Greater Wilmington Business Journal - March 19 Issue by Greater Wilmington Business Journal / WILMA magazine

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March 19 - April 2, 2021 Vol. 22, No. 6

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REGION IN FOCUS BRUNSWICK COUNTY

Project Grace

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REGION IN FOCUS

BRUNSWICK CO. PAGE

PAGE

Luring jobs: Officials hope megasites work Hot markets: Some areas outsell others Tornado aftermath: Neighborhood, county pick up the pieces PHOTO BY MICHAEL CLINE SPENCER

Index Economic Indicators .............................. 2 Technology ............................................. 3 Hospitality ..........................................4-5 The List .................................................. 8 In Profile................................................. 9 Real Estate..................................... 10-12 Business of Life.............................. 22-23

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Economic drivers: Bill Early, executive director of Brunswick Business & Industry Development, and Gary Lanier, director of the Columbus County Economic Development Commission, are hoping a spec building at the International Logistics Park in Brunswick and Columbus will attract an employer.

FIELDS OF DREAMS

BRUNSWICK BETS ON MEGASITES TO HELP DIVERSIFY ECONOMY BY SCOTT NUNN hile the “if we build it they will come” approach to attracting industry comes with no guarantees, the chances of success are high right now, according to a Wilmington-based site-selection veteran. “If you [do] not have any buildings and sites, then you don’t have anything to sell,” said Robin Spinks, a partner with Greenfield, a business-recruitment and site-selection consulting firm. And it’s not just buildings that attract industries – it’s buildings

in the right location and with adequate infrastructure, locations where businesses can get their operations up and running in a relatively short time. That’s what Brunswick County hopes to offer at two 1,000-acre-plus “certified megasites” off U.S. 74/76 along the Columbus County line. Being “certified” means the state has guaranteed a site meets more than 30 prerequisites, including the proper zoning designation, a Phase I environmental audit, availability of public utilities, an industrial-level power supply and engineered site-development plans. Both Brunswick and Columbus counties are promoting the International Logistics Park, which spans the county line. The other megasite – the Mid-Atlantic Industrial Rail Park – sits entirely in Brunswick County. Columbus is considered a Tier 1 – economically distressed – county by the state, making it eligible for great-

er levels of assistance. (Brunswick currently is a Tier 2 on the three-tier scale, with Tier 3 the least-distressed.) While fast-growing coastal Brunswick has become best known as a retirement and tourism destination, thousands of acres of rural land make the county ripe for industrial development, said Spinks, whose firm has done consulting work for Brunswick Business & Industry Development (BID), the agency charged with recruiting industry to the county. “They are trying to diversify their economy and use their assets,” Spinks said. “And from a physical standpoint, the county is large enough. Brunswick is basically three different places; it’s Leland, Belville and Navassa, basically a suburb of Wilmington; it’s Southport and the beaches; and then it is the rural western part of the county. So there’s See MEGASITES, page 7

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March 19 - April 2, 2021

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Greater Wilmington Business Journal

| ECONOMIC INDICATORS | 2019 vs 2020 (DECEMBER) WILMINGTON MSA CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE

JANUARY AIRPORT PASSENGER TRAFFIC

DECEMBER SALES TAX COLLECTION (NEW HANOVER COUNTY)

200,000

SALES TAX COLLECTION DECEMBER 2020

$20,502,650

LABOR FORCE

150,000

154,371

UP FROM SALES TAX COLLECTION DECEMBER 2019

148,115

DECEMBER

2020

2019

JANUARY 2021 DEPARTURES

JANUARY 2021 ARRIVALS

100,000

14,385

16,067

50,000

DOWN FROM JANUARY 2020 DEPARTURES

DOWN FROM JANUARY 2020 ARRIVALS

UNEMPLOYED

39,663

8,104

4,701

250

50K

$361,475

300K

$313,012

300 250

$292,786

350K

100K

2020

2021

2019

Commercial JANUARY 2020

200

200 150

150

100

5050 00

1/20

120

Source: Cape Fear Realtors

DECEMBER ROOM OCCUPANCY TAX (NEW HANOVER COUNTY)

$572,112

$578,284 2019

Source: Wilmington 2020 CVB

220

3/20

320

4/20

420

5/20

520

6/20

620

7/20

720

8/20

820

9/20

920

10/20

1020

11/20

1120

12/20

1220

1/21

121

TEN LARGEST TAXPAYERS FY18-19 (NEW HANOVER COUNTY) TAX LEVY

$77.9M $68.7M $54.9M $54.1M $48.9M $48M

$500K

$1M

$1.5M

$2M

$2.5M

DUKE ENERGY PROGRESS GENERAL ELECTRIC CORNING INC

AVERAGE PRICE PER GALLON FOR REGULAR UNLEADED IN WILMINGTON ON MARCH 9, 2021:

PPD FORTRON INDUSTRIES

$2.62

BELL SOUTH INDEPENDENCE MALL GLOBAL NUCLEAR FUEL AMERICAS

AVERAGE PRICE PER GALLON FOR WILMINGTON ON MARCH 9, 2020:

WALMART

$38M PIEDMONT NATURAL GAS CO.

