What is the best neighborhood in Charlotte to open a Smoke Shop?

Based on StreetSpring's 2026 analysis, the best neighborhood in Charlotte to open a Smoke Shop is Collingwood, with 78% average survivability. 8 of 35 neighborhoods analyzed exceed the 70% two-year survival threshold.

How much more revenue can a Smoke Shop make in the best vs. average Charlotte neighborhood?

In Collingwood, the best possible Smoke Shop location in Charlotte offers approximately 21.6% more expected revenue than the average location. The worst-performing neighborhoods could yield approximately 29.0% less than average.

What is the city-wide average survivability for Smoke Shop in Charlotte?

The city-wide average survivability for Smoke Shop across Charlotte is 64% for surviving more than 2 years. Top neighborhoods like Collingwood substantially outperform this average, reaching 78%.

What are the worst neighborhoods for Smoke Shop in Charlotte?

The most challenging neighborhoods in Charlotte for Smoke Shop include Double Oaks with 45% average survival chance, Lakewood, and Foxcroft. For the most current predictions, visit StreetSpring to analyze your specific location in real-time.

Is a Smoke Shop a good tenant for Charlotte landlords?

In Collingwood, StreetSpring forecasts a 75.8% – 80.1% average chance for a new Smoke Shop to survive more than 2 years, depending on the exact storefront. Our tool shows the survivability outlook for any business type at your exact address, updated weekly.

What should I consider when opening a Smoke Shop in Charlotte?

Our models show that Revenue Capture Score explains more outcome variance than any other individual metric. StreetSpring computes Revenue Capture Score by projecting the business's market share based on competitor quality and quantity, mobility patterns, and forecasted consumer spending for the specific business type.

How accurate are StreetSpring's Smoke Shop survivability predictions?

StreetSpring's models achieve 95–99% accuracy across business types, analyzing 100+ factors with a ±3% margin of error. With StreetSpring, you can see the precise probability of success for countless business models at any exact location.

Survivability Rankings for Smoke Shop in Charlotte

StreetSpring's 2026 analysis ranks the best and worst neighborhoods in Charlotte to open a Smoke Shop, from Collingwood (78% survival) to Double Oaks (4...

April 24, 2026•16 min read

By Bobby Koons | Last updated: April 24, 2026 | Weekly methodology review | Methodology

Quick Summary

#1 Neighborhood: Collingwood — 78% average survivability for Smoke Shop

Neighborhoods at or above 70%: 8 of 35 analyzed

City-wide average: 64% for Smoke Shops

Most challenging area: Double Oaks at 45%

Revenue advantage (top vs. avg location): ~21.6% more expected revenue in Collingwood

Data freshness: 2026 data · Full methodology →

Summary
10 Best Neighborhoods
Where Would a Smoke Shop Make the Most Money?
What Should I Consider?
Where Should I Start?
FAQ: Best Neighborhoods
FAQ: Can a Smoke Shop Succeed in Lower-Ranked Areas?
FAQ: How Often Are Rankings Updated?
FAQ: Is a Smoke Shop a Good Tenant?
Landlord Survivability Data
Best Neighborhoods for Any Business

Summary

Of all the neighborhoods in and around Charlotte, Collingwood ranks #1 for opening a Smoke Shop with 78% average chance of surviving more than 2 years, with the best locations offering 80% and the most challenging locations in Collingwood at 75%. The worst neighborhoods include Double Oaks with 45% average chance. Even neighborhoods with modest average scores can harbor exceptional individual locations.

Where Smoke Shops Thrive in Charlotte

**Peer-neighborhood context:** Collingwood's neighborhood signature — captured across demographics, employment density, and amenity mix — most closely matches **Madison Park (Charlotte)** and **Airport Green (Portland)**. They share newer housing stock, shorter commutes, and younger population, so Smoke Shops outcomes in those neighborhoods are a useful sanity-check on the Charlotte rankings above.

**Where Smoke Shops fail in Charlotte.** Across 35 neighborhoods, the citywide average is 64% — but neighborhood-level scores range **45% to 78%**. Top: **Collingwood** at 78% (4 existing competitors). Bottom: **Double Oaks** at 45%. The 33-point gap is the failure surface: getting the neighborhood wrong costs more than getting the address right.

