Vacant downtown Charlotte space, once home to Gavel and Dolson, to get eatery

CHARLOTTE - A building in the city's downtown, vacant for more than two years after a short-lived restaurant closed its doors after less than a year in business, has a new tenant.

Acapulco Mexican Grill, a family-owned eatery on North Clippert Street in Frandor, will open a second location in the space on South Cochran Avenue, Jose Vera said. 

Vera is an owner in the business, along with his brothers and father. His family opened the Frandor location about two-and-a-half years ago, he said.

The restaurant offers "authentic Mexican food," Vera said, along with a full bar and will offer the same at the Charlotte location. A liquor license has been secured for the business there, he said.

Vera said his family started looking for available commercial space in Charlotte after customers suggested they open an eatery there.

"We have a lot of clients from Charlotte that come to the restaurant in Frandor and they asked so we started looking around," he said.

The building, at 112 S. Cochran Ave., is owned by Dutch Brothers Development Group. Its first floor was previously occupied for more than 30 years by the family restaurant the Gavel.

The Dolson Tavern & Eatery, a joint venture between Dutch Brothers and Lansing restaurant group the Potent Potables Project, offered "comfort classics, re-envisioned."

It opened in June of 2017 after a major renovation to the space and closed in January of 2018 after eight months in business.

The first-floor, which offers 3,000 square feet of dining space, has been vacant since.

Dutch Brothers Development co-owner Jason Vanderstelt said he hopes the restaurant is well received by the community.

"They’ve got a great reputation," he said. "If the community accepts them they’ll be successful."

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Vera said his family, who is leasing the space, hopes to open the restaurant by the end of August.

They are already preparing the space. A large Dolson sign that adorned the front of the building has been removed and signs in the front window read "Coming soon" and "Acapulco Mexican Grill."

"The town is up and coming and the location of the old Dolson restaurant was the perfect spot," Vera said.

The restaurant will employ at least 12 people, he said, but hiring has not yet started.

Contact Rachel Greco at (517) 528-2075 or rgreco@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @GrecoatLSJ.