"In the last year, not five cars would be in that parking lot," Mayor Rusty Knox told The Davidsonian in late August. "Now you go by at lunchtime, and there's not a parking space."
That lot belongs to Sadler Square, the shopping center at 201 Griffith Street by the Davidson College campus entrance. For a long time it was the building with the faded Earth Fare sign. Now it's the newest part of downtown, and that's official. Since March 1, the town's Main Street Social District has extended past Depot Street to Griffith and Watson streets. That puts the square inside the same district as the Main Street blocks. If you live in River Run and think of downtown Davidson as your town center, that center got bigger this year.
Two Years Empty, Then a Summer of Openings
Charlotte-based Piedmont Capital bought the property in 2024 and closed out the old tenants, including The Egg and OurTown Cinema. The Davidsonian reported that the square sat empty for about two years while renovations ran and businesses moved out. Knox put the purchase price at about $6.1 million and estimated the rehab at another $4 million to $5 million, so the overhaul cost about as much as the building itself. Lake Norman Publications describes the building as nearly 40,000 square feet and 47 years old.
The first tenants were service and retail businesses. By January, Catawba River Outfitters, Ella Blu Boutique, Renoja Wellness and Rise Modern Dentistry were already open. The restaurants followed in early summer. Harriet's Hamburgers opened Friday, July 3, according to CharlotteFive. It's the chain's fifth Charlotte-area location, with 2,000 square feet, seating for 38 and a large outdoor patio. Knox told The Davidsonian that the Davidson Harriet's has had the highest customer volume in the business's history.
Who's Open at 201 Griffith Street
| Business | What it is | Status this fall |
|---|---|---|
| Harriet's Hamburgers | Smashed-to-order burgers, Beef Butter fries | Open; listed at 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily in a July guide |
| Ilios Crafted Greek | Greek restaurant | Open |
| Seemingly Overzealous | Ice cream, all dairy-free and gluten-free | Open |
| Catawba River Outfitters | Clothing | Open |
| Ella Blu Boutique | Clothing | Open |
| Rise Modern Dentistry | Dental office | Open |
| Renoja Wellness | Wellness studio | Open |
| Rooster's Wood-Fired Kitchen | Jim Noble restaurant | Coming soon |
| Copain Bakery & Provisions | Jim Noble bakery | Coming soon |
| Novant Health Lakeside Primary Care | Medical clinic | Expected fall 2026 |
The Royale, with lettuce, tomato and Good Good Sauce, is one of Harriet's signature burgers. Seemingly Overzealous is the one that matters most to anyone avoiding dairy or gluten, since every flavor is free of both. Anta Lo, a student quoted by The Davidsonian, said its flavors can't be found at Whit's or Ben & Jerry's.
The District Line Moved Before the Restaurants Arrived
The town brought Sadler Square into downtown before its kitchens were even running. The Board of Commissioners passed the expansion ordinance on January 27, months before any of the square's restaurants opened. Knox said nobody raised an objection during public feedback. When Davidson created its two social districts in 2023, the Main Street district ran from Depot Street to Eugenia Street. The Circles district, which hasn't changed, covers the plaza between Jetton Street and Grocery Lane.
Knox described the district to The Davidsonian as "more of an economic development driver," and as something visitors from places with established social districts are already comfortable with. Economic Development Director Kim Fleming's January proposal tied the expansion to two specific sites: Sadler Square and a planned wine business at 201 South Street.
The town's 2023 operations plan sets these rules for the district:
- Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week.
- Drinks must be bought from a participating permit holder inside the district.
- Only people 21 and older may consume them.
- Cups must carry the town logo, be recyclable and non-glass, hold no more than 16 ounces, and be marked "Drink Responsibly - Be 21."
That plan predates the March expansion, so check the Town of Davidson's social districts page for the current map and rules before you plan an evening around them. This is general information, not legal advice. The town is the authority on what the district allows.
Three Signs Still Waiting, Plus One on South Street
Most of what's left to open is food, and the two most anticipated tenants are running behind their projected dates.
- Rooster's Wood-Fired Kitchen. Lake Norman Publications reported back in January that chef Jim Noble's restaurant group would bring Rooster's to the square. In May, Piedmont Capital partner Jonathan Stewart told News of Davidson that it was under construction and expected in fall 2026. As of late October, the restaurant's site still lists Davidson as "Coming soon."
- Copain Bakery & Provisions. Noble's bakery is on the same timeline. CharlotteFive said in June that it was slated for "later this summer," and the bakery's locations page still shows Davidson as coming soon.
- Novant Health Lakeside Primary Care. Stewart expected the clinic to start construction shortly after May and open this fall. Knox told The Davidsonian he had hoped for more retail, but said a clinic near campus makes sense because Novant doesn't yet have a strong presence in Davidson.
The fourth sign is off the square, at 201 South Street, on the corner of Chairman Blake Lane. The owners of Frenchy's Sip and Shop, a South End wine bar that opened in 2023, are building Frenchy's La Cave there. It's a 1,000-square-foot, Paris-themed shop focused on wine education. Its website says "Coming late 2026 to Davidson, NC." Fleming's proposal included it in the district expansion, which means the expanded boundary was drawn around a business that isn't open yet.
December 3 Is the First Big Test of the New Map
The expanded district opened in March. Christmas in Davidson will be its first holiday season. The event runs Thursday, December 3, through Saturday, December 5, from 6 to 9 p.m. each night. Opening ceremonies, Santa's arrival and the tree lighting begin at 6 p.m. on December 3 on the Town Green. On Saturday, December 5, the 44th Annual North Mecklenburg Holiday Parade steps off at 1 p.m. It travels from Davidson into Cornelius, and the Merry Main Street Tricycle Race follows in Davidson.
Last holiday season, the Main Street district's northern edge was Depot Street. This year it runs to Griffith Street, so Harriet's and Seemingly Overzealous fall inside the same district as the Main Street blocks. The district's posted hours, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., cover all three festival nights. Whether Rooster's and Copain open in time is still undecided, and nobody involved has given a date.
For more about life east of downtown, see our River Run neighborhood page and our earlier post about the half-mile greenway connector that took eighteen years.
I've been following Sadler Square's comeback one new sign at a time. If you're wondering how a busier downtown entrance fits with your own plans for River Run, I'm always happy to talk it through over coffee. When Copain opens, maybe there. Beth Preston | Let's Connect
