The heat is on. So is the A/C.

Good morning! Today is Monday, June 15, 2026. You’re reading The Charlotte Ledger, an e-newsletter with local business-y news and insights for Charlotte, N.C. Need to sign up for our newsletters? You can do that here.

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Good morning! It’s Tony. Today, we’re giving you some fresh Monday morning news and insights you won’t find elsewhere: We analyze new Census data on air conditioning, unearth a fine against a prominent Charlotte brewery, explain why library shelves might be looking more bare than usual and ponder whether a $1,500-a-plate champagne-and-caviar dinner at one of Charlotte’s top restaurants is worth it. (I’m going with no, but maybe you disagree…) Plus, the NBA and NHL wrapped up their seasons this weekend – congrats to the Canes – and if you now need to turn your sports attention to soccer, we’ve got a World Cup guide with storylines and Charlotte-area angles. Now that’s a beefy lineup. Let’s dig in.

Today's Charlotte Ledger is sponsored by PBS Charlotte. Wondering what politicians are thinking but not saying? Watch PBS Charlotte Fridays at 8 p.m. as former Governor Pat McCrory delivers no-spin answers. Stream anytime on demand at wtvi.org/unspun.

by Tony Mecia

Hot enough for ya?

As temperatures climb into the 90s, here’s one statistic you might appreciate: Nearly everyone in Charlotte has air conditioning.

According to new Census figures analyzed by The Ledger, just 0.8% of households in Mecklenburg had no air conditioning in 2023, the latest year for which statistics are available. That’s tied for the second-lowest percentage in the state, behind only Wake County, where 0.5% of households had no A/C.

Other Charlotte-area counties also rank highly statewide in the availability of cool air, including: 

The near-universal availability of air conditioning in the Charlotte region probably stems from the region’s wealth, fast growth, new housing and higher shares of residents in big and modern apartment buildings.

In Mecklenburg, air conditioning (in 99.2% of households) is about as common as indoor plumbing (99.8%).

An examination of the data in Mecklenburg shows that any spilt between air conditioning haves and have-nots defies the traditional crescent-and-wedge divide, a phenomenon in which worse outcomes tend to fall to poorer areas of town west, north and east of uptown.

In Mecklenburg, the census tract with the highest percentage of no air conditioning is just north of UNC Charlotte, where an estimated 3.2% of households don’t have it.

County-wide, there are still about 3,600 households with no air conditioning, the Census Bureau estimates. State and local agencies and nonprofits occasionally hand out A/C units or fans in the summer to low-income households or seniors.

In the rest of North Carolina, the lack of air conditioning does seem to track at least a little bit with poverty. There are slightly higher (though still single-digit) percentages in rural Eastern North Carolina, where summer heat can be stifling.

The highest percentages of spots in N.C. without air conditioning are in the mountains. Ashe and Avery counties, which border Tennessee, each have more than 30% of households with no A/C. Of course, in the mountains, higher elevations and breezes can do the work of compressors.

More good news: Charlotte is supposed to mostly stay out of the 90s this week, with highs in the 80s.

Tony Mecia is executive editor of The Charlotte Ledger. Reach him at [email protected].

Today’s supporting sponsor is Landon A. Dunn, attorney-at-law in Matthews:

New South End brewery Club West has agreed to pay a $500 fine to the N.C. ABC Commission to settle charges that its predecessor company failed to file required financial reports.

According to documents from the ABC Commission obtained by The Charlotte Ledger, state ABC auditors notified Club West on Feb. 23 that it had not filed its state financial and inventory reports for 2025 and needed to file them by March 6 to avoid penalties.

The documents show that Club West did not file the forms by March 6, so state regulators charged the brewery with a civil violation. In May, the brewery agreed to settle the charges for $500, and the ABC Commission signed off on the settlement last week.

In fairness, the beginning of 2026 was probably a busy time at the brewery, which was formerly known as Sycamore Brewing. Sycamore was Charlotte’s largest brewer by volume until December, when co-founder Justin Brigham was charged with sex offenses involving a 13-year-old girl, and the company’s business dried up almost overnight when the charges became public. Patrons stayed away from its South End taproom, and retailers stopped carrying its beers.

In March, the Sycamore taproom reopened under a new name — Club West Brewing — and Brigham’s wife and co-founder said the brewery had been sold to the company’s director of brewery operations, Brad Bergman.

Bergman has not replied to messages from The Ledger in recent weeks, and he did not reply to an email asking about the fine.

The taproom, located in prime space along the Charlotte Rail Trail, has seemed as busy as the old Sycamore was with the arrival of pleasant weather  –Tony Mecia

The Carolina Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup championship on Sunday night with a 3-0 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights in Las Vegas to clinch the best-of-seven series. The Hurricanes, whose home arena is in Raleigh, last won the National Hockey League championship in 2006. Team captain Jordan Staal, above, celebrates with the Stanley Cup.

It’s time for the latest installment of “You Ask, We Answer” – the appropriately named occasional feature in which you (the reader) ask a question, and we (The Ledger) answer.

Before we get into today’s question, it’s important to remember: In October, The Ledger reported that Baker & Taylor, a Charlotte-based library wholesaler that supplied books to roughly 6,000 libraries nationwide, was closing after 197 years due to financial struggles, a failed acquisition deal and operational challenges. 

