CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Five retailers have signed leases to operate storefronts out of live-work units at the base of Kinship West, which is part of Camp North End’s first multifamily development. The shops will begin to open in April. Live-work units provide a unique opportunity for residents to operate ground floor retail businesses. Each rental features a dedicated business entrance from the main street and a separate private residential entrance to the living quarters from within the building’s interior. The units range from 711 to 1,084 square feet. There are seven in total, with two – a 1,084 square foot unit and 716 square foot unit – still available for lease. “We are thrilled to introduce live-work units, a unique first-to-market offering that will allow small business owners to work and reside at Camp North End while providing Kinship with an engaging street level experience,” said Tommy Mann, Development Director of Camp North End. “From retailers and service providers leaping into brick-and-mortar for the first time to large commercial headquarters, our team remains committed to providing space options where a variety of businesses can grow and evolve in the community.” The live-work unit tenants currently set to join Kinship later this year include Cell Therapy, House of Akasi, The Zen Cave, Fitteds and DECO Beauty Club. Additional information on each business can be found below. CELL THERAPY Davita and Dion Galloway, siblings and founders of DUPP&SWAT, will open the collective’s third Camp North End location – a salon and barbershop called CELL THERAPY. Purposeful in sharing the value of Black artists and creatives, all DUPP&SWAT brand entities marry art and entrepreneurship through the real life application of talent, interest and skill for the culture and community. Named after one of Galloway’s favorite songs, CELL THERAPY will feature multiple chairs and stations for services including, haircuts, hairstyling and braids, facials, makeup, brow waxing and nail offerings. Visitors can expect the shop to feel otherworldly and quirky, filled with plants, greenery and a fun vending machine selling items such as lashes, press-ons, beard oil, a variety of brushes and more. With the tagline and mission to #loveyourcells, the salon will operate Tuesday through Saturday open late into the evening, with walk-ins and appointments welcome. To learn more, stay tuned and visit: CELL THERAPY. House of Akasi Courtnye Jackson is catering to the wanderlust at heart with House of Akasi, a boutique offering unique and sophisticated destination-inspired clothing and accessories. Launched as an online clothing shop in 2020, the concept has evolved to include tropical-inspired candles, home goods, pet items, and spa-worthy body care featuring health-conscious ingredients. In the future, visitors can also expect one-of-a-kind travel necessities and beautifully crafted artisan treasures. Jackson, who loves to visit Camp North End and has taken classes onsite, was inspired by those experiences to open her own boho chic storefront that will host workshops and candle-making classes. The shop will be open Tuesday to Saturday.  To learn more visit: House of Akasi. The Zen Cave Tattoo artist Tia Wilson is behind The Zen Cave, which will provide tattoo artistry and sell divine goods such as crystals, sage and other elements that Wilson finds meditative. With multiple tattoo stations, three artists will have booths at the studio in addition to room for a rotating guest spot. Wilson, who is the operations manager of Canteen in Camp North End’s Boileryard District, specializes in botanical and ornamental tattoos and began her tattooing career after spending time surrounded by other talented artists onsite at Camp North End. At opening, appointments will be available and walk-ins will be accepted on select days. The studio will operate Wednesday-Sunday, eventually transitioning to seven days a week. To learn more visit: The Zen Cave. FittedsCLT Giovanni Brown’s custom hat retailer FITTEDS is moving from the Keswick Platform at Camp North End to a live-work unit at Kinship. Brown, who has enjoyed being a part of the Camp community since 2023, is excited to take advantage of the opportunity to be both a shop owner and a resident. FITTEDS sells custom one-off New Era and Mitchell & Ness hats, including officially licensed MLB, MBA and NFL products. The majority of the items are custom designed by the FITTEDS team and sold exclusively in-store. Featuring stylish color combinations and side patches, the designs often draw inspiration from regional and historical sporting events. In addition to being a hat store, Brown describes FITTEDS as a platform, in which its products can serve as a promotional tool to showcase the work of other local artists and creatives. Once up and running at its new spot, Gio plans to host events onsite, including pop-ups and collaborations. As of now, the store plans to be open Tuesday-Sunday. To learn more visit: FittedsCLT.   DECO Beauty Club, Nail artist and owner Alexandra Cuadros is opening DECO Beauty Club, a private nail art studio that pushes the boundaries between function and fashion, at Camp North End. The studio specializes in intricate hand painted nail art and Russian style manicures using super high quality builder gel products. Visitors can expect a maximalist vibe at the salon that combines fun patterns and bright colors to boost dopamine. Cuadros, who previously operated in NoDa, is excited to join the concentration of creatives and programming that occur onsite. DECO is not your typical nail salon – aside from the art, it emphasizes community, trust, and a truly individualized experience for each client. To create a tailored experience, services are offered by appointment only and generally available Tuesday-Sunday. To learn more visit: www.decobeautyclub.com