of Concord, North Carolina, you will find the the charming Downtown Concord, a pedestrian-friendly historic shopping and business district. It’s filled with independently-owned places to eat, shop, and explore, but if you only have an afternoon to spend (like I did while on a recent media tour) here are a few places you’ll want to put on your “must stop” list as you take a stroll on Union Street.
Shopping:
Downtown Concord is filled with cute and unique stops. If you’re looking to find something special, here are two you’ll want to check out:
The Bead Lady
It’s easy to lose track of time while browsing in The Bead Lady, a full-service bead shop and design gallery. You can browse through thousands of beads from all over the world to create your own masterpiece, or have them help you design a custom piece for a wedding, prom, or any occasion. They also have plenty of ready made jewelry options to choose from.
Hive
Hive is a bright and beautiful shop showcasing the work of local talented craftspeople. They have beautiful handcrafted items to decorate a home, or give as a gift. They have many pieces that are literally one-of-kind. If you happen to have more than one afternoon to spend in Concord, they also offer arts education workshops and classes for both children and adults.
Food:
There is no shortage of places to stop and eat in Downtown Concord. A few that I had a chance to try are:
Gianni’s Trattoria
You can find a taste of Brooklyn in Concord thanks to Gianni’s Trattoria proprietor Gianni and Executive Chef Heather Stadler who relocated from New York to open a locally owned neighborhood Italian Restaurant. Their simple approach to food has been passed down through their families for generations, with a focus on using the finest and the freshest seasonal ingredients available. Their menu offers salads, antipasti, soup, pasta, pizza and entrees such as Bistecca Alla Griglia and Osso Bucco d’Agnello.
Havana Carolina Cafe
I was pleasantly surprised to find a Cuban bakery in Concord! I’m hoping to be able to drop by Havana Carolina Cafe for lunch or dinner on my next trip, but on this visit I had to satisfy myself with a snack of an empanada for me and I snagged three croquetas to bring home to my husband. I froze them in my hotel fridge and carried home in a thermal mug packed with extra ice. He appreciated the effort!
Cabarrus Creamery
The adorably retro Cabarrus Creamery serves up delicious ice cream in the standard “old-timey” flavors, as well as in inventive new flavors such as Banana Pudding, Moon Pie and Sliced Lemon.
To Do:
Between shopping and eating, you can also fit in a bit of culture in Downtown Concord.
Cabarrus Arts Council
Located in the renovated Historic Cabarrus Courthouse at 65 Union Street in Downtown Concord is the Cabarrus Arts Council. The beautiful 1876 building is on the National Register of Historic Places, houses the Arts Council Galleries, which include the Judge Adam Crawford Grant, Jr., Gallery and the Martha Hughes Dusch Gallery are. The galleries feature feature nationally and regionally prominent artists working in a variety of media, as well as local artists. The building also houses the 227 seat Davis Theater, offering performances in a wide variety of genres from R&B, to folk to classic country.
If you’re out exploring Downtown Concord on your own, you can download the FREE “Concord Downtown NC” Mobile App, which will give you a directory of local businesses, a calendar of upcoming events, a self-guided historic walking tour, and more.
Have you visited Concord, North Carolina? If so, I would love to hear your favorite downtown spots!
Shannon Gurnee says
I love to travel and this looks like an awesome place to visit! I would love to check it out someday.
Carol Cassara says
I can stay in that bead shop all day and not even get bored! It’s awesome and I do love making my own accessories. It’s such a lovely place to just enjoy and take your time!
AnnMarie John says
That’s really awesome! I would love to go there, I’m pretty sure I’ll be having so much fun. I like that there’s plenty in store, especially if you like arts and crafts or accessories. The food looks amazing as well.
Toni | Boulder Locavore says
What an awesome guide! Thanks for sharing this! I know I’ll be able to use this guide one day! 😉
travel blogger says
This sounds like an great place to explore! I would love to check out the Bead Lady! I love to make jewelry, and it looks like she has some really amazing beads. I would also love to eat at the Havana Carolina Café! That food sounds so delicious!
brianne says
What a great town! I have yet to travel there and will have to put it on my bucket list!
Pam says
What a cute little town. That Cuban bakery looks like a fun spot to stop in for a snack.
Louise Bishop says
It sounds like it would be a super fun area! It has a little bit of everything!
Wendy Polisi says
I absolutely love checking out neat little shops in the areas we visit. My daughters and I find it to be the most relaxing part.
Kelly || Food, Fun & Faraway Places says
This looks like a cute little town to visit! That food looks so delicious, I’ve never been but this looks like it should be on my must see list!
Theresa says
Concord sounds like a charming place to explore! I’d love to spend a day browsing the local shops and tasting the local cuisine. I hope to get to Concord for a visit some day.
Maureen says
Wow there is a lot to see and experience on Union Street in downtown Concord, SC. Glad you shared this, I must go visit soon. Would be a great time for sure.
Vera Sweeney says
Ahhh! I want to visit Concord so bad! I love to browse shops and find little treasures whenever I travel.
Stacie @ Divine Lifestylest says
Concord sounds like an amazing place to visit! Union Street is one of those places that you can spend hours exploring and eating amazing food. That’s the best kind of fun!
robin rue says
That sounds like such a fun place to visit. I want to make it a point to get down south more so I can explore the southern charm.