Orthodontist in Pineville NC

A 2.1 magnitude earthquake registered near Pineville on Friday, government seismologists confirmed.

The quake struck just before 6 a.m. and was centered 0.7 miles from Pineville and 10 miles south of Charlotte, the USGS reported. Its center was just over 6 miles northeast of Fort Mill, according to the USGS.

The earthquake had zero depth, the USGS reported.

No injuries or damage were reported.

While there’s no single magnitude above which damage occurs, damage typically results when the earthquake magnitude reaches somewhere above 4 or 5, according to the USGS.

No one has yet reported feeling Friday’s quake, according to the USGS.

The USGS asks that anyone who felt the quake to report it on Earthquake.USGS.gov.

Typically, earthquakes below magnitude 2.0 can be felt if the quake is shallow enough and if people are very close to its epicenter, according to VolcanoDiscovery.com.

On Jan. 28, a 1.8 magnitude earthquake registered in the North Carolina mountains near Virginia, federal seismologists said.

The quake struck was centered about 6 miles miles northwest of West Jefferson and 13 miles west-southwest of Boone, The Charlotte Observer previously reported.

The earthquake had a depth of 2.36 miles, according to the USGS.

Jan. 10, a 1.2 magnitude earthquake registered in western Catawba County, the Observer reported at the time.

The quake was centered about 3.7 miles southeast of the community of Mountain View, the USGS reported. The earthquake had a depth of 2.17 miles, according to the USGS.

In May 2022, a 2.2 earthquake struck southeast of the town of Catawba, also in Catawba County.

About three years ago, Sparta, North Carolina, experienced a 5.1 magnitude earthquake that researchers recently discovered left a “rupture” in the ground more than 1.5 miles long, The Charlotte Observer previously reported.

Major earthquakes are rare in North Carolina, but seismic events can happen any time of the year, according to the N.C. Division of Environmental Quality.

This story was originally published May 12, 2023, 12:49 PM.

The terms let the project move forward but force the builder to increase the number of parking spots and reduce the number of apartment units.

PINEVILLE, N.C. — Pineville town leaders are allowing the apartment project Livano Pineville to move forward, but with required tweaks.

Livano Pineville is already approved for 65 apartment units, retail, and public parking on Main and Church Streets. The developer was waiting for its planned 172 apartments on College Street to be approved, but the vote didn't go as the company hoped.

Town Council approved the plans under the condition that the number of parking spots are increased, which ultimately will decrease the number of apartment units.

The apartment complex will be within walking distance of restaurants, businesses and local shops in downtown Pineville.

However, it's unclear how the developer, Birmingham, Alabama-based LIV Development, will adjust its blue prints after the vote.

Despite the expected changes, some people welcome the development and the extra foot traffic.

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A small-town feel with a southern charm is what attracted Reza Elyasi to downtown Pineville where his business, Pineville Rug Gallery has been for the last 39 years.

“It has that southern accent to it which made me start my business here,” Elyasi said.

It's a town he said continues to see growth.

“Talking not even five... seven years ago, big change,” Elyasi said.

Kevin Devanney is the owner of The Garrison and Margaux’s Wine, Pizza & Market, located side-by-side right on Main Street.

“Since we opened the restaurant, the town has really flourished and grown,” Devanney said. “More people are coming into town, more business is coming to town, more townhome development and more business development.”

Both Devanney and Elyasi are excited for the new apartment development they hope will bring more foot traffic to their businesses.

“Seeing commercial and residential development would help all of the businesses including myself,” Elyasi said.

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“We don’t have the bodies and residents to sustain the businesses in Pineville right now,” Devanney said. “It is critical that these apartments come in and put feet on the streets in Pineville in order for all us business owners to grow and have people coming in and out of the doors.”

Devanney said this development will not only help stimulate the local economy, it will also add to the charm the town already has.

“Business owners, new residents, and younger people bring a new vibe to the town, and that is really what we need to take this town to the next generation,” he said.

However, not everyone is on board with the plan. Longtime Pineville resident Gerry Pope told town councilmembers Tuesday the apartments scare her.

"Deep down inside I just don’t feel like this building would match our town," Pope said.

LIV Development's master plan for Livano Pineville includes a second phase of development for a fourth apartment building on College Street and retail space where the fire station is.

As the company goes back to the drawing board, Casey Viser, attorney for the developer, provided this response:

“We are disappointed that the Council has now added additional conditions — inconsistent with past votes, our understanding, and the contract we have with the Town of Pineville — in an apparent effort to satisfy a small contingency of those who do not have the best interests of the Town of Pineville in mind. We have worked tirelessly with planners for over two years, and accommodated many requests to alter plans that we were told would be approved, in an effort to see this deal go through. While we are hopeful the Council will reconsider what we believe is inconsistent with the Town’s obligations, the Pineville Comprehensive Plan for the Downtown Overlay District, and the best interests of the community, we are currently evaluating our options.“

The international food market looks to meet Charlotte's growing global palette.

PINEVILLE, N.C. — Occupying the former Super K-Mart across from the Carolina Place Mall, the much anticipated international market was planned for an opening last summer.

Peter Han, Vice President of Business Development for Super G Mart, told WCNC's Jane Monreal, "It's been a construction site for about two years. So, seeing customers walk through the door and seeing the parking lot filled with cars, it's an indescribable feeling for me."

Han said the hold-up was out of their hands and due to issues with the supply chain.

