The former Parliament Espresso & Coffee shop in 2017. The coffee shop permanently closed in October after months of temporary closures due to the pandemic.
This story was first published on January 2, 2021, and was last updated on March 18, 2021.
Locally owned Waterbean Coffee opens its eighth and largest Charlotte-area location tomorrow in Uptown.
Why it matters: Waterbean’s owner, Tony Vo, hopes the new location in the former Parliament Espresso & Coffee space will help bring people back to center city, which has seen numerous closures since the start of the pandemic.
- “We know the first year is going to be difficult.” But, he says, turning hopeful, “this pandemic is not going to last forever.”
Flashback: Since opening the first Waterbean in Cornelius in 2013, the business has grown fast. In November, Vo opened a two-story shop (with an aquarium and retractable glass roof!) in his native Vietnam.
- Vo already has one Uptown location on North Tryon.
- With the rapid expansion, he hopes to learn enough about different markets in order to franchise with the right partners.
- And yes, he would love to build an aquarium-glass-roofed-coffee-shop here in Charlotte, but it’s not in the cards yet.
An iced latte from Waterbean. (Photo courtesy Waterbean)
What to expect: The set-up leftover from Parliament already fits the Waterbean brand, Vo says, so the changes will mostly be behind-the-scenes with some equipment upgrades.
- The espresso bar will have five different types of espresso. Other drink options include chai, frappes, lattes, and smoothies.
- Waterbean’s food menu will offer pastries and sandwiches just like its other locations.
Location: 300 S. Tryon, in the same building as La Belle Helene, which is set to reopen after closing amid the pandemic.
Courtesy of Waterbean Coffee
Courtesy of Waterbean Coffee
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