2020

2/20

Source: Brunswick County Code Administration

$439.9M (assessed value) $340.5M $236.4M

2019

Residential

300 350

400K

150K

Source: N.C. Department of Revenue

MONTHLY BUILDING PERMITS (BRUNSWICK COUNTY)

(SINGLE-FAMILY, TRI-COUNTY AREA)

200K

39,459

Source: Wilmington International Airport

Source: N.C. Department of Commerce

FEBRUARY AVERAGE HOME SALE PRICE

250K

$19,944,469

$500K

$1M

$1.5M

$2M

$2.5M

$2.22 Source: AAA

Source: New Hanover County

Greater Wilmington Business Journal

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March 19 - April 2, 2021

| TECHNOLOGY |

Sales forecasting with AI

Wilmington entrepreneur who knew all too well the struggles that sales managers face when it comes to sales forecasting has created a software tool that provides business forecasting using JOHANNA artificial intelligence. Phil Everhart is the founder and president of SmartFox Technologies, a company he started in 2019 and whose product launched in October. He developed SmartFox Prime, an application built on the Salesforce customer relationship management platform. “According to a Wall Street analyst, accurate sales forecasting is the No. 1 indicator of a business being successful,” Everhart said. “It is what helps companies plan to pay their employees, cover operating expenses, buy more inventory market, new products and attract new investors. But the problem with this is that most sales forecasts are inaccurate.” One reason for the inaccuracy is due to sales forecasts being based on the subjective guesses of sales representatives and often not on realistic data points. Having previously been a sales manager, Everhart describes the process of fixing inaccurate sales forecasts as “painful,” prompting him to develop his solution that became the genesis of the SmarFox application. “With over 20 years of experience working with companies trying to correct these issues, using objective data points to make forecasts, I took this methodology and partnered with Salesforce to build SmartFox Prime,” he said. The product uses controlled artificial intelligence and nudging. “Every time our AI gets extracted; we learn something by the data to fix things again on the front end. It continues to learn to make everything accurate,” Everhart said. When it comes to nudging, the platform incentivizes sales representatives to input their performance by presenting how they rank. “Sales reps are incentivized either by making more money or social recognition, things like that for their performance, so I knew I had to get something that was easy for use on the front end that also had to be

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INFO J U N K I E Natalie Haskins English

President and CEO, Wilmington Chamber of Commerce English relies on e-newsletters and blogs that keep her informed about business growth and policies or politics that impact business. She reads five or six every morning. On a personal level, she relies on apps such as Harris Teeter and Life360 for convenience.

CANO

IMAGE C/O SMARTFOX TECHNOLOGIES

Smart tech: SmartFox Technologies aims to provide a sales forecasting tool that uses artificial intelligence to make sales predictions easier and more accurate.

controllable,” he said. The partnership with Salesforce came out of the California-based company’s AppExchange Partner Program. “I actually reached out to Salesforce with the goal of becoming a partner. They give you their development environment for their apps that they put on app exchange,” Everhart said. “We hired a partner that helped us design the product.” The product is aimed at businesses that have a longer sales cycle including finance technology and medical health care companies. “We’re perfect for companies that are either starting off with Salesforce that are small and trying to bring structure or companies that have 200 employees that have larger sales team where there’s inconsistency,” he said. Research done by Salesforce indicates that businesses are open to using technologies in their everyday operations, Everhart said. “It’s [Salesforce’s] adoption rate for AI is projected to grow 139% the next three years,” he said. Currently, the company is operated by Everhart who works with five advisers for guidance. Eventually, he hopes to hire a development team and sales representatives. As a startup, SmartFox Technologies aims to grow alongside the increasing popularity of Salesforce

with a goal of acquiring at least 500 users by the end of 2021. It has also garnered the attention of entrepreneurship-supporting organizations including being selected to present at the NC TECH’s State of Technology Conference last year and at this year’s Venture Connect 2021 hosted by the Council for Entrepreneurial Development starting March 23. “The CED event is for ventures, and that’ll be our first avenue to possibly get someone interested in investing our company,” Everhart said. “If we don’t get seed funding, we’re going to open the door to other funding avenues to let our friends and the public invest in our company. “We also are applying for grants. We just applied for an NC IDEA grant.” Overall, launching a startup in Wilmington has been an experience supported by those in the community including the University of North Carolina Wilmington Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Wilmington Angels for Local Entrepreneurs and the Small Business and Technology Development Center. “The community has been so supportive with different avenues and different people reaching out to me to try to get our product out there for everyone to try,” Everhart said.

