The Innovation Barn is Envision Charlotte's circular economy hub at 932 Seigle Ave, in a former city horse barn in Belmont. The city provided the building and funded its renovation, and the nonprofit Envision Charlotte has managed it since it opened to visitors in 2021.
Who it's actually for
People who want to see the circular economy up close and get their hands dirty: families on a Saturday, volunteers, teams looking for a service day, and small makers. The work covers plastics, food scraps, textiles, and construction and demolition waste, with the aim of reuse, repair and recycling.
The scale is real. The Barn's five-year impact report for 2021 to 2026 counts 4,822 tons kept out of landfill, more than 86 jobs created and 29,248 volunteer hours.
It is a weaker fit if you want to change policy. Sustain Charlotte works on the city and county decisions behind transit, greenways and land use. For a business peer group, the Charlotte B Corp Collective is closer.
What they run
Circular Saturdays, every Saturday: volunteer sessions such as Tee & Coffee (weaving upcycled T-shirts into dog beds on pallet looms) and Planting Positivity in the urban food forest, plus workshops, the Saturday Swap for household items, and the Second Chance Sample Giveaway.
Repair Café Charlotte, run by Repair Café North Carolina, sets up at the Barn with tools and volunteer fixers for appliances, furniture, jewelry and toys.
Free guided public tours of 30 to 45 minutes, booked on Eventbrite, with self-guided exhibits during open hours. On-site compost bins take all food waste from the Barn. Change Please Coffee operates at the same address.
Volunteer options also include group service projects, and partner organizations recruit there too.
What it costs
Visiting, Circular Saturdays, Repair Café and public tours are free. Private group tours are $250 for one hour and up to 25 people. Team building, event rentals and corporate partnerships are priced on request.
Where
932 Seigle Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205. Open Tuesday to Friday, 10 am to 4 pm, and Saturday, 11 am to 4 pm. Holiday closings are on the events calendar.
How to start
Bring something broken to Repair Café Charlotte on Saturday, October 24, 2026, 10 am to 2 pm (last check-in at 2 pm). It is free; advance registration is recommended and walk-ins are welcome. If that date doesn't work, the next one at the Barn is Saturday, December 12, 2026.
Links
innovationbarnclt.com · Events calendar · Volunteer · Free public tour
Last verified: October 2026.
Run this community and something here is wrong? Tell us and we'll fix it.