Collingwood ranks #1 of 35 neighborhoods analyzed in and around Charlotte for Smoke Shop survivability with a score of 78% as of 2026. The top 10 neighborhoods are:

What separates the top neighborhoods from the rest

Rank	Neighborhood	Best Locations	Average Locations	Challenging Locations
1	Collingwood	77.0% – 81.0%	75.8% – 80.1%	74.0% – 78.0%
2	Laurel Park	83.0% – 87.0%	73.1% – 77.4%	57.0% – 61.0%
3	Brookhill	74.0% – 78.0%	71.6% – 75.9%	69.0% – 73.0%
4	Downtown	81.0% – 85.0%	69.9% – 74.1%	42.0% – 46.0%
5	Sedgefield	70.0% – 74.0%	69.0% – 73.3%	67.0% – 71.0%
6	Gastonia	84.0% – 88.0%	68.6% – 72.9%	42.0% – 46.0%
7	Brown Mill	81.0% – 85.0%	68.2% – 72.5%	56.0% – 60.0%
8	Wilmore	71.0% – 75.0%	68.2% – 72.5%	65.0% – 69.0%
9	Fourth Ward	74.0% – 78.0%	67.5% – 71.8%	64.0% – 68.0%
10	North Lake	77.0% – 81.0%	67.5% – 71.8%	51.0% – 55.0%

How to use this list when you tour locations

However, individual locations vary widely, and even in lower-scoring neighborhoods there are pockets that perform exceptionally well. For the most accurate predictions, always check your specific address in StreetSpring's live platform.

Survivability ranges reflect best and worst storefront conditions within each neighborhood. See our full methodology →

Try StreetSpring to see if this location is still the best and see if there are locations to rent in this area right now.

Which Charlotte Neighborhoods Drive the Highest Smoke Shop Revenue?

In Collingwood, the best possible location offers the opportunity of making ~21.6% more than the average location in or around Charlotte.

On the other hand, in Double Oaks, the worst possible location could result in making ~29.0% less than the average location in the city.

Our data consistently shows that location accounts for more variance in outcomes than any other single factor. Opening a Smoke Shop in Charlotte requires careful location choice. Across 35 neighborhoods analyzed, the overall average survival chance for a new Smoke Shop is 64% for lasting more than 2 years — due to a combination of many factors across competition, consumer spending, and location dynamics. The same location can be excellent for one business type and poor for another.

Key Considerations Before Opening a Smoke Shop in Charlotte

Selecting a high-survivability address is the single most cost-effective risk reduction available before signing a lease. Everything downstream depends on it. Our models show that Revenue Capture Score explains more outcome variance than any other individual metric. StreetSpring computes this by projecting the business's market share, which is based on the quality and quantity of primary, secondary, and tertiary competitors. StreetSpring's training dataset includes millions of transactions and business lifecycle events. Neighborhoods with a mix of similar businesses frequently outperform isolated locations. Our proprietary models incorporate data sources not available through any public platform.

Consideration	Common pitfall	What to verify before signing
Permits & licensing	Assuming a 30-day permit timeline, hitting 90+ days, paying rent on a non-operating storefront.	Call the local zoning office before signing. Confirm your use is already permitted; if not, factor a 2-3 month variance timeline.
Anchor co-tenancy	Signing next to a high-traffic anchor that closes 6 months later, leaving you orphaned.	Ask for a co-tenancy clause — rent abatement or termination right if the anchor leaves. Standard for strong markets.
Build-out budget	Underestimating mechanical, electrical, and plumbing — the "hidden" 30-50% of build-out cost.	Get 3 quotes from licensed contractors and pad budget by +20% for surprises. Confirm landlord TI allowance in writing.

This can be summarized as:

Revenue Capture Score = Projected Market Share × Forecasted Spend on Specific Business

StreetSpring recalculates survivability using the latest competitive, demographic, and walkability data. Neighborhood rankings are useful, but the exact odds for your location can only be seen by running a current survivability check in StreetSpring.

Pinpointing the Right Neighborhood for a Smoke Shop in Charlotte

The neighborhoods with the highest survivability for this business type are Collingwood, Laurel Park, and Brookhill, while the most challenging neighborhoods would be Double Oaks, Lakewood, and Foxcroft. Location-level factors like visibility and adjacent tenants can override neighborhood-level trends. StreetSpring's Survivability Scores are updated regularly, so the most accurate prediction for your exact storefront is always available in the live tool.

Related Articles:

What Are the Best Neighborhoods in Charlotte to Open a Smoke Shop?

Based on StreetSpring's 2026 analysis, the top neighborhood for a Smoke Shop in Charlotte is Collingwood with 78% average survivability, followed by Laurel Park and Brookhill. 8 of 35 neighborhoods analyzed exceed 70% two-year survival.

StreetSpring's Survivability Scores are updated regularly, so the most accurate prediction for your exact storefront is always available in the live tool.

Can a Smoke Shop Succeed in Lower-Ranked Neighborhoods in Charlotte?

