After more than two years of late-night spins in Hotel Refuge’s lobby, Plaza Midwood listening bar Lorem Ipsum has gone quiet. Owner Justin Hazelton confirmed the closure in a July 15 farewell post on Instagram, saying he wanted time to reflect and to celebrate what the project managed to build. The pop-up residency wrapped earlier than planned, catching regulars and visiting DJs who had come to rely on the space off guard.
According to the Charlotte Observer, Hazelton wrote, “Because of all of you, Lorem grew into something far greater than a cocktail bar,” adding that he would spend the coming weeks looking back on the story the team created together. The outlet notes that Lorem Ipsum debuted in 2023 inside Hotel Refuge on Central Avenue and operated as a conceptual residency for more than two years.
Heat and building problems hastened the end
Local site Unpretentious Palate reports that the residency had been scheduled to run into late July but that the final nights were moved up after HVAC problems during Charlotte’s recent heat wave made it tough to keep the space comfortable. Hazelton told the site that the combination of the soaring temperatures and the building’s cooling failures pushed the team to stop service earlier than they had planned.
What Hazelton is launching next
Hazelton told the Charlotte Observer he plans to open a new concept at the nearby Innovation Barn, and Unpretentious Palate reports that the next iteration, And.Or.Café, will pair coffee and cocktails with sustainability-focused practices and is aiming for a late August debut. The outlet also notes that Hazelton is planning Lorem Ipsum Radio for DJ sets and live music. “It’s going to be a waste-not bar,” Hazelton told Unpretentious Palate about the cafe’s approach.
Short run, lasting impact
Despite its relatively brief run, the bar made a national splash, as Esquire named Lorem Ipsum one of the 15 best bars in America in 2025, while local guides praised its vinyl-forward sound and cocktail program. Listings such as Eater Carolinas highlighted the listening bar as a Plaza Midwood standout, and Hazelton has said the lessons learned at Lorem Ipsum will help shape a larger, permanent version of the concept in the future.
