Hello All,

Hope everyone is doing well? It has been a while since we have collectly gotten a clean run at C&C the last few months due to weather and holiday schedules. I am excited to see everyone, last Feb we had our largest outing of over 250+ cars. I hope we can repeat or beat that this month! Sorry I am posting late, I was trying to hold out until I got a better weather report and it looks as if the 1st Saturday is going to be out for us again. That is ok that is what a back up plan if for.

Wanted to let you know that we are moving the Cars and Coffee to FEB 13th, the 2nd Saturday due to some winter weather that is heading our way again. If you are like me I am ready to take my car off the battery tender and cruise in some warmer weather. We have not been that fortunate the last two months, so keep your fingers crosses for some great weather on the 13th!

Check out the updated pictures on www.carsandcoffeecharlotte.com . We want to continue to have a great outlet to share our passion and knowledge about cars so keep it growing! If you have not signed on to the forum on www.carsandcoffeecharlotte please do so for more detailed updates!

***IMPORTANT UPDATE:*** I have had several request for vendors over the last 12 months to partisipate in this growing event. Unfortunitly the mall management has asked that we do not have any vendors displaying and selling their goods at our event. It is suppose to be strickly a social gathering and any 'selling of goods' is looked at by the mall management as competition from their tenets (as well as violates taxes laws, etc). It also takes up much needed space for C&C traffic as well as regular store traffic.

If you would like to bring flyers that explain your products and have your contact info on them that is fine, but displaying and selling is out of the question. We risk loosing the right to use the North Lake property if we have vendors setting up there. Thank you for complying and respecting this rule that the mall managment has established.

***IMPORTANT PARKING REQUEST***Also they have asked that we leave the parking spaces directly infront of the Panera (on both sides) open for 'normal' traffic. It is apparent that some people that are not as car friendly and are part of the normal business traffic have parked there and opened car doors on other cars and not left much room. I would avoid these spaces to avoid a visit to the Dent Wizard! There is plenty of room in the adjacent lots for us to park. Also we need to avoid parking in the spaces directly behind Kinkos and the Mattress Company. They were a bit concerned because it interferred with their customers ability to load goods and vendors to make deliveries (not a big deal but we want to keep everyone happy).


As this event continues to grow and in order to keep it safe, fun and in tact we need to make sure of a few things:

The 8 AM start time is still working well so that we all can go about our normal Saturday business after a few hours gawking at great rides. It will also allow us to take advantage of the empty adjacent lots if we need them before the patrons and employees of the restaurants start rolling in around 11AM.

We are now on the radar screen of the Mecklenburg Police Dept's North Division, which is not a problem because we are on mall property which we have permission to be on, but on the access roads leading to the property and the main highway they will be patrolling 'helping' us adhere to the speed limits. So be cautious and slow down a bit. Also as a mature crowd continue not to peel out, race through the parking lots or ignore common safety.

In order to stay within the good graces of the mall management company please be kind and dispose of your trash in the trash cans around the property. We are doing a great job so far, so keep it up! I spoke with them and they are willing to add additional receptacles as needed.

Continue to support Panera and other businesses in the area, the management has gone out of their way to lobby mall management to keep this event going and prospering. A year into it and the mall management is still happy to host us.

I am looking forward to seeing all of you again and please pass the word to friends, neighbors and co-workers that want to bring out their rides.

See you soon,

Michael
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