Good morning! Today is Friday, November 13, 2026. You’re reading The Charlotte Ledger, an e-newsletter with local business-y news and insights for Charlotte, N.C.
Today's Charlotte Ledger is sponsored by Robinson Bradshaw. Robinson Bradshaw is an esteemed Carolinas-based corporate law firm committed to providing clients with comprehensive legal services of the highest quality.
Hi Ledger readers, it’s Ashley — and Happy Friday the 13th! Ooh, spooky. Today, we’re looking at whether pickleball is facing a slowdown, after a national franchisor filed for bankruptcy last month. Like most things in life, there’s nuance, and The Ledger’s Lindsey Banks gets into what those are. Otherwise, we’ve got stories on the Iron District, what PBS Charlotte’s sale to PBS North Carolina means for Charlotte, a review by Lawrence Toppman and more!
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Interest in the tennis-like sport has spiked in recent years, but as more businesses jump on the craze, their viability may not be supported by pickleball alone
Rally Pickleball, in the Lower South End area, opened in 2023 with eight rentable pickleball courts and a restaurant with a pizza oven and cocktail bar. (Ledger file photos)
by Lindsey Banks
Pickleball first arrived on the Charlotte recreation scene about six years ago with plenty to relish. The tennis and ping-pong-like sport is fast-paced, played with paddles and a perforated plastic ball, and on a court about a third the size of a tennis court.
Since the pandemic-era boom, courts have popped up in county parks, country clubs and dedicated indoor facilities. Businesses have built sprawling entertainment concepts around the sport, like Rally in South End and Tipsy Pickle at Camp North End, which also serve food and drinks.
Lately, though, some of the major pickleball operators that sprung up as the sport gained popularity have faced headwinds. The Picklr, an indoor pickleball facility franchisor with dozens of locations worldwide, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last month. The company’s founder and CEO told the Sports Business Journal that lease agreements had become a “financial burden” for The Picklr’s parent company.
Although no local pickleball facilities have closed, after years of explosive growth, has Charlotte finally reached peak pickleball?
Where do you play pickleball?
WTVI's takeover by Triangle-based PBS North Carolina could mean layoffs, less Charlotte-focused programming
After more than six decades as a public television station serving Charlotte, WTVI PBS Charlotte is now set to become part of the much larger statewide PBS North Carolina network — a move that could result in up to a dozen local layoffs and cuts to local public TV programming.
REAL ESTATE WHISPERS
Real Estate Whispers is our weekly look at commercial real estate development, debates and debacles — with plenty of scoops and information you won’t find anywhere else.
The first phase of the Iron District, situated between uptown and South End, will include a 208,000 sq. ft. office building. (Rendering courtesy of Trammell Crow Co.)
🏗 More details about what’s planned for the Iron District, 55 acres near uptown and South End
✨ Office tenants have been on a “vibe ride” lately
📍 Where Charlotte-area Opportunity Zones will be in 2027
🎥 Documentary reflects on Henry Faison’s impact in Charlotte
📝 A wrap-up of land deals and real estate news from us and other sources
Union County Republican legislator explains rationale for forcing CMS breakup: ‘too big to succeed’; some Democrats back recall
The state representative who plans to introduce legislation to break up Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and force a recall vote says those moves are needed because CMS board members aren’t taking the investigations into the district seriously.
“The board continues to show an inability to understand the seriousness of what’s happening,” said N.C. Rep. David Willis, a Union County Republican who co-chairs the House K-12 Education Committee, in an interview with WBT’s Brett Jensen. The Ledger reported Wednesday that Willis plans to introduce legislation next week that would split CMS into smaller districts and allow voters to elect new school board members before their current terms expire.
🎭 TOPPMAN ON THE ARTS
Local arts criticism — from touring Broadway shows to community theater and museum exhibits — from longtime critic Lawrence Toppman.
“Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” runs through Nov. 22 at Warehouse Performing Arts Center in Cornelius. (Photo by Jessica Zingher)
“Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” has come to the 80-seat Warehouse Performing Arts Center and, Toppman writes, the trip to Cornelius will pay off for anyone who wants to experience the kind of classic drama local theater companies too seldom provide these days.
🛑🏃Heads up: Road closures tomorrow for Charlotte Marathon
Thousands of runners (13,250, to be exact) will hit the streets Saturday morning for the 22nd Novant Health Charlotte Marathon, so expect road closures and traffic delays in parts of the city starting today.