"The switchgear that we were waiting for, that was delayed about six months from the factory," Han said. "That was the main cause of delay and I think because of that, we kind of lost the momentum in the construction progress."

However, with hiring underway, the store was able to softly open on Christmas Eve, with many eager customers getting to be some of the first to preview food items from Asian to Hispanic to European influences, as well as exotic produce and fresh seafood.

"We're not perfect yet. We still have a lot of our shelves that are not fully stocked," Han said of the store's first few weeks. "But a lot of the customers have been very patient with us, and we're very appreciative that."

The co-owner said the family's decision to invest in the 108,000-square-foot space is due, in large part, to a growing interest in international cuisine in Charlotte-Metro.

Han said, "I think a lot of that stemmed from the pandemic, with the restaurants shutting down, people having to cook at home. And I think eventually people got tired of cooking the same thing at home. So we saw a lot of diversification in our clientele."

Bakery, Tous Les Jours, will be opening a counter inside Super G Mart.

An international food hall featuring almost a dozen stalls, as well as a full-service restaurant, is also in the works.

As of Monday, January 16, Super G Mart extended their shopping hours to 9 AM to 8 PM.

The robots use artificial intelligence to learn the routes of the restaurant.

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PINEVILLE, N.C. — Restaurants continue to struggle. Many are understaffed and the employees they do have may feel overworked. But a new restaurant in Pineville is filling staffing holes with robotic waiters.

Shortages are facing almost every industry, especially the food industry. At Yiding Hot Pot, they've come up with a different kind of solution to hiring: replacing waiters with robots.

Robots named Wall-e and Eve after the popular movie WALL-E can deliver food to your table. They use artificial intelligence (AI) technology to learn the routes of the restaurant.

For the latest breaking news, weather and traffic alerts, download the WCNC Charlotte mobile app.

So, it poses the question, are robot waiters the future? It's a growing trend the restaurant industry is trying to answer.

Alice Wang, the owner of Yiding Hot Pot, believes it provides a better experience for customers and staff, saying the robot helps eliminate labor for the worker, who then can better serve the customer.

She also said there's a long way to go before robots replace humans.

Wang said the robots cost about $10,000 but it's worth every penny because they don't collect a salary. As for tipping, there are still other staff members helping serve your meal that you can tip.

Contact Lexi Wilson at lwilson@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — A vital connection in the Mecklenburg County greenway system has been completed, providing a linchpin for local runners, cyclists and overall connectivity.

The Little Sugar Creek Greenway now runs continuously from Cordelia Park in Villa Heights all the way to the James K. Polk Birthplace in Pineville for a 13.7-mile route. The final piece, between Brandywine Road in Myers Park and Tyvola Road just west of Park Road opened up in late April. The new section was completed with city funding, as is the entire path from Tyvola north.

The Little Sugar Creek also is part of the Carolina Thread Trail and the Cross Charlotte Trail, or XCLT, and will eventually be extended to the University City area to connect with the Mallard Creek greenway.

Here are some of the visual elements and vital access points from each segment of the trial, from south to north:

Length: 1.8 miles

This southernmost section provides scenic connectivity to three regional shopping centers, including Carolina Place Mall and the Super G Mart. The route features wildflowers, creek views, a sculpture and a wetland observation deck, and of course access to a state historic site.

Highlight: Marsh Park, with access across from Shake Shake Seafood.

Length: 3 miles

There are several spots to take part in recreation off the path in this stretch. Huntingtowne Farms Park runs linearly along the greenway, with a bevy of field space (with parking), basketball and tennis courts, and a playground with a gazebo on the south side.

Highlight: There’s a fun curvy section just north of Sharon Road West to keep cyclists on their toes

Length: 1.5 miles

Though this section is shorter than most others, there are three bridges that cross over the creek. A parking lot on Tyvola provides easy access to a network of mountain biking trails (and the biggest incline that’s part of the greenway).

Highlight: Access to Park Road Park

Length: 1.6 miles

The newest section has a few areas that will be prone to flooding, but is a small price to pay for the new access. Near the Hedgemore Plaza building, there is a sharp curve that required some serious engineering and has a feel of a lower-elevation Blue Ridge Parkway.

Highlight: Getting to see Bocce Ball matches at one of the apartment complexes off Park Road.

Length: 1.8 miles

What is essentially the “Myers Park Segment” takes you alongside quiet neighborhood streets, while also experiencing nature on the other. There is a section where the sidewalk serves as the route, but after crossing over Princeton Avenue, the trail goes into the woods across the creek from Freedom Park.

Highlight: Access to Park Road Shopping Center and the city’s most prestigious neighborhood

Length: 2.2 miles

The greenway reaches an urban setting, running first alongside Atrium Health facilities, then after crossing underneath Morehead Road, is street level parallel to King’s Drive. There are several amenities in that stretch, including bathrooms, a fountain and gathering space. The areas closest to uptown can flood with rainy rainfall. Construction currently directs you to King’s Drive between East Blvd. and Morehead Road.

Highlight: Views of the uptown skyline

Length: 1.8 miles

After crossing Central Avenue over Independence Boulevard, this section takes you north of uptown. It includes a trip through Alexander Park, which features public art, including a canopied structure with a bench that gently sways in any direction. The northern terminus ends at Cordelia Park, where NoDa’s food and beverage offerings are just a few blocks away.

Highlight: Cordelia Park’s basketball court is Charlotte Hornets-themed.