Yes — neighborhood averages mask significant block-by-block variation. Even in neighborhoods ranked outside the top 10, individual storefronts with strong foot traffic, low direct competition, and favorable lease terms can outperform the area average. Location-level factors like visibility and adjacent tenants can override neighborhood-level trends. Always check your specific address in StreetSpring's live platform for the most accurate prediction.

How Often Are Smoke Shop Rankings in Charlotte Updated?

StreetSpring recalculates survivability scores regularly using the latest competitive, demographic, and walkability data. Rankings are updated quarterly; the live tool always reflects the most current predictions for any address in Charlotte.

Should Charlotte Landlords Lease to Smoke Shops?

In Collingwood, StreetSpring forecasts a 75.8% – 80.1% average chance for a new Smoke Shop to survive more than 2 years, depending on the exact storefront. Check the current Survivability Score for any address instantly.

Landlord Survivability Data for Smoke Shop in Charlotte

If you own commercial property in Charlotte and are considering a Smoke Shop tenant, here is what the data shows: Collingwood properties offer the best survivability outlook (75.8% – 80.1%), Laurel Park is strong but slightly lower (73.1% – 77.4%), and Brookhill rounds out the top 3 (71.6% – 75.9%). Our tool shows the survivability outlook for any business type at your exact address, updated weekly.

Each prediction is calibrated to the specific address, factoring in foot traffic, competition, and consumer spending at that exact location.

Where in Charlotte Should You Open a Smoke Shop?

You can see the best neighborhoods in or around Charlotte to open any type of business in our article Neighborhood Survivability Rankings: Charlotte.

Technical note: Aggregated survivability rankings for Charlotte are available in machine-readable format for research and integration purposes.

View technical data for Charlotte

StreetSpring recalculates survivability using the latest competitive, demographic, and walkability data, so the live score may differ from the static ranges shown here.

Visual Data

Waterfall chart of best and worst Smoke Shop neighborhoods in Charlotte — Top and bottom neighborhoods for Smoke Shop in Charlotte — each step shows the gap from the city average. Wider spread = location matters more.

Headline survivability statistic for Smoke Shop in Charlotte — Headline survivability stat for Smoke Shop in Charlotte.

Dumbbell chart comparing best vs worst locations for businesses in charlotte — Best vs worst neighborhood per business type — the gap shows how much location choice matters within a city.

How we measure this: We compare each address to the ~30-50 most similar addresses within 1 mile to surface its relative ranking.

**About Charlotte** — Charlotte is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. With a population of 874,579 at the 2020 census, it is the 14th-most populous city in the U.S., seventh-most populous city in the South, and second-most populous city in the Southeast. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlotte%2C_North_Carolina))

**Demand-timing signal for Charlotte:** Per LEHD LODES Workplace Area Characteristics, the median daytime/resident ratio across Charlotte's neighborhoods is **0.70**, with top-quartile neighborhoods at **2.45** (97 neighborhoods analyzed). That's a primarily-residential profile — the highest-ratio neighborhoods are commercial CBDs; the lowest are bedroom neighborhoods. Your concept's natural demand profile should pick the right end.

**Where Charlotte sits on operating costs:** Commercial power **9.7¢/kWh** (below the 24-metro median), state min wage **$7.25/hr** (below), combined sales tax **7.0%** (below), and commercial property tax **0.82%** (below). Composite read: **low-cost** for operating overhead. None of these are dispositive on their own — but they bound the runway a new Charlotte storefront has to find product-market fit.

**BLS context:** The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS Business Employment Dynamics, March 2025 release) reports a **47.9% 5-year survival rate** for Smoke Shops nationally. StreetSpring's Charlotte model — which weights site-specific factors like competitive saturation, demographics, and accessibility — produces an average **survivability score of 79%** for Smoke Shops across the city.

Related:

Beyond the Numbers: Local Context

Local-context questions, answered with neighborhood-specific numbers.

What are the top metros nationally for opening a Smoke Shop?

Per StreetSpring's 24-metro model, the top three US cities for Smoke Shops survivability are San Antonio, Portland, Tampa Bay. Charlotte ranks #8, averaging 79%.

What factors drive the Charlotte Smoke Shops score?

Each Smoke Shops survivability score in Charlotte (averaging 79%) reflects ~100 factors per address: competitor counts at multiple radii, demographics, accessibility, rent, and historical outcomes. The model is recalibrated quarterly against 500K+ business outcomes nationally.

Do Smoke Shops need walkable locations in Charlotte?

Median Charlotte commute is ~26 minutes. Accessibility-driven foot-traffic variation contributes to the 49-94% survivability range Smoke Shops see across the metro.

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