SPIRITED SPARK: Enthusiasts bubble over alcohol-fueled social districts.

• Author: Pressler, Alyssa

Head to downtown Kannapolis and you'll be met with folks heading to a Kannapolis Cannon Bailers baseball game, couples leaving a nice dinner at one of the city's many restaurants, and the occasional person walking around enjoying a beer in a clearly marked open container.

What might seem like a bit of an oddity has become more common in cities throughout North Carolina due to a new law passed in September 2021 allowing for the establishment of social districts, or defined outdoor areas in which individuals can drink alcoholic beverages sold by permitted establishments. Within each district, alcoholic drinks can be purchased, carried around and even enjoyed in other participating establishments.

Greensboro, Raleigh and Durham have all created downtown social districts in recent months, but smaller towns have been leading the way.

The city of Kannapolis had been exploring a similar idea for years as it worked on a revitalization plan for its downtown area, which included building a minor league baseball stadium, a public parking deck and an overhaul of West Avenue--its version of a main street. It was the first city to establish a social district just weeks after the bill was signed.

"We knew we wanted to transform that whole downtown area into an urban park," says Annette Privette Keller, the city's communications director. "As soon as we knew the legislation was going to go through, it fit perfectly into our plans."

For many towns and cities that have established these social districts, helping restaurants and other businesses thrive after a tough few years due to the pandemic was a driving factor. But more than an increase in foot traffic, social districts seem to provide an incentive for businesses looking to open in cities who have them established. Each city and town interviewed listed several businesses opening within their social district in the next 12 to 18 months.

"We are in negotiations with three new businesses that are all interested in Norwood because of the social district," said Robin Davis, president of the Stanly County town's Central Business District Group.

In Hickory, Imagine One Hospitality is planning to open restaurants Cowa-sake and Frothy Rooster in the One North Center building in its downtown social district. Cranford Brothers Barbeque and City Walk Brewing and Distilling have announced that they will be redeveloping another building there this year. And Kannapolis expects Gaelic Alley Irish Pub to open in the...