Congratulations to Randy Stimpson and Charlie Ross of 2237 Lanier Avenue for being chosen for the Amity Gardens June Yard of the Month!

I (Randy) have owned my home in Amity Gardens since 1993. Charlie and I have been together since 2016 (she is the reason for Yard of the Month).

I have moved away several times—but always found myself back here—this is home to me.

Way back in 1958 my newlywed parents bought one of the first houses in Amity Gardens, on Unaka. They had three little girls, my sisters Kathy, Lisa, and Kim—and suddenly outgrew their home. They moved to Rama Road and shortly after, I was born.

Independence Boulevard was in it’s Golden Years…the world’s largest domed Coliseum, Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey, the bowling alley pins spinning non-stop and South 21 was all the rage. South 21 still is of course…but a lot has changed over the years.

I grew up going to Rama Swim Club, eating with my Mom at Eckerd’s lunch counter in the Amity Gardens Shopping Center, played sports for Providence Day and East Meck and did a lot shopping and hanging out at Eastland Mall. I worked at Victoria Station, Baskin Robbins, TGI Friday’s, Darryl’s, Grady’s, The Scoreboard and finally went on to publish Prowler Magazine, Southern Sports Journal and Charlotte’s Best Magazine. You can find digital copies of Charlotte’s Best online at ISSUU.com to see more of Charlotte over the years. It’s been a great ride.

It’s nice to see the neighborhood as it is now—everything is beautiful, the new faces and new enthusiasm make Amity Gardens a very special place, tucked away in trees and flowers with a comforting chorus of birds, busy wildlife and nice neighbors—and when you’re ready it is just 5 minutes from uptown Charlotte. We all have it pretty good here.

Charlie moved from her lake house at Lake Wylie and just loves the neighborhood. We are working on a vintage horse trailer *(you may have seen) to restore it for her food service business “Charlie’s Dogs”—she serves incredible hot dogs with dual purpose—we foster and adopt out dogs at events.

Charlie and Randy live on Lanier with their three dogs Kota (Pom), Josie (Pom) and newest edition Pepper (Jack Russell-the loudest you’ll hear in the window as you walk by), and several cats (and frequent fosters), plus a ball-python snake named Pockets. We are not snake people but Pockets needed a home and she, believe it or not is the sweetest of all of our animals. If she’s out in the yard, come say “Hi”.