Orthodontist in Davidson, NC

They say when you feel your lowest, to stop ruminating and turn your attention to other people. Chef Erick Crawford took that directive very seriously when in 2022, he started his Charlotte food truck Chop Chop Red Pot.

The concept came after Crawford lost his father the year before and decided to pursue sobriety — because, as he put it, he recognized he had something more to live for.

That’s where the journey to Marlee Jean’s Raw Bar + Kitchen — Erick and his life partner Amanda Overdorf’s new Davidson restaurant — started.

Erick traces his love for cooking back to his grandmother and his parents. Growing up, his dad’s red pot was the symbol of a good family meal to come. So when Erick’s dad passed away, that pot became Erick’s, and with his sobriety driving him forward, he started the food truck under a moniker that gave a nod to his roots.

[WHAT ELSE IS HOT? The ultimate list of new restaurants, bars and cafes coming to Charlotte in 2025.]

For years, Erick got his chops in the kitchens of some of Charlotte’s most acclaimed restaurants, from Noble Smoke to Del Frisco’s and La Belle Helene. He used the hard-earned, hands-on knowledge to open up something that had always been his dream: A food truck serving Southern-inspired street food with daily special menus.

For two years, Amanda worked the ordering window (and helped cook), and Erick led all things food. It didn’t take long, Amanda says, before the food truck’s popularity exploded — much to their surprise.

Sitting in their prep kitchen in Davidson, the two exchanged laughs as they recalled the demand rising so suddenly that they were left in a whirlwind of popularity that is, of course, a dream — but also a major challenge.

“There were a lot of late nights and early mornings — we were putting everything into the business,” Erick said. “We couldn’t even get enough food to be able to feed people.”

The two credit that quick success in part to food truck residencies at breweries in Lake Norman and Matthews in particular — places that helped locals solidify familiarity with the Chop Chop brand.

They also credit a few ways they chose to run the business. Erick kept everything fresh, local and cooked to order. Southern hospitality is important to him, so he’d plate the food (no packaging or Styrofoam) and hand deliver it, making sure to chat with his customers.

“I’m not gonna just yell your name at you,” he said.

For Erick, who had always been behind the scenes in kitchens, where, he recalls, the most feedback you get is that you’ve under- or over-cooked something, he finally got to see real-time reactions of people enjoying his food.

Brick-and-mortar was just barely on their minds as they navigated the whirlwind of Chop Chop, which you can find at the upcoming StrEATs Festival as well as other spots around town.

Then this past April, the owner of King Canary Brewing called Erick and Amanda out of the blue to see if they’d like to meet to see a newly available space in downtown Davidson with a small kitchen.

They both recall, based on the size of the space and design, that it was immediately apparent the space would be ideal for a raw bar setup. Amanda and Erick both had backgrounds with raw bar settings and seafood — Amanda worked at a raw bar in Ocean City, Maryland, and Erick used to head up the cold app station at Del Frisco’s.

Then, Marlee Jean’s was born. “Marlee Jean” is the name of Amanda and Erick’s first grandchild, and Gene Crawford was Erick’s father’s name.

The small restaurant took the spot of what was formerly Davidson Wine Co., located right off Main Street in one of the most walkable areas of downtown Davidson.

King Canary and Marlee Jean’s operate as two separate entities within the same space (almost like a mini food hall), with King Canary heading up the bar program and Marlee Jean’s serving all the food. It’s the only raw bar in the area.

There are a few nods to the Chop Chop menu at Marlee Jean’s, with items like smoked prime rib and Cuban paninis, but it’s mostly an entirely new set of offerings including oysters, crudo, poke, lobster, crab cakes and more.

Just about everything that can be is made in-house or sourced locally, from the bread by Wild Crafted to pimiento cheese by Nana’s Porch, Joyce Farms chicken, Urban Gourmet mushrooms and local NC oysters (when in season).

