Flowers acknowledge the death of Stuart Sloan, 45, outside of the NoDa eatery he owned, Salvador Deli. Sloan, according to a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police report, was found at a home on Bascom Street unconscious at 3:23 p.m. on Thursday. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Police are classifying the investigation into his death as a sudden death/natural causes case.

Sloan was a well-known figure on the music and arts scene in NoDa. He often hosted shows next to the deli — he even threw a free concert to celebrate his birthday a couple of months ago.

Sloan's friend and manager of the deli, Denarde Melton, said Sloan wasn't sick. "He was going through some problems in his life and I guess he didn't know how to cope with it. But I really don't know too much about his death because it is still under investigation."

Melton said he found Sloan's body on Thursday and choked up as he talked about his friend's dedication to NoDa and the arts. "Stu meant everything to this [neighborhood]. He brought a lot of different music to people. Rap, hip-hop, country, rock and roll, bluegrass. He was just an all-around guy; he loved it all and he loved being around people."

Tonight a jam session wil be held in Sloan's honor at Salvador Deli and then Melton said the business will be closed to mourn Sloan's death.

"We will be back," he said somberly, but he does not know when the restaurant/market plans to reopen.