excelsior-club
The Excelsior Club, located on Beatties Ford Road about one-half mile north of the main entrance to Johnson C. Smith University, was for many years the leading private Black social club in the Southeast, and one of the largest of its kind on the East Coast. Photo: courtesy of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission)

Q. Has the Excelsior closed? I drove by there this evening and it looked boarded up. If indeed true, how sad. Kim Smith

A. Thanks for your question, Kim. You’re not the only person who has reached out to us with questions about the Historic Excelsior Club and its status.

In short, the club has closed temporarily. But no worries, says attorney James E. Ferguson II, who owns the landmark building at 921 Beatties Ford Road. Ferguson said in an email that the Excelsior has closed for renovations and will reopen this spring.

He did not respond to a second email asking for details about the upgrades. If we hear from him, we’ll post an update.

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