Marlee Jean’s operates as counter service, but just like at Chop Chop, Erick and Amanda have been thoughtful about continuing to add a higher level of service than might be expected. They’re now able to accommodate an array of diners: those who are looking for a quick snack, kids who aren’t quite ready for adventurous seafood and those who want a full raw bar seafood tower experience.

As many little glimmers as there are in both businesses that harken to Erick and Amanda’s family, it’s clear in speaking to them that their own bond is perhaps the real backbone of the success.

The two met in high school, but life moved on: They moved away and led adult lives. Amanda worked as a prep cook, a server and a hairstylist, and Erick pursued cooking in a variety of settings and worked with the PGA. They lost track of one another for over 20 years — and then, upon each moving separately to Charlotte, they reconnected almost accidentally and “have been together every day since,” Erick says. “Now, we do everything together.”

And then there’s Erick’s commitment to his sobriety, another foundation that underlies both businesses.

Once he was sober, Erick explains that he wanted to be able to provide a better, healthier work environment and an option for food and beverage workers who either were sober or are simply open to a different way of approaching the “restaurant lifestyle.”

“We just want to give back,” he says.

Today, Erick and Amanda serve leftover food to the homeless and help to support sober living through Ben’s Friends, a nationwide community whose mission is to provide a sober outlet for hospitality workers who struggle with substance abuse and addiction.

Erick also credits other outspokenly sober chefs, like Charlotte’s own Sam Diminich of Your Farms Your Table and the co-leader of Ben’s Friends Charlotte, as paving a way forward.

Learning from those who went before him and that deep commitment to employing others for good has been a guiding force in all of the business decisions.

“We went from three prep cooks and [Amanda and I] to 10-12 people, and we will likely grow to 25-30.”

That growth is set to come from yet another win for the duo.

Rob Jacik, owner of Carolina Beer Temple, recently undertook a major expansion to allow more space for Carolina Beer Temple and to introduce a mixed-use marketplace called Ames Street in Matthews. Erick and Amanda are slated to take over one of the vendor spots, where they’ll serve a mash-up between their signature Southern-inspired street food and the raw bar offerings.

There’s a lot to still figure out with that coming concept, but it’s clear that the two, partners in everything, are as ready and dedicated as ever.

Location: 21 Depot St B, Davidson, NC 28036

Menu

Cuisine: Seafood, Southern cuisine

Instagram: @marleejeansrawbar

This story was originally published March 10, 2025 at 5:00 AM.

The Charlotte Observer

Sunny Hubler is a Charlotte-based editor, writer and journalism instructor. You can catch her teaching yoga and meditation in her free time, nerding out over good books, exchanging travel stories or trying to get a 2/6 on Wordle.

Just as he did as a star player, Stephen Curry has put Davidson College back on the map.

News broke on Monday that Curry, the star of the Golden State Warriors, will serve as assistant general manager for the men’s and women’s basketball teams. According to ESPN, who first broke the news, Curry is the first active player to take an administrative role with an NCAA team.

Davidson approached Curry with the opportunity, and he will work alongside Austin Buntz, the new general manager and assistant athletic director for basketball development. Buntz was a member of the sports marketing team at Under Armour, which also sponsors Curry.

Here's what you need to know about Davidson College and where it is located:

Where is Davidson College located?

Davidson College, founded in 1837, is a private liberal college "dedicated to cultivating humane instincts and disciplined, creative minds," according to its website.

Davidson has a student population of about 2,080 students.

What conference is Davidson College in?

Davidson competes in 21 NCAA-sponsored sports at the Division 1 level, including, of course, men's and women's college basketball.

Davidson primarily competes in the Atlantic 10 Conference, with the Wildcats sponsoring 10 men's sports teams and nine women's teams.

The Wildcats football program competes in the Pioneer Football League, an FCS division that does not offer football scholarships. The Wildcats used to compete in the Southern Conference, but moved to the Atlantic 10. However, wrestling still competes in the Southern.

Steph Curry stats at Davidson

Curry attended Charlotte Christian in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he was rated a three-star recruit by 247Sports' Composite rankings. He was the No. 147 overall prospect and the 32nd-ranked point guard in the 2006 recruiting class.

