Charlotte’s Asian supermarkets feel tariff pressure (free version)
Plus: Local vaccination rate falls; Plan moves ahead to dole out $2 million in arts funding; challenger comes forward for east side council seat; Elevation Church buys former brewery spot near uptown
Good morning! Today is Wednesday, April 30, 2025. You’re reading The Charlotte Ledger, an e-newsletter with local business-y news and insights for Charlotte, N.C.
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Editor’s note: This is a shorter, free version of The Charlotte Ledger sent to people on our free sign-up list. The complete version for paying members went out 15 minutes ago. It included:
An in-depth article looking at how the Trump administration tariffs are affecting local Asian grocers. Owners say panic-buying, price hikes, and supply limits are already taking an emotional and financial toll, while President Donald Trump says the tariffs are needed to protect American industries from unfair foreign competition.
Measles concerns rise in Charlotte schools: With vaccine opt-outs increasing, health officials are preparing in case the measles outbreak that’s happening nationally shows up in Charlotte.
$2 million in arts funds finally moves ahead: A year after approval, the Charlotte City Council has decided how to get money to the grassroots arts creators it was intended for.
Latino Democrat challenges Molina in east Charlotte: Juan Diego Mazuera Arias has launched a campaign to unseat District 5 representative Marjorie Molina — months before filing even opens.
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Asian grocery owners grapple with rising costs and uncertainty from Trump tariffs; panic buying, supplier price hikes
Ysuing Nie, owner of S&W Asian Grocery Store in west Charlotte, looks over the new displays of smaller, more profit-heavy products he installed after the Trump administration announced new tariffs earlier this month. (Photo by Rachel Black)
by Rachel Black
The colorful aisles of S&W Asian Grocery Store on Tuckaseegee Road offer a taste of home for many in Charlotte’s immigrant community. But in the last month, a confusing chaos has descended there due to the Trump administration’s sweeping tariffs, with customers panic-buying pantry staples and owner Ysuing Nie trying to prepare for what is to come.
When the first tariff announcements came, Nie started ordering products in bulk to get ahead of price hikes. He built new displays to hold small items like miniature sauces, seasoning packs and snacks that can command higher profit margins.
But in the last few weeks, he says he has been forced to raise prices and set limits on how many of a particular item shoppers can buy at a time, and he worries some items will simply become too expensive for some of his customers to afford.
“Right now we have a lot of headaches about what’s going on,” said Nie as he stood behind the register on a recent morning after ringing up a customer’s order. “When you build clientele with people, they are like your family. Sometimes they come in and say, ‘I don’t have enough,’ and I say, ‘You can come back and pay later.’”
Across Charlotte and nationwide, international grocery stores whose inventories consist almost entirely of imported goods are already feeling the weight of the Trump administration’s tariffs, which currently include a 10% duty on all imports and up to 145% on Chinese goods. President Donald Trump has said he could re-impose previously-announced “reciprocal” tariffs on some countries in as soon as two or three weeks. Trump says tariffs are necessary to protect American industries from unfair foreign competition and encourage American manufacturing.
Rachel Black is a freelance writer based in the Charlotte area. Reach her at racheltblack123@gmail.com.
Local vaccination rates slip as measles cases surge in other parts of the country
As the U.S. grapples with a major measles outbreak, the number of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools students who have religious vaccine exemptions has spiked, said Raynard Washington, Mecklenburg County’s public health director.
City council tasks Charlotte is Creative with distributing $2M in arts funding for grassroots groups; money could be disbursed starting this summer
Nearly $2M in city arts funding that’s been held up for almost a year is getting closer to being disbursed and could make its way into the hands of grassroots arts organizations and individual artists by this summer.
Related Ledger articles:
“Charlotte’s $2 million arts dilemma” (Feb. 28🔒)
“New twist in Charlotte’s arts funding saga” (June 24, 2022)
Local Hispanic Democratic leader seeks to unseat east side city council member Marjorie Molina
In an unusually early spring announcement, a Charlotte Hispanic Democratic leader says he’ll run for the District 5 Charlotte City Council seat currently held by Democrat Marjorie Molina.
