by Kristen Wile

Justin Hazelton, the mixologist and owner of Plaza Midwood cocktail bar Lorem Ipsum, will open his second concept at Camp North End this spring. The bar, called Sours, will serve variations of sour cocktails from a small corner space near the communal area outside of the plant shop and Camp North End offices. Because of the size of the space — only around 100 square feet — Sours will serve cocktails and mocktails for customers to enjoy out on the patio in the Mount District.

The mixologist has been well-known in Charlotte since his days at 5Church. He also led the bar program at Leah & Louise before leaving to focus on his cocktail consulting company and later opening Lorem Ipsum inside the Refuge micro-hotel on Central Avenue. Hazelton is a 2024 UPPY Award winner for Mixologist of the Year.

Hazelton says he initially went by Camp North End to look at a rooftop location, and his first reaction was to laugh when he saw the tiny space that will become Sours. As he thought about it, Hazelton says, he realized he might be able to make the little corner work as a micro-bar. 

“When I got into the bar game over a decade ago, it was always to try to do what I love, but I also try to align that with where I think the scene is going and what makes sense for where it’s going,” Hazelton says. “…I think we’re going into a time where people are wanting less alcohol per drink; they’re wanting no alcohol. And they also want quicker service.”

Sours will meet that desire through batching cocktails, with window service from a storefront with a retro vibe. Focusing his drink menu on sour cocktails will allow Hazelton to serve a number of popular drinks, including daiquiris, whiskey sours, and margaritas. The award-winning mixologist plans to work with local farms to create seasonal sour offerings. There will also be nonalcoholic drinks, as well as a retail selection of sour mixes guests can purchase and take home.

Hazelton says he plans to open Sours on the first day of Spring in late March; if the required permits haven’t gone through by then, he’ll open with nonalcoholic drinks first. Eventually, he hopes to open several more Sours locations in similar food stall-esque spaces. 

“What I have is Lorem Ipsum, which is more something that’s near and dear to my heart and it represents me and my passions and mixology,” Hazelton says. “This is also something that’s close to my heart, but it’s something that I can use to build a more scalable business and I can spread my wings as an entrepreneur more.”