He played at Davidson for three seasons, from 2006 to 2009. As a sophomore in 2007-08, Curry broke the NCAA record for 3-pointers in a season, with 162. He also led the Wildcats to an Elite Eight appearance as a 10 seed in the 2008 NCAA Tournament, falling just short of eventual national champion and No. 1 seed Kansas in the regional final.

The Wildcats trailed 59-57 on the game's final possession, but Kansas double-teamed Curry on a 3-point attempt. He instead dished the ball to his teammate, whose 3-point attempt missed at the buzzer.

Curry achieved numerous accolades at Davidson, where he was a consensus second-team All-American in 2008 and a consensus first-teamer in 2009, the same year he was the NCAA scoring champion. He was also selected to the first team of the All-SoCon team and was twice the SoCon Player of the year in 2008 and 2009.

Curry completed his undergraduate degree at Davidson in 2022. He was inducted into the school's hall of fame that year, too.

DAVIDSON, N.C. (AP) — Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry will serve as an assistant general manager for Davidson College’s basketball teams.

The four-time NBA champion and two-time league MVP will be the first active player in U.S. major professional sports to take an administrative job with a college team. He will continue to play with the Warriors while serving in this newly created role.

What You Need To Know

Curry and his wife, Ayesha, and longtime Davidson supporters Don, Matt and Erica Berman, are creating an eight-figure fund to support the college’s men’s and women’s basketball teams. The college asked them to serve in these advisory roles, investing their time and sharing their experience with both men’s and women’s basketball, according to a news release on Monday.

Curry will draw resources and support from the Under Armour global sports marketing team, one of his major sponsors.

He said he wants Davidson’s scholar-athletes to be able to compete in the top ranks of college athletics in an ever-changing landscape where athletes are now allowed to profit from their name, image and likeness — something that wasn’t available when he played there for three seasons from 2006-09.

“The Davidson experience is top notch,” Curry said, a three-time Southern Conference first-team selection at Davidson. “My journey from when I got to Davidson in 2006 to now demonstrated that I had the opportunity to play basketball at the highest level, got a great education, an amazing network through the Davidson alumni and continue to wave the Davidson flag. I want very talented, high character student-athletes to have that same experience.”

Vice president and director of athletics Chris Clunie said basketball remains Davidson’s flagship sport, but the benefits of focusing on that game extend further.

“When our basketball programs are successful,” Clunie said, “they provide much-needed revenue and exposure to support all our athletics programs and raise the overall visibility of the college.”

Davidson is 16-15 this season in men's basketball.

Curry said the goal is to invest in the next student-athlete that’s coming into Davidson.

“They don’t have to take cuts on what the market says they deserve to be part of the brand of what it means to be a Davidson scholar-athlete with integrity in your academic experience,” Curry said. "The commitment to a four-year graduation process provides countless opportunities professionally in sports or as a game changer in life."

Matt Berman will also serve as assistant GM alongside Curry.

“Our ability to be a resource and a sounding board for the program, but also support each student athlete, to develop personal relationships with each of them to help guide them every step of the way through their Davidson experience,” Curry said

Charlotte, NC (April 5, 2025) – A car crash with injuries occurred early Saturday morning along the 3300 block of North Davidson St in Charlotte. The collision was reported around 1:30 a.m., prompting a response from emergency services who arrived quickly to assist those hurt at the scene.

First responders, including paramedics, assessed and treated individuals hurt in the crash. North Davidson St, located in a vibrant area known for its nightlife and residential pockets, sees varied traffic throughout the evening and early morning hours. While details on the vehicles involved have not been disclosed, officials confirmed that injuries were sustained in the crash.

Authorities temporarily blocked sections of the roadway as medics worked and an investigation was launched into the cause of the collision. The identities of those involved have not been released, and the crash remains under active investigation.

Our thoughts are with everyone impacted by this accident.