English reads the Punchbowl newsletter, Business North Carolina, Greater Wilmington Business Journal, StarNews, Charlotte Business Journal and Triangle Business Journal emails and newspapers. “I watch local news in the morning. I’m a regular viewer of Netflix, Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video for entertainment and to take my mind off work. I tend to lean into historical fiction. I feel like I’m learning while being entertained.” Books she recommends include “World Without End” by Ken Follett, “The Poisonwood Bible” by Barbara Kingsolver, “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison and “Rules of Civility” by Amor Towles. “I’ve rewatched a number of movies. I love all four of the A Star is Born movies,” she said. “An American President is one of my favorite all-time movies.” English said her life has changed with her iRobot Roomba and Braava. “I schedule my Roomba every night at 10 p.m. to vacuum then my Braava mops so I wake up to clean floors every day. With two dogs and a sandy beach nearby, those two devices make me very happy.” Follow English on LinkedIn @NatalieHEnglish

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March 19 - April 2, 2021

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Greater Wilmington Business Journal

| HOSPITALITY |

Officials: Riverwalk a path to regional impact

rea residents, business owners and city leaders have said they are proud that the Wilmington Riverwalk was recognized as the No. 2 Riverwalk in USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice travel award contest in January. They hope the honor will build momentum toward the Riverwalk’s continued progress and its effect on the local econLAURA omy. The Riverwalk runs 1.75 miles along the Cape Fear River in downtown Wilmington with a number of restaurants and retail shops available to walkers. Its growth continues to inch northward with construction of projects past North Waterfront Park, which is slated to open this summer. As of press time, Wilmington City Council members this week were scheduled to discuss a $230,000

MOORE

FILE PHOTO

Popular spot: The Riverwalk in downtown Wilmington earned the second-best Riverwalk ranking in USA Today's 10Best Readers' Choice travel award contest.

agreement with the Aloft Hotel developer to build a 300-foot access to the Riverwalk. If approved, it would connect Water Street to the Riverwalk behind the new hotel at the foot

of Red Cross Street. “The Riverwalk is symbolic of downtown Wilmington. It is consistently in the top five of what people mention about what they love about

downtown Wilmington,” said Holly Childs, president and CEO of Wilmington Downtown Inc. “It is a great tourist attraction, especially with all the shops and restaurants that draw

Greater Wilmington Business Journal

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March 19 - April 2, 2021

Page 5

| HOSPITALITY | people to downtown. It’s a real magnet for the downtown area.” The Riverwalk is considered an asset to the city as a destination for tourists, but Childs believes it is an attraction for area residents too. “It is important for us to be externally recognized as one of the top Riverwalks in the country, but it is also good for us internally, so that locals realize what is available to them in their own town,” Childs said. One new resident of Wilmington who recognizes the significance of the Riverwalk is Jamie Branda, owner and operator of Floriana Restaurant on the corner of Market and Water streets. With a delayed opening because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Branda’s Italian dining establishment opened last Memorial Day weekend, and he attributes its success to its proximity to the Riverwalk. “The Riverwalk has been absolutely central to what we do. We would never have gotten through this pandemic without having those balconies out there [overlooking the Riverwalk],” Branda said. “We are confident in what we do, but we are the new guy in town, and the location tempted many people

inside and have made regulars out of those who just wanted to see the battleship or watch the sunset,” Branda said. The continued progress of the Riverwalk is something that Branda says will only encourage people to come and walk along the river and enjoy the scenery. “It has always been an asset, a great marketing tool, and when people are considering staying in our area, they always ask, ‘How close am I to the Riverwalk?’” said Terry Espy, president of the Downtown Business Alliance. One example of the impact of the Riverwalk that Espy shared is the story of the gelato shop, Gelarto, whose back door opens onto the Riverwalk. “They went through great lengths to have the city allow them to have a door that opened directly on the Riverwalk … and it’s a real asset to them,” Espy said. Restaurants with outdoor seating on the Riverwalk also benefit from those walking by who decide to stop and give the business a try, according to Espy. With the growth of the north end of the corridor, Espy expects additional advantages for businesses along the Riverwalk.

“The north end is going to change dramatically,” Espy said. “It will be a different look on that end with the amphitheater [at North Waterfront Park].” Both WDI and DBA would like to see all areas of the Riverwalk cleaned and maintained regularly, as well as lighted for year-round use. “It is a treasure, and we need to invest in the Riverwalk in terms of its general maintenance and upkeep as well as adding lighting all along it,” Childs said. “There needs to be a concerted effort for better maintenance along the Riverwalk, not just the new part. It needs some love, and we need to make sure we pretty up the Riverwalk every spring,” Espy said. Illuminating the Riverwalk will require a “unified vision,” Espy said for it to draw people to downtown year-round. “It’ll be a huge effort to see the Riverwalk lit up permanently with LED lights, but drawing people to the riverfront in the dead of winter and over the holidays should be our goal,” Espy said. “We shouldn’t be behind the pack; we should be leading the pack.” Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo

