OAKLAND — Stephen Curry’s 17th NBA season ended in disappointment for the Golden State Warriors, falling short of the playoffs despite the superstar’s continued elite production. Now, with the offseason in full swing, Curry and his wife Ayesha are shifting focus from the court to their growing business empire, announcing a significant new hospitality venture in Charlotte.
On Thursday, the Currys revealed they are partnering with award-winning chef and restaurateur Michael Mina to open three restaurant concepts inside the Ritz-Carlton in uptown Charlotte. The first to launch will be Ayesha Curry’s Sweet July Café, targeting a July opening.
The café will offer coffee, smoothies, pastries, cakes, and cookies, alongside California-inspired healthy menu options that incorporate influences from Ayesha’s Jamaican heritage. Ayesha shared the news on her Instagram Stories with a simple, excited caption: “why hello.”
This marks the second location for the Sweet July concept, which already operates at Regent Santa Monica Beach. The collaboration with Michael Mina builds on a proven track record. The Currys previously worked with the celebrated chef on International Smoke, which began as a Mina Test Kitchen pop-up before expanding into permanent locations in San Francisco and Las Vegas. What started as a creative partnership has grown into one of the most successful athlete-chef collaborations in the hospitality industry.
For Stephen Curry, the Charlotte project carries deep personal meaning. Raised in the city during his father Dell Curry’s tenure with the Hornets, Curry has maintained strong ties to Charlotte throughout his illustrious NBA career. The expansion represents the couple’s most ambitious joint project to date.
The announcement comes after a challenging season for the Warriors. Curry averaged 26.6 points, 4.7 assists, 3.6 rebounds, and 4.4 three-pointers per game across 43 regular-season appearances. However, injuries — including quad soreness, ankle issues, and a runner’s knee diagnosis on January 30 that sidelined him for 27 consecutive games — significantly disrupted the team’s rhythm. The absence of Curry, combined with Jimmy Butler’s torn ACL, stripped Golden State of the healthy, competitive core it had envisioned at the start of the year, ultimately resulting in a missed playoff opportunity.
While the on-court results were below expectations, Curry’s ability to remain one of the league’s most dynamic offensive forces even at age 37 underscored his enduring excellence. With basketball on pause, the eight-time All-Star is channeling his energy into family and entrepreneurial pursuits, a transition he and Ayesha have managed with increasing success over the years.
The new Charlotte developments signal not just a business expansion but a strategic deepening of the Currys’ footprint in hospitality. As the Sweet July Café prepares for its summer debut, fans and food enthusiasts alike will be watching to see how the couple’s latest venture blends Ayesha’s culinary vision with Mina’s acclaimed expertise.
For Warriors supporters in the Bay Area, the news offers a reminder that while the 2025-26 season did not unfold as hoped, Stephen Curry’s influence — both on and off the court — continues to extend far beyond the hardwood.