Reid's for Fine Foods

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

Charlotte's Original Specialty Food Institution

Arthur Reid opened his first store on Morehead Street in 1928, followed by a second, more iconic location on Providence Road in 1931 — one already celebrated for its expert butcher, gourmet provisions, and grocery deliveries made by bicycle. Nearly a century later, Reid's Fine Foods remains Charlotte's original hometown specialty food store, a living, eating, drinking member of the community that has outlasted trends by staying true to what it has always done: superior meats, wines, regional provisions, locally grown produce, and seasonally fresh meals.

The business changed hands a few times along the way. Chuck Richards, who started as a grocery bagger and delivery driver in the 1960s, bought Reid's in 1984. The current owners took over in 2010 and deliberately returned the store to its roots in Charlotte's Myers Park neighborhood before expanding to SouthPark and beyond. Today, Reid's operates five locations across the city, each holding to the same standard of attentive service that has kept loyal customers coming back for generations.

A Deli, a Butcher, a Wine Bar — and Recognition to Match

What makes Reid's more than a grocery store is the breadth of what happens under its roof. The full-service butcher shop offers hand-cut premium meats and fresh seafood, prepared to order. The deli turns out stacked sandwiches, crisp salads, and house-made soups daily. A wine bar invites guests to sit down and linger. It is this wine program — carefully assembled and consistently maintained — that earned Reid's the Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence in 2025, a mark of distinction that reflects genuine depth and curation rather than a perfunctory list.

Seasonal American Food with Southern Warmth

The food at Reid's is rooted in seasonal American cooking with a distinctly Southern character. Freshly prepared breakfast items, baked goods, cheese and charcuterie, pastries, and prepared meals round out a range that moves comfortably between quick weekday takeout and a proper sit-down dinner. Chef-crafted catering — from intimate gatherings to large corporate events — extends the same philosophy: fresh ingredients, thoughtful presentation, and the kind of hospitality that makes an occasion feel effortless.

For Charlotte diners who want seasonal American cuisine paired with a wine list serious enough to earn national recognition, Reid's Fine Foods is the rare place where a century of practice shows in every detail.