Call Center Company in Concord, NC

From April 18 to June 22, you can embark on a fantastic journey at the Tianyu Lights Festival, where the luminous displays at Concord Mills in Charlotte will inspire wonder and joy. Visitors can explore 25 stunning handcrafted art installations across three themed areas: Enchanted Land, Animal Kingdom, and Ocean World. There’s also an illuminated playground designed for all ages, especially for young visitors to touch and interact with the art.

The festival features live performances, a marketplace with unique souvenirs, and plenty of snacks and drinks for purchase. It’s located at 8111 Concord Mills Boulevard, Concord, NC, with free parking available. Tickets are required for specific dates and entry times. The last entry is at 9:00 PM, and ticket holders can stay until closing at 10:00 PM on weekdays and 10:30 PM on Fridays and Saturdays.

In-person tickets are $30 for adults and $25 for children ages 3-11. Children under three years old always get in free. Online ticket prices during the week are $20 for ages 12 and up and $15 for ages 3-11. A Four Pack (any four visitors) is $72, and groups of 10 or more can get tickets for $17 per person during the week. On weekends, online prices are $24 for adults and $18 for children, with a Four Pack costing $86 and group tickets at $20 per person.

Published 12:10 am Sunday, April 20, 2025

By Chandler Inions

SALISBURY — It might be the end of an era, but it is also the start of a new chapter for Sam’s Car Wash, a Salisbury institution.

The longstanding and trusted name in car care since 1962 is reeling in its operation, back to where it all began.

When Sam and Joyce Allen opened their first car wash all those years ago, it only had one location, 1022 West Innes Street. After decades of service that saw expansion to another Salisbury location, one in Lexington and one in Concord, the father-son ownership duo Glenn Allen and Dwight Allen are downsizing.

With the sale of the East Innes Street and Poplar Crossing (Concord) locations to RipTide Car Wash, the owners are consolidating their efforts to focus on the West Innes business.

“It has been an emotional roller coaster ride,” Glenn said. “We have been in the people business all these years, not necessarily the car wash business. We really came to realize that in the last week or so.”

Opened by Sam and Joyce Allen in 1962, the original location grew into a community staple where generations of families have entrusted their vehicles for care and attention. The East Innes Street location was opened six years later and they began servicing oil changes there in 1995.

Over the decades, the Allen family built their legacy. The second generation of Allens, Glenn and Sam, and later third generation, Dwight, continued to expand the business by establishing those locations first in Lexington (1990) and later in Concord (2016).

“In 2001, my brother and I split off and they took the Lexington location and I took the Salisbury location and that is when my son came on full time,” Glenn said.

Glenn acknowledged that his father always wanted to explore tapping into the Charlotte market, and that they felt like they were in a way by opening a location in Concord, but ultimately, it stretched them thin. However, despite having more than 140 employees between the various locations, Glenn said that they came to view each of them as kin.

“It gets to be more than a working relationship, it becomes family,” Glenn said. “You service customers and create memories together.”

Some of those employees have been with the company for decades.

What to expect

The West Innes location will continue offering a ride through express wash, as well as the signature inside/outside wash which includes a wash, detail and hand dry featuring Turtle Wax products. With the inside/outside wash, customers can sit back and relax while crew members vacuum the carpet and vehicle mats and wash the rubber mats. Once the vehicle comes out of the tunnel, the vehicle is hand dried, interior dusted, windows washed, door jams cleaned and wheels cleaned and shined. With their dedicated team, that process only takes 20 minutes.

Then, Turtle Wax products are applied, and the tire dressing is hand applied. Not only does the wash clean the customer’s ride, but it also buffs and shines. Honing in on that attention to detail is part of why the change is happening.

“This move is more than a business decision; it’s a chance to reconnect with the community and get back to the values that have always been important to us,” Dwight said. “We’re committed to quality, and that shows in our premium products, hand wash and detail services, and our 48-hour clean car guarantee, which gives our customers confidence that they’ll always leave with a car that looks great.”

Dwight added that they would not be where they are without community support, saying that they want to continue earning its business through quality performance.

Today, under Glenn and Dwight’s watchful leadership, Sam’s Car Wash will remain a proud family-owned business, carrying forward the traditions and values that make it unique.

This decision reflects not only a return to where it all began but also a renewed commitment to delivering the exceptional service that has defined Sam’s Car Wash for over 60 years. The West Innes Street location isn’t just another car wash; it’s a piece of Salisbury’s history.

“I think Dad would approve,” Glenn said. “I thought about that. Dad lived to be 98. He actually saw the Concord location after it was built … He was proud of us and proud that Dwight was involved and carrying the tradition on. I think he would be great with us coming back to the roots.”

Avelo Airlines canceled some routes from Concord Airport due to low bookings.

CONCORD, N.C. — Travelers planning their summer vacations may need to reconsider their options as Avelo Airlines announced significant route cancellations from Concord Airport overnight.

The budget carrier is discontinuing six routes from the regional airport, affecting service to multiple popular destinations. The canceled routes include Nashville and Daytona Beach. It also includes Washington Dulles and Detroit, which never even got off the ground.

According to an Avelo spokesperson, the decision stems from "poor performance and low bookings" on these routes. The airline has been adjusting its network strategy amid the competitive summer travel landscape.

Not all connections are being cut, however. Passengers will still be able to fly Avelo from Concord to Connecticut, New Hampshire, and New York, maintaining some East Coast travel options for local residents.

Avelo Airlines' presence has gone back and forth in the Charlotte area. In March, the airline announced three major routes to its Concord offerings, including nonstop service to Long Island. But just a few weeks prior to that, the carrier said it was going to cancel a second route since the airline began Concord service less than a year ago.

RELATED: Avelo Airlines hiring crew members for deportation flights

When Avelo first came to the area in July 2024, it announced six nonstop routes out of Concord, which included Albany, New York, Manchester, New Hampshire, Hartford, Connecticut, Lakeland/Orlando, Florida, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania/Wilmington, Delaware and Rochester, New York.

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Arcade bar brand Dive Bar has plans for a sixth location, according to a recent Instagram announcement. It will open in Concord at 14 Church Street South in a 2,600-square-foot space.

Co-owner Rob Grosskopf told What Now Charlotte that they were attracted to the Concord market because he and his wife live there, and because he is interested in being involved in the revitalization currently underway in the downtown Concord area. He sees a lot of potential in the Concord area right now for business.

“It was a good way for us to become a bigger part of the community in our hometown. We finally have a location in the city we live in,” Grosskopf said. “The downtown area is reshaping rapidly. They’ve done a lot with the streetscaping and there are new businesses coming into downtown and a lot of development.”

The design of the space will be similar to other Dive Bar locations, though customers can expect a few surprises that Grosskopf declined to elaborate on. Arcade game offerings will focus on interactive gaming such as pool, darts, skee-ball and basketball.

Grosskopf said they would like to offer karaoke and other events at the Concord location, as well.

The Concord location will be open from Tuesday through Sunday, with plans for a closing time of 1 a.m. Sunday through Wednesday and a closing time of 2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday.

The space is currently under construction. The team is targeting an early June opening.

Dive Bar got its start in downtown Mooresville in 2021. Since then, it has expanded to Hickory, Cornelius, High Point and Winston-Salem. Though Grosskopf did not share where the company might be heading after Concord, he said they plan to keep expanding.

“We’re always looking at new cities, towns and opportunities,” Grosskopf said. “We’ll be continuing to grow our store count.”

What Now Charlotte recently reported on other businesses planning to join the downtown Concord scene this summer, including Decadence Popcorn, Barley Jean’s Bakery and Life is Sweet.

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