Well, I must say, this is a fantastic article about speaking “Queen City” around these parts. If you’re a newcomer to Charlotte, you may be inspired to use some of the ‘local lingo’! Enjoy the Q.C!
-Linda
(This article was posted originally on the Charlotte Agenda website by Katie Levans on June 7, 2016. If you’d like to read this and other posts, please visit Katie Levans by clicking here.)
The Bank – Bank of America. Yes, there are lots of banks in Charlotte but people who work at Wells Fargo say they work at Wells. BofA employees seem to refer to their company exclusively as “The Bank.”
BOB – Charlotte Magazine’s Best of the Best Awards. Could also be referring to celebrity bartender Bob Peters who has won several BOBs himself. Very confusing indeed.
Booty Loop – A popular 3-mile running and cycling route in Myers Park. I’ve heard conflicting rumors that it’s either named for its ability to whip your booty into shape or after the booty-shaped curve of Queens Road West. Either way, butts.
Photo via Google Maps
Bo Time – What you say when you need some chicken and biscuits from Charlotte’s own hometown fried chicken franchise, Bojangles’
The Cheddar Bo
Dandy / Dando – Both nicknames are used to refer to Dandelion Market, a two-story restaurant Uptown that turns into a dance club upstairs after 10 p.m. Be there at transition time to watch them hoist the giant center table into the ceiling to clear the floor.
EpiCentre – A club-heavy entertainment hub in Uptown. More info
Gold Man – The Hugh McManaway statue at Queens Road and Providence Road in front of Myers Park United Methodist Church that is dressed up to celebrate occasions like birthdays, weddings, graduations and major sporting events. More info
Gold Rush / Red Line – Not to be confused with the Gold Line trolley, this free public transportation option is a bus that looks like a red streetcar that runs from Johnson C. Smith University to Uptown. More info
photo via CATS
The Group / The White Guys – A crew of rich, powerful male CEOs who used to meet up and make major decisions that impacted Charlotte. More info
Jukebox Building – A nickname for One Wells Fargo Center, a 43-story high rise in Uptown, because of its curved Wurlitzer shaped design at the top
Keep Pounding – Rallying cry for the Carolina Panthers
The Lake – Lake Norman. Although Lake Wylie is close and Mountain Island Lake is the only lake in Charlotte proper, when people say they’re going to “The Lake” they’re definitely going to Lake Norman.
Light Rail / Blue Line / LYNX – Interchangeable names for the rapid-rail transit line that currently runs 9.6 miles from south Charlotte into Uptown. An extension of the Blue Line is currently under construction and will expand the LYNX system into north Charlotte. More info
Image via CATS
Luuuuuke – To the uninitiated, this can sound like booing. But when a crowd of Panthers fans erupts into a low roar they’re just cheering for star linebacker Luke Kuechly.
Photo via 704 Shop
Metropolitan – A mixed-used development along Little Sugar Creek Greenway in Midtown with restaurants, Trader Joe’s, retail boutiques and residences. Do not call this “The Met”; that’s reserved for The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
Packard Place – A startup hub in Uptown Charlotte that was recently rebranded as HQ Charlotte. It’ll take a while for people to adjust so if someone says to meet them at Packard Place, they’re talking about HQ. More info
The Paper – The Charlotte Observer. When I first moved here someone told me they worked at “The Paper” and when I asked which one all I got was a huge eye roll. There’s more than one paper in town but not if you ask the people who write this one.
Phillips Place – A ritzy retail development near SouthPark Mall home to a movie theater, hotel, restaurants and high end boutiques. More info
Queen City / Q.C. – Charlotte’s nickname in honor of its namesake Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz who served as Queen of Britain from 1761 to 1818.
Honor Roll Designs Queen City shirt
Queens Queens Providence Providence – A confusing intersection of two main roads where each turns perpendicular-ish to its route rather than continuing straight through. Help.
S.C.B. – Salted caramel brownie, the lifeblood of late-nighters served 24 hours a day, 365 days a year at Amelie’s French Bakery
photo via Facebook
Taj Ma-Teeter – This fancy Harris Teeter in Morrocroft Village is referred to as the “Taj Mahal” of grocery stores
Toast – The original name for a popular breakfast joint recently rebranded as The Famous Toastery. Locals will never refer to it as this so just know that Toast and Famous Toastery are interchangeable names for the same restaurant. More info
Trolley / Streetcar / Gold Line / CityLYNX – Interchangeable names for the green and yellow railcar that currently runs 1.5 miles down Elizabeth Avenue to the Transit Center. More info
University / University City – A neighborhood surrounding UNC Charlotte. You’ll frequently hear people say they’re “going to University” but this doesn’t necessarily mean to the school’s campus. More info
Uptown – Downtown, center city, whatever you want to call it. Here in Charlotte, the place with the skyscrapers is exclusively referred to as Uptown. More info
