Griers Fork - Charlotte, NC

Built in the 1970s and 1980s, Griers Fork has become a quiet residential community in south Charlotte. With many of the neighborhood’s original homeowners still in residence, the established neighborhood strikes a balance between retired homeowners and young professionals.

The Charlotte Performing Arts Academy serves as the center of the area arts scene. Hosting dance academies in the summer, children who complete the intensive program have the opportunity to audition for the CPAA Dance Company, which consistently wins awards from both local and national dance competitions.

Griers Fork’s primary restaurant district lies on the southeast edge of the neighborhood, along Tryon Street. The neighborhood features a variety of international cuisines alongside many celebrated Southern home-style cafés.

Steele Creek Café, a longtime fixture in Griers Fork, serves classic home-style meals cooked with fresh ingredients. The café greets diners with the scent of freshly baking cornbread, enticing enough to keep customers coming back just for a plate of cornbread and a cup of coffee. Open for breakfast, the hash browns, bacon and scrambled eggs prove consistent favorites, while lunch and dinner customers rave about the fried chicken. With a friendly staff and an unpretentious atmosphere, first-time visitors and regular customers alike find Steele Creek a welcoming environment.

Just down the road, York Crossing Restaurant offers another option for classic Southern cooking. Serving large portions at affordable prices, lunchtime at York Crossing brings together both locals and truckers. Most celebrated for the cheeseburgers, the menu also features a variety of classic diner meals, including fried chicken and a variable selection of seasonal vegetables.

For diners seeking authentic Mexican cuisine, Don Pedro Restaurant never disappoints. With a large menu of traditional Mexican dishes, the chicken chimichangas, asada burritos and spinach enchiladas remain favorites. In addition to Mexican fare, Don Pedro serves a small selection of American and Spanish dishes, and customers frequently praise the restaurant’s paella as the best in the neighborhood.

The Sandtrap Bar & Billiards brings a lively nightspot to Griers Fork. With nightly drink specials and a range of entertainment options, the bar draws a diverse clientele. From 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., customers can play for free on one of the bar’s many pool tables, which afterward remain available for a table fee. Featuring live bands on Fridays and karaoke on Thursdays and Sundays, The Sandtrap creates an energetic weekend atmosphere.

With minimal bike lanes, cyclists rarely travel along Griers Fork roads. Sidewalks are also few and far between, making Griers Fork a car-dependent neighborhood. Fortunately, the neighborhood accommodates drivers with readily available free parking in all residential and commercial areas.

Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) operates two local bus routes near Griers Fork. To access downtown Charlotte, riders must transfer from the local bus onto Route 12. Drivers can reach the city center via a 13-mile drive up I-77 or can avoid the highway without adding any time to their commute by traveling up Tryon Street.

Uber operates in the area, though traditional taxicabs remain a rare sight. Black Diamond Transportation provides luxury transportation to and from Charlotte Douglas Airport.

Although no parks exist within the residential neighborhood, Ramblewood Park and Thomas McAlister Winget Park both lie within five miles of Griers Fork.

The 93-acre Ramblewood Park houses baseball fields and basketball courts, along with an 11-field soccer complex. Managed by Ramblewood Soccer, Inc., teams can rent fields for match use for $120 per match for new customers, discounted to $80 per match for established customers.

Winget Park provides a wider variety of athletic facilities, including horseshoe pits, a volleyball court, basketball courts, a softball field and an 18-hole disc golf course. Shelters with grills provide the perfect space for picnics. Winget also features one of the Charlotte Park and Recreation Department’s nine community gardens. Plots averaging 100 square feet can be rented for a $20 annual fee. With renewals and new memberships sold in January, gardeners should plan ahead to secure their spring garden plot.

The cost of living in Griers Fork is comparable to the Charlotte average. But because of a lack of available rental properties, renters generally pay $1241 per month, 42 percent above the average Charlotte price.

Commuting to downtown via CATS buses costs $3 each way, or riders can purchase monthly unlimited passes for $121. Drivers find area gas prices comparable to the national average.

A draft beer can be had at any area pub for $3 to $4 a pint.

Griers Fork’s main retail district lies on the southeast side of the neighborhood, near Tryon Street. Primarily home to a range of national chains, the area also features a small selection of unique locally-owned boutiques.

Contributing to the area’s strong sense of community, Timeless Loving Care provides free counseling to grieving and terminally ill people within the community. As a nonprofit, the foundation funds its services through its gift shop. Visitors to the shop find a unique selection of hand-carved wood roses, original artwork and home décor items alongside health and wellness products, including teas, bath salts and essential oils.

Food Lion and Aldi serve as the primary neighborhood grocers. Although no farmers markets operate within the neighborhood, the Charlotte Regional Farmers Market lies approximately seven miles away. Open year-round Tuesday through Saturday, with Sunday hours May through September, the farmers market hosts a large selection of vendors selling everything from fresh produce and exotic meats to live plants and handmade crafts.