Stepping inside the upcoming Leluia Hall, your eyes immediately catch massive windows, high ceilings, and an enormous space that will soon host an indoor dining atmosphere serving steak and seafood, plus a second-floor balcony, raw bar, wine cellar, and a cocktail bar.

"My hope is that when people come here, they'll want to come back because there's a lot of different experiences you can have," said Jamie Brown, Leluia Hall co-owner who gave CLTtoday a special tour.

Leluia Hall co-owner Jamie Brown gave us a tour of the upcoming South End restaurant. | Photo by CLTtoday

Sound impressive? The story of Leluia Hall has been a blockbuster effort to bring a unique, culinary experience to the booming South End and Dilworth neighborhoods, led by Charlottean couple and business partners Jeff Tonidandel and Jamie Brown. Together, they own five other concepts across the Queen City: Haberdish, Ever Andalo, Growlers Pourhouse, Reigning Doughnuts, and Supperland.

Leluia Hall has been a journey all its own. Tonidandel and Brown purchased the now-closed Bonterra Dining & Wine Room on Cleveland Avenue back in 2022.

Fun fact: Bonterra was once the Atherton Methodist Church, built in the late 1800s.

The couple chose to preserve tokens of Charlotte's history while fueling the excitement for further growth and opportunity in the Queen City.

The historic Leeper Wyatt Building will soon be moved from its current location on South Boulevard to Cleveland Avenue before an upcoming restaurant will be developed in its place. | Photo via Tonidandel-Brown Restaurant Group

In September 2024, they chose to save the historic Leeper Wyatt building in what became a massive party for the city. Hundreds gathered to watch the 121-year-old structure be relocated 700 ft next to Leluia Hall.

"It was a little mind blowing because you've done all of these preparations to make this happen," recalled Brown. "There were probably a couple hundred [people] out there watching the whole thing unfold. It was just so fun to see."

We asked. The concept for the Leeper Wyatt building is TBD.

Development on Leluia Hall has been more than three years in the making. | Photo by CLTtoday

Now nestled at its location at 1829 Cleveland Ave., the renovation process for South End's highly-anticipated restaurant has taken over three years to address historic preservation requirements and structural issues. Major structural work included adding trusses, fortification beams, and opening ceiling space.

Even a project this big still invested incredible attention to detail. Pro tip: Keep an eye on the restaurant walls lined with handmade tiles crafted by a Moroccan artist.

"We know that people don't come to really any of our restaurants just to eat. Maybe Growlers [Pourhouse]," laughed Brown. "But for the most part, they're there for an experience."

After years of planning and ongoing development, Leluia Hall is now nearing the finish line with staff being hired and a menu being finalized.

Jeff Tonidandel and Jamie Brown will be featured in an upcoming documentary series chronicling their restaurant experience in Charlotte. | Photo via Susie Films

Fun fact: Tonidandel and Brown's journey to bring Leluia Hall to life has been by captured by Mooresville-based documentary crew Susie Films for an upcoming reality series set to debut this year on SCETV.

"I have a lot of trust in them, and I think they're really trying to tell like a good wholesome story that's based on education showing the process of opening a restaurant," said Brown.

Have that reservation tab ready. Leluia Hall is tentatively slated to open this March, starting with the downstairs dining space.

Brown told CLTtoday she hopes it will become a culinary destination for the booming Dilworth and South End neighborhoods — without discounting how important the journey is along the way.

"Getting to that vision is always possible and you're actually not failing until you give up," said Brown. "And so even though you feel all these challenges and obstacles along the way, they're actually helping you get to that place. They're not there to stop you and impede you. They're actually gifts."