Charlotte’s cookie game is about to get an Oprah-approved upgrade. Maman, the New York-born bakery best known for its gooey Nutty Chocolate Chip cookie, is on its way to Plaza Midwood, with paperwork hinting that at least two more Charlotte shops could follow.
As reported by the Charlotte Observer, recent filings with the North Carolina secretary of state and local development reports list Maman at multiple Charlotte addresses across Plaza Midwood, South End and Eastover. A Maman spokesperson told CharlotteFive the Plaza Midwood café is aiming for a spring or early-summer opening, while adding that it was “too early to discuss timing.” Development reporters Clayton Sealey and Jason Thomas were the first to flag the expansion.
Where It Will Be
The Plaza Midwood shop is slated for the Commonwealth, a roughly 12-acre mixed-use project that has been stacking national tenants, according to Axios. The Commonwealth’s retail directory already lists Maman as an upcoming tenant alongside brands such as Van Leeuwen and Warby Parker, per the development’s own site. Developers have said retail will open in phases as apartments and offices wrap up construction.
More Charlotte Shops Eyed
Local reporting also points to a broader Charlotte play. Maman is eyeing a second location in South End at Atherton Mill and has filed a service-site plan for a spot in Eastover, according to What Now Charlotte. Those permits and filings suggest a multi-location push across distinct Charlotte neighborhoods, although final leases and firm timelines have not been made public.
What Maman Brings
Founded in SoHo in 2014, Maman has grown into a multi-market café brand with a reputation for French-inspired pastries and all-day café plates. Its Nutty Chocolate Chip cookie landed on Oprah’s “Favorite Things” list in 2017, a shout-out that helped boost the brand’s national profile, per Vogue. Charlotte customers can expect a pastry case, a full coffee program and daytime sandwiches and tartines, all in a space that leans on rustic wood tables and Maman’s signature blue-and-white china…