Social district officially opens in downtown Concord

CONCORD, N.C. — More than a dozen businesses in downtown Concord are set to open for a new social district.

Concord is the latest community to add sipping and strolling.

Signs showing the parameters and participating businesses will be posted throughout downtown.

The city said those businesses will also provide to-go cups with a sticker attached.

Business owners have said they hope the social district will boost sales after COVID and downtown construction issues.

“As the construction moves out and the apartments get more and more filled and we don’t hear this kind of stuff behind us anymore, I think it’s going to be great,” Goodberry Books owner David Kern said.

Kern said he has been waiting for a big change for years, and he hopes customers respond.

“We’ll be able to stay open later. We’ll be able to allow people to feel a little more relaxed. Like they don’t have to rush from one spot to the next,” Kern explained.

And while Kern’s business won’t be selling alcohol, he believes he will see real success once construction moves out and new businesses move in.

In April, the city of Concord said the major construction portion of the project would be completed by mid-September.

VIDEO: Business owners hope new social district will jumpstart downtown Concord

Business owners hope new social district will jumpstart downtown Concord

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