agrees that the regional attraction should be an effort that serves the needs of the entire community. “I think it needs to be a coordinated effort from the business community, especially businesses along the Riverwalk, from south to north, on how this thing should look and how to enhance the experience in the off-season in order to make it a yearround attraction,” Saffo said. He said he recognizes that lighting the Riverwalk has “a lot of merit to it,” but the concerns of downtown residents need to be considered as well. As far as maintenance is concerned, Saffo agrees that the Riverwalk is a city investment that has been paid for by taxpayers over several years, which benefits the region. Because of that, he said he believes there has been discussion to look at funding from other sources of revenue. “Not only has the Riverwalk been named No. 2 in the country, but it has also been recognized as the No. 1 destination for people who choose to visit or migrate here,” Saffo said. “It is part of the wider infrastructure investments we need to make to anticipate growth and stay ahead of it.”

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| ACHIEVERS | Send information about company hires, promotions or awards to editor@wilmingtonbiz.com

Horst joins Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage has announced that J. HORST has joined its real estate team. Horst joins the real estate agency’s Autumn Hall office. He started working Horst in real estate two years ago and has more than 30 years of experience in sales, customer service and marketing. Horst began in sales in 1997, working 11 years helping his father sell sportfishing yachts in Wilmington, stated the release. He also spent 12 years in the automotive industry and worked as a golf instructor for seven years. “With astute business sense and extensive local knowledge, J. is an asset to both his clients and our company,” said Alex Paen, managing broker.

Atrómitos Consulting promotes Freeman Wilmington-based Atrómitos Consulting LLC has promoted PETER FREEMAN to the position of principal. Freeman has a background in program management, policy implementation and community organizing. He has supported clinical care teams, boards of directors and volunteer across Freeman community sectors. Prior to joining Atrómitos, Freeman served as director of Medicaid Services for Third Horizon Strategies, where he was responsible for supporting health care services for Medicaid and Medicare populations. Freeman also served as vice president/executive director for the N.C. Community Health Center Association/Carolina Medical Home Network and senior director of Chronic Disease & Population Health for the Ryan Health network in New York City. Freeman earned a bachelor’s degree from Nazareth College and a master’s degree from DePaul University.

D.R. Horton adds to Wilmington sales team D.R. Horton has welcomed several new members to its Wilmington team. The company has added JEREL NIXON, TARA HARRIS and QUENTIN GORE to the local sales team. Nixon, a Wilmington native, joins D.R. Horton from the general brokerage industry after selling and purchasing a D.R. Horton home. Nixon Harris comes to D.R. Horton following a career in fashion and retail sales, stated the release. She is starting her career in real estate and has joined the company just out of Harris real estate school. Gore brings a strong background in successful sales in the greater Wilmington market, officials said in the release. He will work onsite at Avalon in Gore Brunswick County, representing one of the newest communities, Eagle Creek.

Pioneer Strategies promotes Ericksen Leland-based Pioneer Strategies has promoted EMMA ERICKSEN to account coordinator. Ericksen joined the company as a public relations assistant in March 2020. “Emma joined our team a year ago during a very chalEricksen lenging time,” Frank Williams, president of Pioneer Strategies, said in the release. “Within a couple of weeks of starting work, she was working from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic while still working to complete her degree. She has exceeded our expectations and demonstrated steady professional growth over the past year, and I’m excited about her future with our growing firm.” Ericksen, a Greensboro native, is a graduate of the University of North Carolina Wilmington, where she earned a degree in communication studies with a focus on integrated marketing communication.

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| FROM THE COVER | 219 Station Road, Suite 202 Wilmington, NC 28405 (910) 343-8600 Fax: (910) 343-8660 wilmingtonbiz.com PUBLISHER Rob Kaiser rkaiser@wilmingtonbiz.com PRESIDENT Robert Preville rpreville@wilmingtonbiz.com EDITOR Vicky Janowski vjanowski@wilmingtonbiz.com ASSISTANT EDITOR Cece Nunn cnunn@wilmingtonbiz.com REPORTERS Johanna Cano jcano@wilmingtonbiz.com Christina Haley O’Neal chaley@wilmingtonbiz.com VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES Maggi Apel mapel@wilmingtonbiz.com SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Craig Snow csnow@wilmingtonbiz.com ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Courtney Barden cbarden@wilmingtonbiz.com Ali Buckley abuckley@wilmingtonbiz.com