Today’s question comes from Amber, a reader who noticed the new release shelf at her local library branch looked sparse and wondered if the Baker & Taylor closure had something to do with it: 

A good observation, especially for anyone who likes to browse the new-release shelf after work before heading home. 

So we checked with Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

A spokesperson told us the Library has not experienced any significant disruptions or delays in receiving new books since Baker & Taylor closed. While Baker & Taylor had been the Library’s primary vendor, it was not the only one. Since the company shut down, the Library says it has increased orders through vendors including Ingram, Brodart and several smaller suppliers.

“As Baker & Taylor began to wind down operations, we had a large backlog of titles with long wait times because the stock wasn't there,” a Library spokesperson said.

The Library says those issues have since improved and that it is once again able to meet demand as it has in the past.

But there is another factor that may help explain why new-release shelves sometimes look thinner than expected: holds.

According to the Library, new books often go directly to patrons who have already placed hold requests. Only after a title works its way through those holds does it end up on a branch's new-release shelf. Books remain in the new-release section for six months before moving into the regular collection.

We also asked for data on how many items have been added to the Library’s collection. The numbers show Charlotte Mecklenburg Library added:

Why the drop?

The Library spokesperson said there are a couple of reasons for this year’s decline. The library system’s children's selector retired in December, resulting in fewer titles being ordered for the collections she managed while they searched for her replacement. The Library also said it was in the process of onboarding Brodart as a vendor.

So if the new-release shelf at your local branch feels a little thin, you may not be imagining things. But according to Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, the reason isn't an ongoing book supply shortage. Instead, it’s a combination of hold requests, staffing changes and the transition to new vendors.

Do you have a question you'd like us to answer? Drop us an email at [email protected] and let us know. –Lindsey Banks

Fresh off being awarded Charlotte’s first Michelin fine dining star, upscale restaurant Counter- seems to be exploring the limits of what diners will pay for an elegant meal.

The restaurant, which offers multi-course tasting menus in the Wesley Heights neighborhood, sent an email to customers on Friday advertising a “10-12 course experience with over 2oz of caviar per person, and champagne pairing included” on Oct. 27 and 28. Price: $1,250 per person.

That’s not a typo: It’s one thousand, two hundred fifty dollars per person. And actually, if you go on the booking site, as we did on Saturday, the asking price has risen to $1,505 per person. (But at that price, are you quibbling over an additional $250?)

The email says the dinner is a collaboration with the London restaurant Kitchen Table, which holds two Michelin stars. Counter- and its chef, Sam Hart, were awarded a single Michelin star in November, the only Charlotte restaurant to earn that distinction.

The Ledger reported in 2024 that Counter- was charging $750 for a Wagyu beef dinner. Its current summer menu goes for $255 a person.

Even hard-core “foodies” might have a tough time getting their heads around $1,500 for a single dinner. But if people are willing to pay it, who are we to judge? –Tony Mecia

In his application, Lucander described his experience for the role as: “Served on numerous HOAs. Helped numerous local city council campaigns. Pay taxes. Work hard.”

He said he would seek to provide “fair and balanced leadership for all people.”

Then there’s applicant Zach Claywell, who wrote that one of his motivations was “to help myself gain a few social media followers for my amateur comedy career.”

Gaining more points for honesty, he also wrote: “Look, I know you're not going to select me. I'm not even sure that you 'should' select me.”

➡️ Read the applications: The online publication Y’all Weekly received the 114 applications to be mayor of Charlotte in a public records request and shared them online. It listed the responses of some of the leading contenders online as well.

➡️ Let your thoughts be known. The Charlotte City Council is scheduled to hear from applicants today and to vote to appoint a new mayor on June 22. You can find council members’ contact information here.

Events submitted by readers to The Ledger’s events board:

WEDNESDAY: “Founders Committee Mastermind,” 9-11 a.m., at Alchemy CoWork, 2459 Wilkinson Blvd. Join the Charlotte Area Chamber of Commerce for this in-person only event that occurs on the third Wednesday of every month. The Founders Committee Mastermind is dedicated to curating experiences for entrepreneurs and emerging business owners. During the event, the chamber will discuss actionable perspectives, valuable relationships and a stronger foundation for long-term success. Registration required. Free. 

FRIDAY: “Juneteenth Art Fest,” 4-8 p.m., at 9048 N. Tryon St. Join University City Partners’ Third Annual Juneteenth Art Fest to commemorate the national Juneteenth holiday in a powerful celebration of freedom, culture and artistic expression for the Charlotte community. The afternoon will feature minority-owned businesses, local artists, live music, and dance performances. Free.

JUNE 24: “War and Money: Economic Impacts of Defense,” 12-1:30 p.m., at The Charlotte City Club, 121 West Trade St., 31st floor. Join Charlotte Economics Club for a timely discussion on how defense spending shapes jobs, labor markets, manufacturing, innovation and the broader U.S. and global economy. The panel will explore where military investment is currently focused, how it supports U.S. policy abroad and what the future landscape of defense spending means for business, industry and economic growth. $60 for members. $90 for nonmembers.

➡️ List your event on the Ledger events board.