CLT Local
A Taste of Charlotte
Before You Take Off
For many travelers, an airport meal is simply something to grab before boarding a flight. But at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, you can get a pretty good taste of the Queen City without ever leaving the terminal.
Through CLT Local, Charlotte Douglas highlights businesses and products that originated in North or South Carolina. The program, launched in 2020, was designed to showcase the local businesses, restaurants and products that help give the Carolinas their identity. When travelers see the CLT Local designation, they know they’re getting a Carolina original.
And when it comes to food and drinks, there are plenty of local names to look for.
Charlotte classics
One of the easiest ways to get a taste of Charlotte is with Bojangles, the Charlotte-born chain that has become a Southern staple. Founded in Charlotte in 1977, Bojangles is represented at CLT in Concourse B and The Plaza, giving travelers a chance to grab a chicken biscuit, seasoned fries or sweet tea before their flight.
Brookwood Farms BBQ offers another distinctly Southern option. Located in the Atrium, the restaurant has long been part of CLT's local dining lineup.
Travelers can also find Midwood Smokehouse in Concourse B near Gate B10. The Charlotte-based barbecue restaurant brings together Texas, Carolina and St. Louis-style barbecue, with pulled pork and other smoked meats among its offerings.
Grab a local beer
Charlotte's craft beer scene also has a major presence at the airport.
Olde Mecklenburg Brewery has its OMB Biergarten in Concourse D, bringing the Charlotte brewery's German-inspired beer garden atmosphere into the terminal. The airport location gives travelers the chance to enjoy local beer alongside food without having to make the trip to OMB's original Charlotte location.
NoDa Brewing Company is another Charlotte name represented at CLT, while Wicked Weed Brewing, originally founded in Asheville, gives travelers another taste of the Carolinas' craft brewing culture. The airport has specifically highlighted its local breweries as part of the CLT Local experience.
That's really the point of CLT Local: the airport isn't just a place to pass through. Charlotte Douglas is one of the busiest airports in the countrym and for visitors arriving in Charlotte, these restaurants and businesses offer a first introduction to the city. And for locals heading out of town, they offer one last taste of home before takeoff.
So next time you're waiting at CLT, skip the generic airport meal and look for the CLT Local designation. You might find that your layover — or your last few minutes in Charlotte — is a chance to experience a little bit of the city itself. Learn more about the CLT Local program.
