Dear Charlotte,
I hope you remember me—I’m the kid the who used to visit you when we’d come down to see my grandparents and cousins. You were the city who has always welcomed me with strange and wonderful places like Bojangles, Shoney’s, Harris Teeter, Black Lion, and the Pterodactyl Club (RIP Jeff Lowery). I remember the first time we saw your red soil—I even brought a sample home to show my 8-year-old friends. I remember the first time I visited Smurf Village at Carowinds. I will always remember president Polk used lamb’s ear to wipe his bum (it’s a great tour if you haven’t done it).
In the 1990s, I helped my grandpa sell real estate when I would visit. Whether I was doing computer work in the office or riding around in the Cadillac through the Lake Norman area, it was exciting at every turn. I grew up in Pittsburgh’s McKees Rocks area—it was awesome to see new construction everywhere and a city growing faster than it can keep up with. It was especially fun to feel what it was like to do business in the area.
Well, Charlotte, today I’m happy to say we’re opening an office in your beautiful city. It’s a hell of a win in so many ways for us—a second location, a new direction as we work closely with professional athletes and celebrities, and a sign that my business, which didn’t look like it would have this trajectory during its first year in 2010, is now doing very, very well.
In a way, I’ve always been a part of your city—because you’ve always been in my heart. I have always been a Charlotte Hornets fan. And although I bleed black and gold, I also like the Panthers. A lot. I think they are one of the most underrated football teams ever. I haven’t been to a NASCAR event yet, but I look forward to it. I also heard Ivan Koloff is doing weddings now.
So let’s have some fun, Charlotte. I’ve known you for a long time and I’m surprised it took this long for us to get together like this. But yeah, it feels great to have a business span several states and I’m glad our new location is in what has always been my second home, Charlotte, NC.
Sincerely,
Ter Dines
