Black business owner says he's been shut out of White neighborhoods
A Black business owner currently operating in Uptown Charlotte told WCNC Charlotte he's getting shutout from moving into other predominantly White parts of town.
James Mack, who owns and operates Epic Times Watches and Chains, reached out to WCNC Charlotte after seeing the Black-owned barbershop at SouthPark Mall that almost got its lease canceled early.
"It's a number of new developments that's extremely attractive for business and we applied to quite a few of them," Mack said
Slow foot traffic at the Epicenter, where his business is based, has lead Mack into efforts to move to another neighborhood like Dillworth, Southend, or SouthPark -- but he says he's getting the run-around from property owners who won't lease to him.
"It's not a direct 'no'. It's a runaround," he said. "You know it's a, 'We'll call this person, have you call that person, email this person.'"
Last week Simon Properties abruptly informed No Grease Barbershop it was cutting the Black-owned barbershop's temporary lease at SouthPark Mall early -- before eventually changing course amid public backlash.
"That's kind of like the straw that broke the camel's back so-to-speak," Mack explained, "and there needs to be some awareness to this issue."
Mack believes it happens more often to Black business owners in Charlotte than the public knows.
WCNC Charlotte reached out to the City of Charlotte about the problem and did not get an initial response before our publication deadline.
MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/money/bu...