KEN Marian Welsh Mwelsh@wilmingtonbiz.com

LITTLE

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From MEGASITES, page 1

plenty of room for everybody.” Although the term “industrial” is often used when talking about such large sites, both Spinks and Bill Early, BID’s executive director, said the term shouldn’t necessarily be equated with traditional heavy industry. In fact, according to Site Selection magazine, the fastest-growing industry sectors last year were logistics (19.3%) and life sciences (12%). Although BID is keeping its options open to potential businesses, it’s not a coincidence that one of the two sites is named the International Logistics Park. The hot sub-sector provides services at all levels of the planning and execution of moving goods, including the fast-growing e-commerce industry. One of Brunswick County’s chief assets is its location near the Port of Wilmington, the 25th-largest seaport in the nation and also one of the fastest-growing, thanks in large part to its cold-storage warehousing facilities and the area’s growing industrial-real estate market, according to a report from the American Council of Engineering Companies. While the port’s cold-storage facilities may bring to mind goods such as produce and meats, there is an increasing demand from pharmaceutical and other life-sciences companies for cold storage. Spinks believes that puts the Brunswick County megasites in a great position. “The food industry and the biopharma industry both need that cold storage, so anything that we can do to meet that need is vital,” Spinks said. Brunswick’s access to the Port of Wilmington along with North Carolina’s coastal location on the coastal geography also put the two megasites in a good position to draw companies that support a fairly new industry – offshore windpower. There are active projects underway off the coast near the North Carolina-Virginia line, one off the Outer Banks town of Kitty Hawk. “The state of North Carolina has really gone after – in a very proactive way – that offshore wind supply chain,” Spinks said. “And that supply chain is largely equipment, but also work-boat related.” It’s basically a matchmaking process, Spinks said – making sure that Brunswick County has the assets that the types of industries it wants to attract are looking for. “We have got to have sites and buildings ready to go,” she said, “otherwise they’re going to end up in Charleston or Norfolk or Savannah

or somewhere else.” It’s a sensitive subject, but Early and Spinks (both longtime players in the economic development and recruitment game) acknowledge the necessity to land industries that won’t create widespread outcry from the public or area leaders. With assets such as the port, rail, two major power plants and natural gas service, there are some so-called heavy industries that “would love it here,” Spinks said, but adding that some people don’t want certain types of business in the area. Similar sentiments have played out across the area over the years. In 2007, Hugo Neu dropped an attempt to locate an industrial landfill and recycling facility in Navassa; in 2016, Titan America ended an eight-year bid to build a cement plant in Castle Hayne after the project met a fierce backlash over environmental concerns, a project it had been pursuing since 2008; and in the early 1990s, Pender County withdrew an offer it had made to host a hazardous-waste incinerator planned by the company ThermalKEM. But turning away any large industrial business is a trade-off, Spinks pointed out. For example, they generally pay their employees higher wages and provide better benefits than the service-industry and tourism-related businesses that have flooded coastal Brunswick County in recent years. They also are major contributors to the tax base. Duke Energy’s Brunswick nuclear plant is by far the county’s largest payer of property taxes. For many years the Dupont (later DAK Americas) plant played a similar role as the nuclear plant, pumping millions of dollars into the Brunswick County economy. At the same time, however, it was no secret that the plant was pumping pollution into the air – an issue that would later doom the Titan and ThermalKEM projects. “You need to have the discussion about how much you as an individual are willing to pay, to support the infrastructure versus how much help you would like from somebody else,” Spinks said. (That issue could come into play for any industry eyeing the now-vacant DAK site or the cleaned-up Superfund site in Navassa, where a wood-treatment plant was operated between 1936 and 1974.) Early is mindful of how important the growth in the coastal portion of Brunswick has been, essentially putting the county on the map as a great place to live – notably, a great place to retire. “We do represent all of Brunswick

County, so obviously we’re not going to try to go and bring heavy industry or something like that into the coastal communities and have any type of negative impact on travel and tourism,” Early said. “But we’re also very aware of the need for this type of development all the way down the 17 corridor ... to South Carolina.” Early believes the U.S. 17 corridor is an ideal location for light manufacturing and other businesses with a minimal environmental footprint. Spinks said that’s where Brunswick’s coastal setting – not necessarily a big draw for a larger corporation – can attract a smaller industrial business. “There’s a whole different marketplace for individuals who may own small manufacturing facilities in other parts of the country but choose to live here because they have a boat and go up and down the East Coast,” she said. “They want to bring their business to where they want to live. That’s not any particular sector of industry; that’s just people.” BID not only is keenly aware of the county’s draw as a lifestyle destination; it’s something it aggressively promotes as it tries to woo industries to the area. The slogan, “Get the resources you need and the lifestyle you want, all in one place,” appears prominently on BID’s website. Wilmington’s Cameron Management, which is teaming with Greensboro-based Windsor Commercial on a 150,000-square-foot spec building at the International Logistics Park, believes Brunswick is on the right track as it seeks to build a diverse economy. “Brunswick County and Brunswick BID are very pro-business, and they have been extremely helpful in making this a viable project,” said Hill Rogers, broker in charge at Cameron, which will be marketing, leasing and managing the facility known as the International Commerce Center. “All successful economies are diverse,” Rogers said. “The industrial market here has a long runway of future growth opportunities.” The importance of the area’s industrial base often gets overlooked, he said. “Lost in the story of population growth, beaches, tourism, etc., [is] the industrial base, which is the backbone of the region: N.C. Port at Wilmington, ILM, highways, rail, water and sewer, GE, Corning,” Rogers said. “The region has a thriving port, great infrastructure and an exceptional workforce, so the tools are in place for the International Commerce Center to be successful.”

