By Cameron Lee
August 21, 2025
Charlotte’s beloved Soul Gastrolounge is making its long-anticipated comeback, reopening at The Pass in NoDa on Monday, August 25, nearly three years after closing its original Plaza Midwood location in 2022.
Founded in 2009 by husband-and-wife team Andy and Lesa Kastanas, Soul quickly became one of Charlotte’s premier dining and nightlife destinations, celebrated for its globally inspired small plates, craft cocktails, and intimate urban lounge atmosphere.
The new space at The Pass is twice the size of the original, spanning 4,700 square feet along the light rail at Sugar Creek Station. It can accommodate 221 guests indoors, with an additional 30 seats on the outdoor patio, offering room for both lively nights out and quiet, memorable dinners.
“Walking into the new Soul should feel like seeing an old friend you haven’t seen in years but instantly picking back up with,” Andy Kastanas said in a press release.
The menu brings back favorites such as glazed watermelon pork belly tacos, lamb lollipops, and Korean barbecue wings, led by Chef de Cuisine Shiki Brewer (formerly Executive Chef at The Crunkleton), alongside returning Executive Sous Chef Wanda Orick and Sushi Chef Joe Thu, who created Soul’s original sushi offerings.
Many cherished mementos from the original restaurant have been preserved and reimagined, including the taxidermy peacock, the infamous haunted mirror from Tattoo, and the DJ booth and bar — repurposed by Reaching Quiet Design using materials from the original space. The interior was crafted by designer Scott Weaver, with Cluck Design serving as project architect and Gais Construction as general contractor.
Music will remain central to the Soul experience, with returning DJs That Guy Smitty, Shanti Love, and Scott Weaver, joined by newcomers Suadade and See Bird Go, among others.
The cocktail program will be helmed by Stevie Laws, recognized by Diageo as one of the South’s top 50 bartenders in 2022, with Assistant Beverage Director Jacob Taylor. The front-of-house team includes General Manager Yuri Oliviera (formerly of Napa on Providence) and Director of Operations Jeff Jennings (Mythos, Cosmos, Salamandra).
“Breathing life back into Soul now gives us the opportunity to honor our 15-year history while embracing a new future in a growing and changing city,” Kastanas said. “It may be a new chapter, but it’s still the same Soul.”
Kitchen hours will run Sunday through Thursday, 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 5:00 p.m. to midnight. Reservations can be made at SoulGastroLounge.com, and updates are available via Instagram and Facebook.
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