Overnight Crash Risks in Charlotte’s Urban Districts

Crashes that occur in the early morning hours, such as the one on N Davidson St, often involve unique challenges due to reduced visibility, potential driver fatigue, and diminished traffic control presence. The stretch of road in Charlotte’s arts and entertainment district transitions from bustling to quieter during the overnight hours, but that doesn't eliminate the risk of serious traffic incidents.

Urban corridors like North Davidson St are frequently traveled by a mix of late-night drivers, delivery vehicles, and rideshare services, creating unpredictable traffic patterns. When collisions occur at these hours, they can catch both drivers and emergency responders off guard, leading to delayed detection or response times in some cases.

For those injured in overnight crashes, it’s not uncommon to face additional difficulties in securing timely medical care, managing insurance processes, or handling vehicle recovery. It’s crucial for victims to prioritize their well-being by seeking prompt medical attention and documenting key details that could support their case later.

Drivers in Charlotte are urged to exercise extra caution when traveling during late-night hours, especially in areas known for high pedestrian and vehicle activity. Avoiding distractions and staying alert can significantly reduce the risk of nighttime collisions.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an early morning crash, reach out to Local Accident Reports to learn how to navigate the next steps and secure the help you need.

“For a while, we kind of held out and didn’t really talk to anybody, just to see what happened with N.C. State,” Greer said. “And then once that decision was made, we realized that we were ready to open it back up and get back into it. It was less about where I was going or where I was playing and more about the fit and the opportunity, just because it’s so late in the year. To be committing during the transfer portal time is tougher because I’m a lot smaller of a fish compared to the 25- and 26-year-olds out there.”

Greer, a 6-foot-3 guard who ranks 131st in the class of 2025, according to Rivals.com, will now play in the Atlantic 10 Conference where his dad, Dayton Flyers associate head coach Ricardo Greer, has spent the last eight seasons.

Greer received a scholarship offer from Dayton head coach Anthony Grant earlier in his high school career and still had that offer this time around. He said he “100%” considered playing for Dayton after he reopened his recruitment this spring.

“I had a couple talks with coach Grant,” Greer said, “but I decided that I didn’t want the father-son relationship my dad and I have to turn into a player-coach relationship.”

Greer also said, “Everybody on the staff is family. I’m so close to everybody. It would have been a lot different.”

Dayton will play at Davidson next season if the current schedule rotation continues. Dayton has won 10 straight games in the series.

“It’s going to be really weird,” Greer said. “I feel like I’ve grown up in this league now for the past eight years, watching everybody. I’m familiar with everything in the league — every team, all the coaches — so that’s going to be interesting. Hopefully we get to play at UD Arena next year. That’d be insane. But either way, just playing against the Flyers is going to be crazy.”

Greer first visited Davidson during a recruiting trip that also included stops at N.C. State and Clemson in September 2023, before his junior season. This time, he got sick before he was scheduled to visit Davidson, and McKillop came to Ohio to visit Greer.

“Seeing how interested they were and the effort that they made,” Greer said, “and then seeing the style of play, the fit and the role, it was kind of a no-brainer after that.”

Greer ranked second in the Greater Catholic League Co-Ed Division with 18.1 points per game as a senior after averaging 16.0 points as a junior.

Greer will join a program that loses its top five scorers. Three of those players entered the transfer portal this spring: Reed Bailey; Bobby Durkin; and Mike Loughnane.

Davidson finished 17-16 overall and 6-12 in the A-10 last season in coach Matt McKillop’s third season. McKillop is 48-49 since taking the helm after the retirement of his dad Bob McKillop, who led the program for 33 seasons.

The Davidson coaches told Greer he could be a Kellan Grady-like player for the Wildcats. Grady is a 6-5 guard who scored 2,002 points in four seasons at Davidson before transferring to Kentucky for his final season.

“They remind me a lot of Alter, actually, the way that they play, the offense that they run, the movement, a lot of shooters,” Greer said. “I feel like I’ll thrive in that type of system.”