Fire Shuts Down Popular West Charlotte Soul Food Restaurant

It was in the early morning hours (6:15 a.m. May 17) when a passerby noticed flames billowing from the popular Charlotte restaurant Cuzzo's Cuisine. After the Charlotte Fire Department arrived on the scene, they say some $125,000 in damages was done to the popular West Charlotte eatery.

Fire investigators learned an electrical issue caused the fire and ruled the blaze accidental. Cuzzo's Cuisine is located on Tuckaseegee Road near Glennwood Drive. According to WSOC, Channel 9 the staff at the restaurant went there on the day of the fire to try and salvage what they could.

Andario Johnson is part owner of Cuzzo's Cuisine. He says it's a day he will never forget. Johnson says he woke up that morning and actually saw his restaurant burn on live television. At this juncture, he says he and his partner are trying to assess the damage.

Johnson and his cousin, Anglee Brown started the restaurant seven years ago after having huge success as a food truck. Both are disappointed now that the west Charlotte location will have to close. They say they may return to their food truck to continue serving the community.

In the meantime, all is not completely lost for Cuzzo's Cuisine. Their second location, Cuzzo's Cuisine II, continues to serve. It's located in the University area at 9601 N. Tryon Street, Charlotte. This location offers indoor seating and later operating hours.

It was just the other day I drove past a small store and saw a line nearly a mile long. The patrons were a variety of people - young, old, Black, White,  Asian, etc. It was only after I got closer to the store that I realized it was a sneaker store.

And then I was in awe over just how committed these patrons were. I later learned, many had been standing in line for hours for the latest pair of sneakers or the 'perfect' pair to add to their collection. They were "sneaker heads." And that's news that should not come as a surprise to me. Especially after ShoppeBlack.us reports the global sneaker market is expected to reach $95 billion by 2028. In the United States, the sneaker market is expected to boom as well. It's predicted to reach $28 billion by 2026.

With such big numbers, I would only make sense that Black-owned sneaker brands will get a piece of the pie. ShoppeBlack.com did some digging and came up with these Black-owned sneaker brands. What I found interesting about these brands is each has a unique story and mission. If you're a sneaker head, than this will be a treat for you, especially as we begin to gear up to recognize Black History Month.

Founded by a woman, Allyson Felix, who is considered the most decorated track and field athlete of all time. She created Saysh as a lifestyle brand for, and by, women. Their mission is to create a future in which inequality is undermined by female creativity and athleticism.

SIA stands for Somewhere In America and is owned by Devlin Carter. The brand is known for its unique and bold designs, making them a popular choice among its loyal following.

ROCKDEEP could be considered the 'OG' of the black-owned sneaker brands. It's a 10-year-old athletic and outdoor footwear company that provides function, style, and quality.

TRONUS is a cutting-edge sneaker brand founded by the first female football player to own a sneaker company, Santia Deck. TRONUS offers limited edition styles and unique packaging.

Q4 is based in Los Angeles, was founded on the four fundamental elements required for success in any game: Purpose, Passion, Dedication, and Focus.

NBA veteran Langston Galloway and his wife Sabrina started Ethics. Their goal is to change the narrative in basketball footwear and ownership of it through a unique product.

Nagast Footwear aims to uplift and create a positive outlook in the Black community.

NinetyNine Products is a footwear brand focused on supporting the communities that drive culture and style while using high-performance technology to build functional products that work in competition and in life.

A footwear brand committed to the highest levels of quality in production, design, and materials while maintaining a commitment to social and environmental responsibility.

Fabrice Tardieu is a sneaker brand known for its hand-painted, “laid-back luxury” designs. Designs are inspired by street cultures in cities like Miami, New York, London, and Paris.