The Story of Mi Cariño Set to Replace VANA in Prime South End Spot
Team behind neighboring VINYL plans to open new gastro-cantina and mezcalería in fall
The Story of Mi Cariño may sound like a new Three Bone Theatre play up for review by Perry Tannenbaum, but it’s actually the newest addition to South End’s restaurant scene, set to open in the fall.
Spanish for “my darling,” Mi Cariño is a gastro-cantina and mezcalería that will be operated by B-Side Group, the Charlotte-based team behind VINYL.
The 2,350-square-foot space on the corner of South Tryon Street and Summit Avenue, located in the former VANA space in the heart of South End, will feature “Mexican and Left Coast Latino cuisine” paired with a “thoughtfully curated agave spirits program” that will include small-batch mezcals, according to a press release on Tuesday.
“We’re building more than a restaurant,” B-Side Group partner Ankoor Patel stated in the release. “Mi Cariño is an immersive escape and our culinary love letter to the flavor and complexity of Mexican and West Coast Latino cuisine and mezcal culture.
”We wanted to create something that feels cinematic and transportive but also deeply rooted in community,” he continued. “It’s a space where you catch up over dinner and then keep the night going with mezcal and music.”
A West Coast native and now proud Charlotte resident, general manager Mark Gonzales has more than two decades of experience in hospitality, with a Level II Sommelier certification and four restaurant openings under his belt.
B-Side Group Culinary Director Vince Giancarlo will head the 85-seat restaurant’s culinary program.
While training under Michelin-starred chefs Josiah Citrin and Ken Takayama in Los Angeles, Giancarlo immersed himself in the culture and cuisine of the city, according to the release. He boasts 20 years of professional kitchen experience including a six-year tenure at the former Cantina 1511 in Charlotte.
Henry Schmulling, beverage director with B-Side, will lead the cocktail program, centering agave spirits like tequila and mezcal with lesser-knowns like raicilla, sotol and bacanora, utilizing fresh juices, house infusions, aguas frescas and handcrafted syrups.
”The bar program at Mi Cariño is designed to surprise and delight,” Schmulling stated. “We’re leaning into rare agave spirits and bold flavor combinations to build a cocktail list that’s both adventurous and approachable. It’s all about the balance and honoring tradition while giving guests something new to discover every time they visit.”
The theatrical name of the restaurant was Inspired by a love for Mexican and Left Coast Latino culture, mezcal, movies and music, according to a release, “serving as a cinematic tribute to warmth, connection and authentic flavors.”
The Story of Mi Cariño is B-Side Group’s second restaurant after VINYL, the music-inspired bar and restaurant eatery that opened in 2022 in the same building where the new restaurant will open.
The space was originally part of a warehouse that Spencer Architect renovated in the early 2000s. Before being transformed into a restaurant space that housed VANA, the space was occupied by Instyle Charlotte, a kitchen and bath design company.
Tuesday’s release promised more B-Side restaurants in the works.
The Story of Mi Cariño’s will be located at 1440 S Tryon St., Suite 100. Follow the restaurant’s Instagram page for updates as the new establishment nears its fall opening date.
