Contributor: Jamie Richardson   You are probably reading this article from 1 of 2 perspectives…. “OMG! I’m obsessed with Boba tea and can’t wait to try out BOTH B&K Tea Cafe locations” OR “What in the world is Boba tea????” I must confess, I fell into the latter camp, which is why I was excited to sit down with co-owners Bobby Cain and Kristen Compton at their downtown Concord location, but not before I did some research, meaning I asked my 20-year-old daughter who has a mini Boba tea on her keychain. She explained the basics and I decided I needed to try it myself. Boba …

Cabarrus Burger Madness is back for its third year and your local restaurants have turned up the heat on their unique culinary creations once again! How Does It Work? Diners are invited to sample limited-time burgers from 15 participating local restaurants and vote on the ExploreCabarrus website for their favorites. Voting will be open March 1–31, 2023, with a winner announced on Tuesday, April 4th. 🗺️ Visit the Cabarrus Burger Madness webpage so you can plan your tasty tour across Cabarrus County. Check out all of the participating restaurants, along with a mouth-watering burger pho…

Contributor: Jamie Richardson   Cabarrus Weekly is continuing its celebration of Black History Month by spotlighting another up and coming business here in our community and just in time for National Wine Day on February 18th! Genia Vanterpool and Deidra-Ann Varlack, natives of the U.S. Virgin Islands, launched U.S.V.I. Wine Company on International Women’s Day in 2021. Inspired by their homeland, and love of wine, founders, Genia (born in St. Thomas) and Deidra-Ann (born in St. John) met as Girl Scouts at the age of 9. They attended high school together but went their s…

Contributor: Jamie Richardson   Old Armor Beer Company will be celebrating its 3rd anniversary and encourages you to “Come Grab a Pint of Freedom!” Old Armor Beer Company is owned and operated by combat veterans Stefan Perrine and Kyle Lingafelt who met when they were studying for their MBAs at the University of Southern California. As a project for school, they had to create a business model for a fictional company, and they decided on a brewery. During the project, several of their professors helped them refine the plan, and it eventually became the basis for the popular brew…

Contributor: Jamie Richardson   Cara’s Cookie Company owners Jennifer and Tom Hamilton didn’t start out as bakers, but their popular store is serving up delicious baked goods while also supporting their charity, Cara’s Purpose. Located in the bustling Gibson Mill Market food hall, Cara’s HUGE cookies are putting smiles on their customers’ faces, especially their best-selling chocolate chip and their toffee coffee cookie, which is a partnership with their neighbor at the market, Defined Coffee. 🧈 The newest yummy addition to their menu is the butter board, which Jennifer say…

Contributor: Jamie Richardson   From just a bottle shop, to the quirky but home-like bar they are today. “If you lived here, you’d be home” has been the slogan at Lil’ Roberts Place (LRP) for the past 13 years. There’s an eclectic vibe at LRP, from funky couches and chairs to an airplane hanging from the ceiling…there is a lot to take in, but it’s also easy to fit in. When Cabarrus Weekly contributor Jamie visited, there was a group of regulars hanging out at the bar and several people watching the Keno numbers as they appeared on the television screen. LRP is known through…

Contributor: Jamie Richardson   It’s a rainy Sunday morning and the Vortex Bottle Shop is filled with families, couples, and individuals seated at the bar and the high-top tables spread throughout the restaurant, everyone enjoying Sunday Brunch from the scratch kitchen and drinks from the bar. Owner Matt Widerman, a resident of Harrisburg, opened Vortex Bottle Shop almost 5 years ago. The shop is a combination of food, music, beer, and wine that represent Matt’s personal vibe. When he was younger, brewing beer was a hobby and at one time he considered starting a brewery but d…

Contributor: Jamie Richardson   Cabarrus Weekly is giving you a peek inside this members-only social club that is actually affordable and packed with options. Exclusive, private clubs are making a comeback and you don’t have to leave Cabarrus County to find one of the coolest and most unique. Located in the center of downtown Kannapolis, The Blind Fox has come to life in the former 1930s fallout shelter of Mr. Cannon. Ken Lingafelt (one of the owners) was born and bred in North Carolina and has lived in Kannapolis for most of his life. He said he and his fellow innovators t…