Three places in Charlotte that help things last
A lamp with a loose wire. A backpack that has carried someone up a few mountains and has more in it. A stack of paper waiting to become a collage. Each of these has a place to go in Charlotte.
In my last post I wrote about the throw-away economy and how hard it is for anyone to step fully outside it. This post is about people working against it. Here are three places in Charlotte that help things last: one for repair, one for resale and one for making things by hand.
Repair: Repair Café Charlotte
Repair Café Charlotte is a free, volunteer-run event where you bring something broken and sit down with someone who knows how to fix it. Volunteers work on small appliances, lamps, jewelry, clocks, toys, electronics, bikes, furniture and clothing. You fix it together, so you leave with the item and a little more know-how.
It meets at the Innovation Barn at 932 Seigle Ave on select Saturdays. Admission is free, with a suggested $5 donation. Upcoming dates are on their website. Walk-ins are welcome, and registering ahead helps the volunteers plan.
Resale: Gear Goat XCHG
Gear Goat XCHG on Eastway Drive is an outdoor gear consignment shop. It carries bikes and gear for camping, hiking, backpacking, running, climbing and snow sports. Most of what's on the floor is used, with some new gear mixed in.
Good outdoor gear is built to last for years, and a lot of it spends those years in a garage. Gear Goat puts it back on the trail. If you're looking for something specific and it isn't in stock, you can add it to the shop's wish list and they'll reach out when one comes in.
Handmade: La Bodeguita
La Bodeguita is a craft café at Camp North End, started by Michelle Fernandez, who also runs the maker brand Limoncito Goods. It describes itself as a community space first and a craft space second. The supplies are there. You bring your own food and drinks and make something: a collage, a vision board, a calendar for the year ahead.
It also hosts craft club, domino nights and cafecito mornings, many of them free or low cost, along with workshops led by local artists.
Why these three
Fixing, reselling and making by hand all keep things in use longer. They keep money and skills close to home too. Each of these places asks you to show up in person and spend a little time, and you leave with something that lasts.
If you run a business in the Charlotte area that repairs, resells or makes things, get listed. Everyone else, join Team Local and tell me where you take things to get fixed.
