Thanks for the suggestion, but I never got to go to the Epicenter. I was in Charlotte at my one friend's place for less than a day, then we went to our other friend's in Winston-Salem for the rest of the weekend. I did find some Canes gear in the Charlotte airport. No hats, shirts that were way too big for me, lanyards, pucks, beer glasses, pencils, and other odds and ends.
NC is beautiful. I gotta add moving down there to my to do list. Having an NHL team there is icing on the cake. I'd be a convert though, no old loyalties. I wish it was still hockey season because my friend in Charlotte lives 2 minutes away from Bojangles Coliseum. Would have loved to see a Checkers game.
And holy crap, I love Waffle House! I've never heard of that, being from NY. That was the most delicious hangover breakfast I've ever had!