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March 19 - April 2, 2021

Greater Wilmington Business Journal

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| THE LIST |

Residential Real Estate Agencies

Ranked by closed sales volume (tri-county area)

RANK

COMPANY ADDRESS

PHONE EMAIL WEBSITE

NO. TRANSACTION SIDES/ AVG. SALE NO. LOCAL PRICE/ LICENSED MOST RESIDENTIAL EXPENSIVE AGENTS/ CLOSED SALES SALE (JAN.-DEC. NO. OF FULL TIME VOLUME 2020) STAFF

NO. CURRENT LISTINGS

OTHER SERVICES

TOP LOCAL OFFICIAL/ YEAR LOCALLY FOUNDED Tim Milam President and Owner 1988 Jim Wallace Founder and CEO 1976

799-3435 timmilam@seacoastrealty.com www.seacoastrealty.com

$1,788,052,583

5,791 $291,894 $3,175,000

615 60

1,350

Key Title, Sea Coast Rentals, Sea Coast Real Estate Academy, new homes, commercial, Sea Coast Photography/Drone, professional free training, closing coordinator, five full-time IT department

256-4503 info@intracoastalrealty.com www.IntracoastalRealty.com

$1,737,998,397

4,039 $424,099 $6,600,000

454 85

952

Property management, long-term rentals, vacation rentals, new homes project development, commercial

325 13

639

Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage 110 Dungannon Blvd., Suite 100 Wilmington, NC 28403

Intracoastal Realty 1900 Eastwood Road, Suite 38 Wilmington, NC 28403

Keller Williams Innovate 1001 Military Cutoff Road, Suite 101 Wilmington, NC 28405

777-2200 frontdesk978@kw.com www.kwinnovate.com

$864,669,226

3,363 $290,000 $3,000,000

CENTURY 21 Sweyer & Associates 1612 Military Cutoff Road, Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403

256-0021 info@century21sweyer.com www.century21sweyer.com

$531,254,000

1,905 $235,000 $2,950,000

171 13

1,465

Landmark Sotheby's International Realty 7205 Wrightsville Ave. Wilmington, NC 28403

679-8048 nick@landmarksir.com www.landmarksothebysrealty.com

$317,444,233

601 $609,566 $5,277,000

45 7

203

RE/MAX Essential 1650 Military Cutoff, Suite 100 Wilmington, NC 28403

777-2700 duty@essentialagents.com www.remaxessential.com

$272,787,561

911 $299,437 $3,220,000

55 5

Long-term property management

Alisha Richardson President 2010

Nest Realty 990 Inspiration Drive Wilmington, NC 28405

550-2788 ryan@nestrealty.com www.nestrealty.com/wilmington

$230,049,068

710 $324,013 $2,650,000

51 4

128

Builder marketing and commercial brokerage

Ryan Crecelius Owner/Principal Broker 2014

BlueCoast Realty 575 Military Cutoff Road, Suite 100 Wilmington, NC 28405

509-0234 cgrice@wilmingtonnchomes.com www.wilmingtonnchomes.com

$226,738,744

661 $361,412 $1,800,000

104 4

Bill Kane Founder and President 2007

Wendy Wilmot Properties 6E Merchants Row Bald Head Island, NC 28461

470-0000 agent@wwpbaldhead.com www.wendywilmotproperties.com

$154,231,200

205 $769,000 $3,200,000

8 3

Wendy Wilmot Owner 2005

St. James Properties LLC 4006 St. James Drive Southport, NC 28461

(800) 245-3871 www.stjamesplantation.com/realestate/resales

$150,274,705

342 $258,000

14 8

Margaret Rudd & Associates 1023 N. Howe St. Southport, NC 28461

(800) 733-5258 admin@rudd.com www.margaretrudd.com

$146,141,974

508 $336,989 $1,684,000

55 25

RE/MAX at the Beach 128 Ocean Blvd. West Holden Beach, NC 28462

(800) 360-9770 holden@atthebeachnc.com www.atthebeachnc.com/

$144,228,945

PROACTIVE Real Estate LLC 3369 Holden Beach Road Holden Beach, NC 28462

842-1616 jabin@jabinnorris.com www.proactiverealestate.com

$137,982,683

462 $280,511 $1,650,000

116

Coastal Properties 1113-C Military Cutoff Road Wilmington, NC 28405

256-8171 thecoastalproperties@gmail.com www.wilmingtoncoastalproperties.com

$110,564,106

354 $295,647 $1,765,000

72 1

Brunswick Forest Realty LLC P.O. Box 2080 Leland, NC 28451

(888) 371-2434 info@brunswickforest.com www.brunswickforest.com

$109,493,726

Coastal Realty Associates 17117 U.S. 17 Hampstead, NC 28443

270-4444 www.coastalrealtyassociates.com

$102,693,346

Coldwell Banker Sloane Realty 16 Causeway Drive Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28468

