A new retail development in west Charlotte comes with its very own skatepark

Cooper Metts
·2 min read

A local retail group that’s opening a new retail complex in west Charlotte this summer also is debuting something you don’t see very often at such places — a skatepark.

The Whitaker Group, a Charlotte-based retail conglomerate, believes the skatepark is the first Black-owned, publicly accessible skate park in the country.

The skatepark will go alongside a retail complex with 10 units in the Enderly Park neighborhood. The retail complex will open later this summer, according to The Whitaker Group spokeswoman Palvi Singh.

The Whitaker Group declined to disclose the total cost of the project. The property has an assessed value of $1.9 million, county records show.

The Whitaker Group aims to help bolster the Enderly Park neighborhood with this 13,000-square-foot compound and retail campus, dubbed The Collective on Tuckaseegee.

The combination of retail space and the skatepark is designed to foster social interaction, recreation, community building and economic opportunity.

The skate park at The Collective at Tuckaseegee is the first privately Black-owned skate park in the country
The skate park at The Collective at Tuckaseegee is the first privately Black-owned skate park in the country

The skatepark will draw visitors and increase foot traffic at the retail center, The Whitaker Group Owner James Whitner said. The increased visitation will help drive business at The Collective on Tuckaseegee’s shops.

The Collective on Tuckaseegee’s shops will feature APB Charlotte, a sneaker and apparel boutique with five other locations in Florida and South Carolina.

The skatepark and complex will complement each other, according to Whitner. The skatepark will offer a publicly accessible space for exercise while the complex’s stores offer streetwear products.

The APB Charlotte sneaker and apparel boutique at The Collective at Tuckaseegee
The APB Charlotte sneaker and apparel boutique at The Collective at Tuckaseegee

Adding to the community

Through events and programs, Whitner plans for The Collective on Tuckaseegee to enhance Enderly Park’s cultural contributions to the city.

The Collective on Tuckaseegee’s APB YOU program is one of the primary ways it will help contribute to the neighborhood. Programs will include after-school lessons, skateboard trick tutorials and events targeted at youths, women and families.

“Black culture has always been a driving force in shaping global trends,” Whitner said. “This complex is a crucial step in telling the story of how our culture moves fashion, business and lifestyle at large.”

Whitner envisions The Collective on Tuckaseegee’s mission and programming as a collaborative effort between The Whitaker Group and neighbors, local businesses and organizations.

Whitner said The Collective at Tuckaseegee plans to partner with local businesses by putting them alongside The Whitaker Group’s brands.

“By engaging with community leaders and local businesses, we align our initiatives with the community’s vision,” Whitner said. “We will work closely with local residents, businesses and organizations to ensure our presence supports the neighborhood.”

About The Whitaker Group

Based in Charlotte, The Whitaker Group is a retail conglomerate best known for its boutiques such as A Ma Maniére, Social Status, APB and Prosper.

The group’s mission is to bring community-led retail and inclusive experiences to traditionally underserved communities. The Whitaker Group is also known for its social action platforms Hand Wash Cold, beSocial, APB YOU and Atelier.