West Charlotte's 1,400-acre River District gets its first commercial tenant

Monday, December 15, 2025

By Desiree Mathurin
Updated December 15, 2025 3:31 PM

The River District in west Charlotte is getting its first piece of commercial development. A convenience store and gas station.

Dash In, a Maryland-based retail and gas station chain, will be opening on West Boulevard near Interstate 485 in the next few years. Construction on the 5,600-square-foot site, along with a 400-square-foot covered outdoor dining area, will begin next year.

Dash In purchased the 3-acre site last week from developer Crescent Communities for $2.1 million, according to Mecklenburg County records. The site will be part convenience store with made-to-order food such as burgers and all-day breakfast. There will also be gas pumps and a car wash.

It’s a milestone announcement for the $6 billion, 1,400-acre mixed-use redevelopment district, which has been in the works since 2016. For years, the district has been adding people, and a troll, to the once vacant plot near the airport.

Dash In would be the first commercial tenant.

It’s also a major announcement for the retail chain, which is expanding into North Carolina. Dash In is owned by The Wills Group, one of the largest independent fuel distributors in the Mid-Atlantic region, according to its website. It has more than 300 locations and next year, the group will celebrate its 100th birthday.

The group plans to open 10 locations in the Charlotte-region, according to a news release. It also intends to open locations in Raleigh and the Triad.

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