579-1808 chris.bryan@cbsloane.com www.cbsloane.com

$89,238,664

Commercial, luxury, property management, land, new construction, productivity coaching for new Ladd Gasparovic agents through mastery, leverage department Operating Partner (marketing, admin support, photography and 2015 videography, including aerial/drone) New homes marketing, commercial, relocation, real estate school

Jeff Sweyer Owner 1987 Nick Phillips Founder/Owner 2008

Rental management

100

Long-term and vacation rentals, relocation and referrals

Margaret Rudd Bishop President 1981 Alan Holden Owner 1976

Rentals

2013 Bob McWaters Brad McWaters Allen McCauley, Owner 2010 Jerry Helms Director of Sales and Marketing 2007

331 $266,534 $1,614,000

35 3

135

Residential long-term rental management, commercial leasing/sales

Chris Bryan Sales Manager 1955

Ranking is based on closed sales volumes from agencies and N.C. Regional MLS data as of Dec. 21, 2020 for New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender counties.

Want to be considered for The List? Request an industry survey by emailing lists@wilmingtonbiz.com. The Business Journal will feature the following lists in upcoming publications: Law Firms • Credit Unions • Mortgage Brokers

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March 19 - April 2, 2021

Page 9

| IN PROFILE |

MADEup Luxury vehicle builder speeds Great Goods from Greater Wilmington

MADE Great Goods from Greater Wilmington

BY CHRISTINA HALEY O’NEAL

ocal chiropractor and entrepreneur Aaron Richardet has a passion for modifying and restoring vehicles. In 2009, he spent time at his home purchasing older vehicles, taking them apart and selling off the parts as a side business. Over the years, however, that project transformed into a full business, as Richardet later moved the work into a larger space outside his home and hired his first employee. “We started having people that wanted to do installations on their cars. We were doing mid-’90s Land Rover Discoveries and Range Rovers, and things like that, predominantly. And then we started to work with local people who had [Land Rover] Defenders,” Richardet said. “From there, that’s kind of where it grew.” That passion has turned into the high-end custom vehicle build and restoration business that is now Osprey Custom Cars, which was started in 2013. The business conducts full restorations and repowers of Land Rover Defender models but will also work on other truck models and cars. The company in 2016 settled into its Castle Hayne location, an 11,000-square-foot facility that houses its office space, finishing room, fabrication shop and paint, body and warehouse space. This month, the company anticipates finalizing work on another 3,500-square-foot detached building on its property for Osprey Custom Cars’ new inventory, warehousing and storage. “Right now, when we get cars finished, we have a couple of storage places in town … and we end up shuffling things around. And so now, to get it all on the one property is going to be really nice,” Richardet said. “I have a lot of people fly in that want to see our work … so it’s going to serve as a showroom as well to give customers a first-hand look at our portfolio.” Osprey Custom Cars maintains a steady business of about 45 ground-up builds of its custom-made vehicles annually, as well as about 25 vehicle restorations, Richardet said. The company has 17 employees. The firm offers built-to-suit orders, which can include options on the Land Rover’s color, engine, transmission, body style and interiors.

OSPREY CUSTOM CARS

4704 N. COLLEGE RD., CASTLE HAYNE

PHOTO BY MICHAEL CLINE SPENCER

Engine revved: Aaron Richardet owns Osprey Custom Cars, a business that builds and restores older Land Rover Defender models.

Osprey Custom Cars orders parts, or has them made to specifications, and brings them all in-house to the shop for assembly, Richardet said. The vehicle is assembled using proprietary brackets, adaptors and wiring. Paint and finishing also take place at the Castle Hayne facility. A full-build construction takes about five to six months to complete, Richardet said, adding that when finished, he personally delivers the vehicles to customers. “The thing we pride ourselves on is our white glove service, which includes direct access to myself as the owner as well as lead techs during the ownership of your car,” Richardet said. The prices for these luxury vehicles start at $130,000 and can go up to $250,000, he said. “Wilmington has a pretty good car culture and a big group of guys and gals in it,” Richardet said, adding that its customer base extends nationally and internationally. The COVID-19 pandemic, however, is making it difficult to gain access to the supplies and parts the company needs. As the firm works to overcome these challenges, Richardet

said he is also focusing the company’s efforts on reducing turnaround times for its orders. The firm has grown to a nice size to fit its niche market, Richardet said. Instead of focusing on growth beyond the scope of its current business, Richardet said he would like to continue enhancing the quality of its builds and becoming faster at getting its products to customers. “We’re working on efficiency. Everything that we have built over the past decade is to get it as honed in as possible,” Richardet said. “I don’t want to ever sacrifice quality over volume. So I try to keep my quality at the absolute tip-top and have fewer customers.” The firm tries to work with local vendors on everything from engines and transmissions to mufflers and upholstery. Osprey Custom Cars is also looking to add to its local vendors list, to keep the area’s economy growing, he said. “We’re always looking to replace our outsourced vendors with local vendors,” he said. “For us, it’s not always about money as much as it is quality and time.”

