Dec. 20. 2023 - Hometown pride is now on display for the millions of people who travel through Charlotte.
The 704 Shop opened between Concourses A and B in November. Three former University of North Carolina Charlotte roommates founded the brand just over 10 years ago to fill what they saw as a hole in the marketplace.
“If you wanted to rep Charlotte you had to do so with a Hornets jersey or a Panthers jersey,” said co-owner Chris Moxley. “We set out to create a fashion forward brand, independent of sports that allow people to express that pride in the city and in the 704.” 704 is the area code for a large portion of the Charlotte area.
The streetwear collection includes tees, sweatshirts, hoodies and hats with the official Charlotte crown (the only local company with this right), as well as designs showing the skyline, 704 area code and (our favorite) the CLT Airport code, which also serves as an abbreviation for Charlotte. But these are not ordinary souvenirs; they are unique, high-quality fashions.
The location between two busy concourses means a lot of people walk by. “It presents a very unique opportunity to present our brand to millions of travelers and an international audience,” Moxley said. “I’m proud of how far we’ve come as a brand, as a business and as entrepreneurs.”
Moxley also is proud to showcase his alma mater, UNC Charlotte. “There are so many people who work at the Airport...who are also Charlotte alums. When they walk by and see the products they say, ‘Oh! This is cool!’ It’s a great way to reinforce that school pride,” Moxley said.
It’s very early in the CLT and 704 Shop partnership, but so far, Moxley said the products are doing well. One of the best sellers also is one of the highest-priced items, a throwback hoodie featuring the old Hornets’ purple and teal colors that sells for $125. “It goes to show you that quality pieces are going to move, and there’s a demand for local retail in CLT.”
You can also find 704 Shop products online and in the store in Charlotte’s South End neighborhood.
