CHARLOTTE — The site of the former “McDonald’s Cafeteria’, an important space for Charlotte’s Black community in the 1970s, is officially a historic landmark after a unanimous vote by City Council Monday night, according to the Charlotte Observer.
The site is in city council member Malcolm Graham’s district, who said the designation is a step toward a greater goal.
“Which is to make sure that individuals are part of the change and not victims of it,” Graham said at a public hearing. “But more importantly to protect the heritage, the history and the tradition of the corridor.”
The cafeteria is named after Black entrepreneur and Charlotte native John McDonald, who opened it in 1970 at 2023 Beatties Ford Road.
According to a report from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission, McDonald also opened up a “mini center” with small businesses to provide a commercial space to Black managers.
The space grew in popularity and soon became a meeting place for the Black political caucus. It hosted the Tuesday Morning Breakfast Forum, which met to discuss important issues in the Black community.
Longtime Charlotte resident Elloree Erwin recalled his time at McDonald’s Cafeteria to The Charlotte Observer.
“That cafeteria was the heart of our community,” said Erwin. ”Everybody met there.”
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The commission’s report said by 1992, McDonald’s Cafeteria was the most popular non-chain restaurant in the city.
While the designation as a historic landmark doesn’t protect the building from demolition, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission now has design authority over the property and must approve any alterations.
Read more about McDonald’s Cafeteria, and other historic landmarks that stand alongside it, here.
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