moving to and opening a french patisserie in Charlotte? (Raleigh: real estate, condos)

[KThomas]

Hello. I am brand new to this site. My husband and I (like so many others) are considering moving to North Carolina based upon internet research alone. Our decision was based on the top 10 best places to live and cites to open a business in lists with raleigh at the top, housing prices, and the beauty of the area. I am from Oregon, my husband is French, and we met in Arizona. We are currently living in the South of France (yay me! The plan is to stay here for probably just under a year, then move back to the states. We are trying to decide between Charlotte and Raleigh, but can only get so far with internet research. We are going to plan a trip, but it may be later than sooner as my DH has long work days/weeks. Anyhoo...our plan, if we move to CHarlotte or Raleigh, is to buy a home, and to open a little French Patisserie/Boulangerie/Cafe. My DH of course is the French pastry chef.We are a young couple (late 20's) and are trying to be smart with our money. In the next year we will be selling a home in AZ and will hopefully walk away with $175,000 to just under $200,000. But, since we've owned the home for under 2 years we still have to find out how much of that we will have to pay out in taxes...anyway i am rambling and we want to keep our home buying budget under $150,000. My question is...What kind of opportunities are there to open a small business like this in Charlotte. We are thinking downtown? What are good areas for a place like this?

Also, am I being realistic with our home buying budget? Will I end up in a nasty neighborhood? We are open to townhouses.

thx!

[kmway]

I would not say you'd end up in a "nasty" neighborhood, but your options at 150k are a bit more limited to the 'burbs/bedroom counties. You can certainly get a townhome in and around Charlotte for that price (I know of lovely ones in Huntersville and also near the Arboretum in Charlotte).

I can certainly see your business idea being successful in parts of Charlotte and certainly in Raleigh. Wherever you end up I want to know about the patisserie, ok? I travel to Raleigh for business and live in the Charlotte area and I'd love to indulge!

[berryjuice4life]

Originally Posted by kmway

I would not say you'd end up in a "nasty" neighborhood, but your options at 150k are a bit more limited to the 'burbs/bedroom counties. You can certainly get a townhome in and around Charlotte for that price (I know of lovely ones in Huntersville and also near the Arboretum in Charlotte).

I can certainly see your business idea being successful in parts of Charlotte and certainly in Raleigh. Wherever you end up I want to know about the patisserie, ok? I travel to Raleigh for business and live in the Charlotte area and I'd love to indulge!

Yumm we just love pastries..LOL

[miklaur]

As someone who is heading to Charlotte this summer, I selfishly hope that is where you decide. Based on other posts here, it sounds like Charlotte could really use your kind of business. Yumm is right NCMOM!

[Anigirli]

Yes I am another fan of french pastries! Small "Mom & Pop" or niche stores do well in areas with alot of hipsters. Like Noda or Plaza Midwood area. There is a French Patisserie in Noda called "Marguerite". The best thing to do is to spend time in both cities as much as you can and see the vibe and pick the one you like the most. I would also contact the Alliance Francaise in Charlotte and Raleigh once your business is under way. Many of it's memebers are expats or Francophiles who would love to frequent an authentic French bakery.
http://www.afcharlotte.org/Main/Home.aspx
http://www.steveosborne.com/alliance/ (broken link)
From 150k to200k you can find a nice condo or townhome in Noda downtown or Plaza Midwood. However a home will be from the 300k and upwards in the areas close to town.

This stars in the 150K's in the hip Plaza area.
http://www.central27.com/
Loft like condos in Dilworth from the 190k's
http://www.1315east.com/

[KThomas]

Originally Posted by Anigirli

Yes I am another fan of french pastries! Small "Mom & Pop" or niche stores do well in areas with alot of hipsters. Like Noda or Plaza Midwood area. There is a French Patisserie in Noda called "Marguerite". The best thing to do is to spend time in both cities as much as you can and see the vibe and pick the one you like the most. I would also contact the Alliance Francaise in Charlotte and Raleigh once your business is under way. Many of it's memebers are expats or Francophiles who would love to frequent an authentic French bakery.
http://www.afcharlotte.org/Main/Home.aspx
http://www.steveosborne.com/alliance/ (broken link)
From 150k to200k you can find a nice condo or townhome in Noda downtown or Plaza Midwood. However a home will be from the 300k and upwards in the areas close to town.

