University City Report (PDF) - Charlotte Chamber of Commerce

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Personal Profile: Sonja Gantt
Most Charlotteans know who Sonja Gantt is. As an anchor for local NBC
affiliate WCNC-TV’s evening newscasts, she is welcomed into many local
living rooms throughout the week. She’s worked for the station in that
capacity since 1997.
A local joke is that no one lives in Charlotte was actually born in Charlotte.
In Gantt’s case this couldn’t be further from the truth. A Charlotte native, she
grew up on the city’s North Side in the Hidden Valley neighborhood. She later
attended East Mecklenburg High School before heading to UNC Chapel Hill.
Gantt has also lived in University City — twice. She lived there for five
years before moving to Chicago. But she moved back four years later, and has
remained there for the last 14 years.
“I like the feel of the area, and I think there’s a certain wonderful spirit
over here,” she said. “And there’s a good mix of young and old. You know, I’m
usually up at the University Y in the morning, and I love the fact that there are
retirees up there. Sometimes there will be people like me who work a different
schedule. It’s just a great mix.”
In talking with Gantt, it’s very obvious that she loves the University YMCA,
citing her affinity for working out and the classes the facility offers. Of course,
all that working out certainly works up an appetite. Though she doesn’t get
to visit as often as she likes due to her schedule, she pointed to Nona’s Sweets
Bakery Café, a family-owned and operated bakery in the university area, as one
of her favorite places.
But she didn’t limit her smaller local finds to food. One of her latest
discoveries, The Last Word, is a used bookstore located in the Grand
Promenade Village.
“It’s such a cute little place,” she said. “I mean, I’ve found bestsellers up
there for five bucks, six bucks. So it’s such a great resource for people who
love reading, or my son who found video games in there. I think that’s a little
hidden treasure.”
Married with two children, Gantt believes anyone with a family looking
to move or relocate to the Charlotte area would not be disappointed with
University City.
“When you move someplace and you have children, you’re always looking
for things for them to do, and it’s definitely alive with plenty of children here.
If you go up toward Mallard Creek Park on a Saturday — my son was playing
soccer up there — I mean, there are just kids everywhere. And so I do think it’s
a very welcoming place for families.”
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