The record-participation event includes the full marathon, half marathon and 5K, with runners making their way through uptown, Eastover, Myers Park, Dilworth, South End, Wilmore, Greenway, NoDa and Plaza Midwood. The 5K race starts at 7:10 a.m., and the marathon and half marathon begin at 7:20 a.m.
Residents along the routes may also have limited access to certain streets while the races are underway, so make sure to check the course maps if you live in those neighborhoods.
Friday at 1 p.m.: Mint Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Fourth Street; Third Street between Mint and Poplar streets; Fourth Street between Graham and Mint streets
Saturday at 4 a.m.: South Tryon Street between Brooklyn Village Avenue and Fourth Street; Levine Avenue between South Tryon and Church streets; Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard between Church and College streets; Third Street between Church and College streets
Saturday at 9 a.m.: South Tryon Street and its cross streets are scheduled to reopen.
Saturday by 4 p.m.: All streets are expected to reopen.
Good luck to all those running! See you out on the course! —Lindsey Banks
You might be interested in these Charlotte events
Events submitted by readers to The Ledger’s events board:
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15: “‘The War of the Worlds’ - Movie and Talkback,” 1-3 p.m., at Independent Picture House, 4237 Raleigh St. A friend of Mr. and Mrs. George Pal and a longtime torchbearer for Pal’s legacy, event host producer-director Arnold Leibovit will introduce the films, sharing personal memories and behind-the-scenes stories about the man and his extraordinary worlds of wonder. The feature will be preceded by two Academy Award-winning “Puppetoons” cartoons. $9.75/ticket.
NOVEMBER 19: “Mecklenburg Interfaith Friendsgiving,” 6-8 p.m., at Heaton Hall, Myers Park Covenant Church, 1900 Queens Road. Join Mecklenburg Metropolitan Interfaith Network for an unforgettable evening filled with international cuisine, artistic performances, cultural displays and meaningful conversations that reflect the beauty of our many backgrounds and traditions. Come ready to eat well, connect deeply and leave inspired. Registration required. Sliding scale tickets - everyone is welcome.
NOVEMBER 21: “‘Once Upon a Time in Harlem’ - Movie and Talkback,” 2:30-4:30 p.m., at Independent Picture House, 4237 Raleigh St. Please join the Independent Picture House for a post-film discussion on Saturday, Nov. 21, following the 2:30 p.m. screening. The discussion will feature panelists Maria Howell, B.E. Noel and Jermaine Nakia Lee, and it will be moderated by Dr. Portia M. York. $10.50/ticket.
In brief
Alaska Airlines adding nonstop Charlotte-Seattle service: Alaska Airlines will begin daily, year-round flights between Charlotte Douglas International Airport and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on June 10, 2027, becoming CLT’s ninth domestic airline partner. It will be the first new domestic carrier to enter the Charlotte market since Sun Country Airlines in 2023.
Charlotte Country Day responds to swastika video: Two students are facing disciplinary action after a video surfaced showing one of them with swastikas painted on his stomach while both wore school apparel. (WSOC)
12-year-old hospitalized after Matthews e-scooter crash: A child riding an e-scooter was struck by a car Sunday at McKee Road and Siskey Parkway and taken to the hospital. Police say the crash highlights ongoing concerns about children using e-bikes and e-scooters as the town begins enforcing new safety rules. (WBTV)
Restaurant company files for bankruptcy: The owners of Charlotte restaurants Seoul Food Meat Co. and Let’s Meat Korean Barbecue have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection amid mounting debts, high rents and cash-flow problems, with more than $4.8M owed to unsecured creditors and the possibility of closing some locations. (Charlotte Business Journal, subscriber-only)
CMS hires outside firm to oversee finances during CFO search: Hurd, Isenhour and Lopes will manage the district’s financial operations for four months beginning Jan. 1 as Chief Financial Officer Kelly Kluttz retires and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools searches for her replacement. The transition comes as the district faces state and federal investigations into its finances and contracting. (WFAE)
Former N.C. lawmaker indicted in corruption probe: Former Republican state Rep. Jason Saine was indicted on embezzlement and obtaining property by false pretense charges tied to the Greater Carolina nonprofit investigation. Saine denies wrongdoing, while former Greater Carolina leader David Coble was also indicted on similar charges. (WRAL)