You might be interested in these Charlotte events
Events submitted by readers to The Ledger’s events board:
MAY 1: Perfectly Paired Wine Tasting and Auction hosted by Charlotte-South Rotary, 5:30-8:30 p.m. at Olde Providence Racquet Club, 5630 Sharon View Road, Charlotte. Attention wine connoisseurs! Here is special event perfectly suited to you. Wine tastings, food served, silent and live auctions featuring lots of wine, individual premier bottles of wine, hotel stays, restaurant gift cards, etc. All to benefit three important non-profits serving children in the Charlotte community: Foster Village, The Relatives and OurBridge for Kids. $75.
MAY 2: Derby Days with Young Affiliates of the Mint Museum, 3-6:30 p.m. at the Mint Museum Randolph, 2730 Randolph Road, Charlotte. Join us for an unforgettable day as we gather with over 300 of Charlotte's young professionals! Enjoy live music, refreshing Mint Juleps, a selection of open wine and beer, delicious food trucks, and exciting contests. $65.
MAY 8: The Charlotte Ledger’s 40 Over 40 Awards presented by U.S. Bank, 6-9 p.m. at Heist Brewery and Barrel Arts, 1030 Woodward Ave., Charlotte. In its 6th year, the 40 Over 40 Awards presented by U.S. Bank has become a beacon of recognition for those over the age of 40 who continue to shape the future of Charlotte. Join us for a fun night out of networking, dinner, drinks, live music from Uptown Dueling Pianos, award ceremony, and more. $95.
MAY 9: Full Moon Paddle, 8-10 p.m. at the Mount Holly boat landing, 724 Elm St., Mount Holly. Our monthly full moon paddles are an adventure for anyone from beginners to experienced paddlers. We will start at sunset with an informational session that includes kayaking basics. Then we'll set out for a 60-minute paddle on the Catawba River beneath the rising full moon. Return to a campfire and refreshments and continue to enjoy the night sky! $65
➡️ List your event on the Ledger events board.
In brief
Former school assistant charged: A former Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools employee has been arrested for allegedly having sex with a student at his apartment. Jaylon Little, who resigned from his position as a Title I Assistant at West Mecklenburg High School last September, is accused of recording the encounter and sending a video to the student. He was charged with exploitation of a minor and sexual activity with a student. (WSOC)
Elevation expands: Charlotte megachurch Elevation Church is expanding into the former Midnight Mulligan brewery space in Wesley Heights near uptown. Elevation Church has 19 locations in North Carolina and South Carolina, Virginia, Florida, and Ontario, Canada, and its revenue totaled over $101M in 2024. (Observer)
Student visas restored: Six international students at UNC Charlotte have had their visas restored after being initially terminated by the Trump administration. The students, who are citizens of India and Nigeria, had their visas terminated in a move later ruled illegal by federal judges issuing restraining orders. UNC Charlotte has the third highest international student population of any institution in North Carolina, with nearly 3,400 international students. (Observer)
Want to serve on city council? The Charlotte City Council voted Monday to expedite the process of finding a replacement for Republican Tariq Bokhari, who resigned his position as District 6 representative to work at the Federal Transit Administration. The council will vote on Bokhari’s replacement in early June. The application period will open today and will be open for two weeks. Interested candidates must be registered Republicans who live in District 6. (WFAE)
Playoffs bound: Carolina Ascent FC professional women’s soccer team has clinched a spot in the playoffs after a strong inaugural season, finishing with a record of 13 wins, 5 draws, and 7 losses. Carolina Ascent is the first team in USL Super League history to clinch a spot in the league’s postseason. (Carolina Ascent)
Cash for sterilization: A nonprofit organization based in Harrisburg, N.C., called Project Prevention says it has paid 9,000 people struggling with addiction to undergo sterilization, claiming they have saved taxpayers billions by not having to care for foster children. Opponents argue that the organization is preying on vulnerable people. (WSOC)
Top fry: Restaurant Angry Ales fried its way to the top as Charlotte’s king of potatoes, coming in at No. 1 in Charlotte Five’s reader’s choice french fry contest out of more than 50 nominations. The restaurant offers an array of loaded fries, including “Dirty South Fries,” “Luigi’s Pizza Fries” and “Montford Hot Fries.” (Charlotte Five)
Programming note: Ledger managing editor Cristina Bolling will appear as a guest on 90.7 WFAE at 6:40 a.m. and 8:40 a.m. on Thursday for a discussion of the week’s local business news in the station’s “BizWorthy” segment. Audio and transcripts are also available online.
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