Chef-driven donuts, chicken, cocktails and modern seafood restaurants to find a home in Charlotte; expected opening summer 2022
BayHaven Restaurant Group, led by chef Gregory “Greg” Collier and Subrina Collier, is partnering with Camp North End to open four new concepts at the 76-acre development just north of Uptown Charlotte in summer 2022: Passage Seafood, The Abyss, Bird Is The Word and B.A.D. (Beyond Amazing Donuts).
Identifying and nurturing talent has long been a priority for the Colliers and an essential part of BayHaven Restaurant Group. This announcement is the embodiment of empowerment: two of the four concepts are being helmed by people who have worked (or are currently working) in Collier-owned concepts.
“Over the past several years, we’ve built amazing relationships with the Camp North End team and exceptional Black culinarians in the Charlotte community,” says Subrina Collier. “We felt that supporting these new concepts was a combination of the right time, place and people and the next step in our mission to enhance economic empowerment and community development through the hospitality industry.”
B.A.D. is a concept born of former Leah & Louise pastry chef Jasmine Macon’s donut pop-ups, turned into a quick-service brick and mortar. The Johnson & Wales University graduate will serve her delicious donuts, fritters and cinnamon rolls, featuring staple flavors and rotating seasonal selections.
Bird is the Word is a chicken-centric counter service concept that will feature the popular Leah & Louise chicken sandwich (of the same name), a weekly smoked chicken family meal, chicken stew, chicken fat donuts and seasonal Southern sides. Bird is the Word will be led by two-time James Beard-nominated chef Greg Collier.
Passage Seafood will be a modern fish camp, focusing on seasonal Atlantic seafood, oysters, raw fish, rotating whole fish option, composed vegetable dishes, and whole fish charcuterie. The menu will be reflective of Carolinas terroir, as well as the Colliers’ style, heritage and culture.
The Abyss is a modern speakeasy that will take guests on a journey to a deeper understanding of craft cocktails. Led by award-winning Leah & Louise mixologist Justin Hazelton, via Top Shelf, LLC, The Abyss will be a darker, more sultry counter to the upbeat Passage Seafood next door. The Abyss will have 40 indoor seats and will serve a selection of dishes from Passage Seafood, as well as a modern diner menu to elevate “late night eats” in the Queen City.
The four concepts will be located at 201 Camp Road, Charlotte, NC 28206, and the spaces will line the north end of the building, facing into Camp North End’s Crossroads district. B.A.D. and Bird is the Word will be next to each other in a 1,400-square-foot space on one side, and Passage Seafood will operate in a 2,000-square-foot space with 50 indoor seats and 38 outdoor seats next to The Abyss, which will occupy about 1,300 square feet with 42 indoor seats. A hallway leading to shared restrooms will be located in the middle. B.A.D. and Bird is the Word, both counter service concepts with no indoor seating, will have a dedicated covered patio with 30-40 seats with heaters for the colder months.
“We are huge advocates of cohesiveness within creativity,” explains chef Greg Collier. “We believe each brand will stand on its own with its menu, technique and design but will still make sense together. It’s kinda like cousins — in the same family but still very different. We can’t wait to bring these concepts to life.”
Damon Hemmerdinger, co-president of ATCO Properties & Management, developer of Camp North End, added that the new restaurant concepts will further enliven and activate phase II of the development. Construction on the office, retail and parking garage portions of phase II are anticipated to be completed in June 2022, while the multifamily component is expected to begin construction in 2022 and be complete in 2024.
“ATCO and our partners at Shorenstein are excited and proud to be expanding our relationship with Greg and Subrina to bring the next generation of talented, up-and-coming Black culinary experts and restaurateurs to Camp North End,” he said. “These new leases further solidify Camp North End as one of Charlotte’s leading culinary destinations.”
ABOUT BAYHAVEN RESTAURANT GROUP
BayHaven Restaurant Group is led by chef Gregory “Greg” Collier and wife/business partner Subrina Collier. BayHaven Restaurant Group is a representation of their collective life experiences, including honors such as Greg’s two James Beard nominations; opening Leah & Louise, one of Esquire Magazine’s best new restaurants; and being named to President Joseph Biden’s Small Business and Entrepreneurs Advisory Council. Restaurant concepts under the BayHaven Restaurant Group include Leah & Louise and Uptown Yolk as well as four new concepts opening in summer 2022: B.A.D. (Beyond Amazing Donuts), Bird is the Word, Passage Seafood and The Abyss. BayHaven Restaurant Group also founded the BayHaven Food & Wine Festival, an annual celebration of Black Foodways, aimed at raising awareness of Black culinary experts and creating opportunities for newcomers in the hospitality industry. BayHaven Restaurant Group is committed to highlighting Black culinarians and helping them become business owners.
ABOUT CAMP NORTH END
Developed by ATCO Properties & Management, Camp North End is a state-of-the-art creative development that is being designed and curated to cater to today’s most innovative and cutting-edge companies in Charlotte’s up-and-coming North End Smart District. Select Camp North End buildings are being jointly developed by ATCO and Shorenstein Properties, LLC.
As one of the largest adaptive reuse projects currently underway in the U.S., the project is transforming a historic 76-acre site where people once manufactured Model T cars and assembled US Army missiles into a catalytic hub of creativity and ideas.
With over 300,000 square feet of space already redeveloped for work, artistic expression, dining and hospitality, entertainment, recreation, and community building, and another 1.5 million square feet on the way, Camp North End’s curated development will drive growth for the businesses that join its community.
For more information about Camp North End, visit the official Camp North End website at https://camp.nc/ or follow along on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn at @campnorthend.
