I have lived in the Matthews, NC area for over 25 years…
and I LOVE my hometown! Located just 11 miles from Uptown Charlotte, some people consider Matthews to be a “suburb” of Charlotte. On the contrary, it is actually a historic town with lots of activities and a great quality of life. Today, the town of Matthews encompasses about 17 square miles and is home to over 30,000 residents. Town of Matthews website
Matthews is also a convenient commuter location. Complete with easy access to Interstate-485, just 25 minutes to the Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, 15 minutes to the Ballantyne area, and 15 minutes to the SouthPark Mall and office parks.
When it comes to homes in Matthews, there is a wide variety available. From really affordable condominium complexes with low/no maintenance; Townhomes; single family homes with a yard; and also, larger luxury homes on several acres.
Since Matthews in a historic town, let’s start with a little history of the area that has grown into the dynamic town we currently enjoy. Matthews was originally called “Stumptown” and was established in the 1800s as a farming community. The town grew and became a bustling community with a downtown center of merchant shops near the railroad stop. The brick buildings that originally housed these shops now exist as the “Matthews Historic District” and make up our charming downtown area.
Time to shop!
You can still shop at Renfrow’s Hardware and General Store (est. ~1900) right on Trade Street and buy baby chicks if you want! Nowadays, we have not only the historic downtown center for shopping and dining, but lots of new shopping centers. They include the stores we all need, like: Costco, Target, Starbucks, Home Depot, Bed Bath and Beyond, Michael’s and many more.
Time to EAT!
Dining in Matthews is a real treat with many locally owned restaurants in the historic downtown center (my favorite is Santé!), as well as all your favorite big-name venues like Carrabba’s, Outback, Bonefish Grill etc. Looking for brewpubs and wine bars? Check! There are many to explore right here in Matthews. Matthews Welcome Guide
What I love most about Matthews is the “small town” feel of a quaint and charming historic town. This is the heart of Matthews and reflects in the community-centric focus of the town. There is so much to see and do and experience in Matthews! We have over 10 Parks to play in, as well as a nationally recognized Sportsplex for soccer and other sports (BIG deal around here!). Sportsplex Matthews
Looking for Arts and Culture? The Town of Matthews is quite proud of the long-running Matthews Playhouse that features live theater all year round with enthusiastically received performances. https://matthewsplayhouse.com/ One of the highlights of downtown Matthews is the new Town Hall/Library building which was constructed in 2000, as was the park and Matthews Station shopping district. The Matthews Town Hall and Library share a building, with the Library downstairs and Town Hall upstairs. It is both grand and comfortingly small-town approachable. Please visit the Library – it is phenomenal!
Additional Information on Matthews