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Postino Plaza Midwood logs Mecklenburg County food permit

Postino Plaza Midwood logs Mecklenburg County food permit

Built World Charlotte, NC local

County health record filed for the wine café already serving customers at Commonwealth

5 days ago: Mecklenburg County logs food permit for Postino Plaza Midwood

Overview

Updated 3 days ago

Mecklenburg County logged a food establishment permit on Oct. 22 for Postino's Plaza Midwood café, a county record for a restaurant that was already serving customers. The permit lists 1515 Central Ave; Postino gives its address as 1606 Commonwealth Ave, Suite 101, in the Commonwealth development.

Postino opened the café Sept. 21, its second in Charlotte after Ballantyne in 2024. The Arizona chain has 35 locations, CEO Lauren Bailey said in an October LinkedIn post. The space has 4,113 square feet of dining room and a 1,060-square-foot enclosed patio.

Why it matters

Charlotte now has two Postino cafés, and the county permit puts the newest kitchen on the public record.

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Key Indicators

2
Postino locations in Charlotte
Ballantyne and Plaza Midwood
$25
Board & Bottle special
Bruschetta board and bottle of wine after 8 PM Mondays and Tuesdays
4,113
Square feet of dining space
At Commonwealth, plus a 1,060-square-foot enclosed patio
35
Postino locations chain-wide
Figure Bailey gave in an October 2026 LinkedIn post
20+
Wines by the glass
Rotating list at the Plaza Midwood location

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People Involved

Lauren Bailey
Lauren Bailey
Co-founder and CEO of Postino WineCafé
CEO of the 35-location chain; opened Postino's second Charlotte café in Plaza Midwood in September 2026
 Craig DeMarco
Craig DeMarco
Co-founder of Postino WineCafé
Co-founded the chain with Lauren Bailey in 2001

Organizations Involved

PW
Postino WineCafé
Restaurant chain
Operating two Charlotte locations and 35 restaurants chain-wide as of October 2026

Arizona-born wine café chain known for bruschetta boards and wine specials.
Mecklenburg County Public Health
Mecklenburg County Public Health
Government agency
Logged the food establishment permit for Postino Plaza Midwood

The county department that logs food establishment permits and inspections for restaurants in the Charlotte area.

Timeline

2001 October 2026

5 events Latest: 5 days ago
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. Mecklenburg County logs food permit for Postino Plaza Midwood

    Latest Regulatory

    County health department records a food establishment permit for the wine café, which had opened in September at the Commonwealth development.

  2. Grand-opening celebration at Plaza Midwood

    Opening

    The first 100 guests received branded trucker hats and cookies from Sugar, Butter, Sass. Postino pledged $1 from every bruschetta sold to the Isabella Santos Foundation.

  3. Postino opens its Plaza Midwood café

    Opening

    The 4,113-square-foot restaurant opens at 1606 Commonwealth Ave, Suite 101, with a 1,060-square-foot enclosed patio. It is Postino's second Charlotte location.

  4. Postino opens first Charlotte location

    Expansion

    Postino opens in Ballantyne, its first Charlotte restaurant, about two years before Plaza Midwood.

  5. Postino founded in Arizona

    Founding

    Lauren Bailey and Craig DeMarco open Postino in a converted 1940s post office.

Scenarios

1

Postino opens a third Charlotte location

Possible Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: The Adventurist (company expansion coverage)

Postino's Ballantyne success led to Plaza Midwood. If the new location performs well, the company could add a third Charlotte outpost. The chain has expanded across multiple states, and Charlotte has proven receptive.

2

Plaza Midwood location closes

Unlikely Resolves by End of 2028

Discussed by: Local restaurant news (Eater, Charlotte Observer)

Restaurant closures are common in competitive neighborhoods. If the Plaza Midwood location underperforms, Postino could close it, as it has done with underperforming locations elsewhere.

3

Postino expands to another North Carolina city

Possible Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: Company growth pattern

Postino has expanded across multiple states. Charlotte's reception could prompt expansion to Raleigh, Durham, or another NC city.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

2001

Postino's founding in a 1940s post office (2001)

Postino started in a converted 1940s post office in Arizona, founded by Lauren Bailey and Craig DeMarco. The company built its model around preserving old buildings and turning them into wine cafés.

Then

The first location became the template for the chain.

Now

Postino expanded across multiple states, applying the adaptive reuse model.

Why this matters now

The Plaza Midwood location follows the same approach, with design nods to the neighborhood's history.

2024

Postino's Ballantyne opening (2024)

Postino opened its first Charlotte location in Ballantyne, a suburban area south of the city. The reception convinced the company to expand.

Then

Ballantyne became Postino's Charlotte beachhead.

Now

The success led to the Plaza Midwood location.

Why this matters now

The Plaza Midwood permit follows the Ballantyne success, showing the company's Charlotte growth.

Sources

(9)
+3
Mecklenburg County Public Health Postino WineCafé The Adventurist Charlotte Observer Black Wednesday Scoop Charlotte WCCB Charlotte LinkedIn Charlotte Observer