This stars in the 150K's in the hip Plaza area.
http://www.central27.com/
Loft like condos in Dilworth from the 190k's
http://www.1315east.com/

Thx

this was especially helpful. I had already researched french patisseries in Charlotte and found Marguerite's, but now I notice it is in NoDa, so maybe 2in the same area would not be good? I haven"t researched Plaza yet. But these seem like just the areas we are looking for for the business. I wonder what the commercial real estate is like in these areas...i'm guessing pricey. i'll have to find a realtor. already have one for residential and commercial in raleigh just need one now in charlotte.

[sheena]

Originally Posted by KThomas

Hello. I am brand new to this site. My husband and I (like so many others) are considering moving to North Carolina based upon internet research alone. Our decision was based on the top 10 best places to live and cites to open a business in lists with raleigh at the top, housing prices, and the beauty of the area. I am from Oregon, my husband is French, and we met in Arizona. We are currently living in the South of France (yay me! The plan is to stay here for probably just under a year, then move back to the states. We are trying to decide between Charlotte and Raleigh, but can only get so far with internet research. We are going to plan a trip, but it may be later than sooner as my DH has long work days/weeks. Anyhoo...our plan, if we move to CHarlotte or Raleigh, is to buy a home, and to open a little French Patisserie/Boulangerie/Cafe. My DH of course is the French pastry chef.We are a young couple (late 20's) and are trying to be smart with our money. In the next year we will be selling a home in AZ and will hopefully walk away with $175,000 to just under $200,000. But, since we've owned the home for under 2 years we still have to find out how much of that we will have to pay out in taxes...anyway i am rambling and we want to keep our home buying budget under $150,000. My question is...What kind of opportunities are there to open a small business like this in Charlotte. We are thinking downtown? What are good areas for a place like this?

Also, am I being realistic with our home buying budget? Will I end up in a nasty neighborhood? We are open to townhouses.

thx!

Off subject but have you seen the AZ market lately?

A little shop uptown might be really expensive to operate but it would probably do well. Maybe you should look at running a little shop at Birkdale Village and buying a condo somewhere in Cornelius or Huntersville.

[winston2000]

If you can go small, there are condo options under 150,000 in Selwyn Village in Myers Park (one of the most desirable areas of Charlotte. I would also look at opening a shop with proximity to this area.

Keep in mind- we are a banking town, so you may do alright uptown during the day, but nights and weekends will be dead. Dilworth/Elizabeth/Park Road Shopping center/Selwyn Avenue shopping areas would be excellent to look in for the shop.

One of the VERY first things I do when I go to Paris is stop in a patisserie , so please come to Charlotte!!!

[Anigirli]

Hi KThomas I am glad i was able to help! Please get a good agent that specializes in commercial. Have you tried calling Urban Realty to see if they can help locate a good commercial space to suit your clientele?
Winston is right about still being able to get a townhome or flat on Selwyn in Myers park is an excellent idea. Like Selwyn Terrace starting in the 140k's
Moderator cut: development/sales co. link
Your daily communate to work will be a snap!

[Anigirli]

Plaza and Noda are areas that just a few years ago where labeled "at-risk status" are now transitioning. The boom started when visionary people found the neglected early 20th century Arts &Craft bungalows to lovely to pass and lovingly restored them. That brought in the hipsters and the developers eventually showed up with their condo projects. Those two places have a very luxe bohemian vibe unlike the rest of Charlotte. Myers Park has that charming old-money bourgeoisie look to it.
Winston is also on pointe to recommend Dilworth and Elizabeth.
When you come to Charlotte try to visit the Latta Arcade in downtown Charlotte.