Archive CLT is a café and cultural hub on Beatties Ford Road in West Charlotte. It's a Black woman-owned place, and the café and the cultural side go hand in hand: the space is built around preserving and showing the history and everyday life of Black culture.
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The owner, Cheryse Terry, is a Charlotte native and archivist who has spent more than a decade collecting Black memorabilia. She opened Archive CLT in 2022 after raising $40,000 in 40 days through grassroots fundraising. Within five months of opening, the café was featured on the Today Show. In 2024, the Knight Foundation named her a Charlotte Emerging City Champion for leading the "Digitizing the Community" initiative, and her personal collection was part of the Mint Museum's exhibition "The Vault." She also spoke at CreativeMornings/CLT in October 2025.
The coffee is the first thing most people come for, and it has a 4.9/5 rating on Google from 302 reviews. The signature drink is the Foxy Brown iced latte, made with oat milk and an extra shot. You can also order a mango smoothie, locally blended teas, or a slice of the locally sourced lemon cake. The beans are roasted locally, and the menu was created by local mixologists.
The space is small, but it's full of nostalgic pieces from the 80s and 90s, and the music and design bring back that era of Black culture. The café's design was created by Nate Seaman. The shelves carry books, memorabilia, stationery, postcards, games, and vintage telephones, so there's plenty to look at while you wait for your order. Customers describe it as "more than just a coffee shop, it's an experience."
Archive CLT is at 2023 Beatties Ford Rd #500, Charlotte, NC 28216, and you can call (980) 349-5595. Today, Tuesday, it's open from 8 AM to 4 PM. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday follow the same hours, Saturday runs from 9 AM to 4 PM, and the café is closed on Wednesdays and Sundays.
Wi-Fi is reserved for paying customers, and the library is the option listed for anyone who needs to get online otherwise. Food from outside is not allowed inside or on the outside tables, unless you have rented the space. Pets are not allowed inside. Taking photos to document memories is fine, but professional staged photo shoots are not allowed during business hours, and you need to contact the café by email to arrange one.
Archive CLT also offers catering for parties of all sizes and rents out its space. If you have Black-centered books, art books, old magazines, or want to donate cash, you can email info@archiveclt.com to schedule a drop-off.
Published Date
13 October 2026