No. of employees: 17 Year founded: 2013 Top local official: Aaron Richardet, owner Company description: “Osprey Custom Cars builds and restores older Land Rover Defender models. The custom vehicles retain both the look and charm of the older vehicle. However, the interior, drive train and added accessories create a new, modern and luxurious vehicle that aims to contain the best of both worlds. These custom vehicles are built to be faster and more comfortable than the original.” Products made locally: Custombuilt and -designed Land Rover Defender models are the company’s main restoration model. The firm has restored and built other models. Product distribution: U.S. and international What made the company decide to make its goods locally? Richardet: “I came here in 1998 on vacation, and my wife and I decided to skip the 40 years working in the Midwest and skip to where we’d want to retire to. It’s also a great place to find talented employees as it’s a great place to live.” What’s your target market? Richardet: “We’re looking for the individual that always wanted a classic Land Rover Defender or Ford Bronco but wants the modern drivetrain. We consider our vehicles to be rolling and driving functional art. After all, our trucks carry a high price tag, so they get the best parts available on the ground-up builds.” What’s planned next? Richardet: “We keep designing more custom parts to eliminate a need for outside vendors. We are upping our quality control, starting with vendors all the way to our final product.”

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March 19 - April 2, 2021

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REGION IN FOCUS: BRUNWICK COUNTY

REAL ESTATE

Popular spots expected to stay tops BY CECE NUNN n the same day in March when Realtor Kim Skipper Anderson put an Oak Island house on the market, it had eight showings and two offers on the table before the day was done. “It opened up for showings just this morning,” said Anderson, of Oak Island-based Art Skipper Realty Inc., on March 9 about the home at 706 W. Dolphin Drive, listed for $675,000. Oak Island is a popular location for buyers, recently landing on a Top 5 list compiled by the Brunswick County Association of Realtors. The island’s wooded area was the second hottest-selling spot in Brunswick County for home sales in 2020, according to the N.C. Regional Multiple Listing Service and BCAR, with Leland coming in first. The area designated as “Oak Island Wooded” in the MLS is defined as the center portion of Oak

PHOTO C/O KIM SKIPPER ANDERSON/ART SKIPPER REALTY INC.

Snapped up: This house at 706 W. Dolphin Drive in Oak Island had multiple offers the first day it was listed.

Island that’s not on the Intracoastal Waterway or within the first several rows along the beach, said Jim Goodman, vice president of sales for Margaret Rudd & Associates, a Southport-based residential real

estate firm. So why is Oak Island so popular? Anderson, an Oak Island resident who has lived there most of her life, answered, “The same reason that I fell in love with it myself and decided

I would never leave here and told my husband that when he asked me to marry him. Because we’re not just a barren beach property; you cross our bridges, and you see treetops not rooftops. And our land does have an overall higher elevation and more stability than some other beaches.” Additionally, Oak Island will probably have available lots “for quite some time because we have a lot of investors that own multiple properties. And some of them bought just to pass down to their grandchildren. Some of them have them because they join their property and they don’t want necessarily a house built right up beside them.” Goodman said the wooded area’s spot just below Leland on the Top 5 list isn’t surprising because “that is the area of the island that has been the least expensive. What’s happening is that builders on the island are buying the least expensive lots, and then building spec homes on them,

Greater Wilmington Business Journal

REAL ESTATE:

REGION IN FOCUS: BRUNSWICK COUNTY

TOP 5 HOTTEST-

SELLING AREAS FOR 2020 (BASED ON TOTALS) SALES

263 OCEAN ISLE

454

560

150

1,696

500

291 BOLIVIA

1,000

CALABASH

OAK ISLAND

1,500

LELAND

2,000

TOP 5 LARGEST INCREASE IN TOTAL SALES OVER 2019 132%

120

75% 54%

SHALLOTTE

44% OCEAN ISLE

SUNSET BEACH

HOLDEN BEACH

59% BALD HEAD ISLAND

which are selling before they can get them completed.” He added, “If you compare Oak Island to some – Sunset Beach, Holden Beach, Ocean Isle Beach – we’re still by far the cheapest island overall for homes.” Away from the beach, the northern Brunswick County town of Leland continues to grow rapidly, so it’s no surprise that it earned the top spot on the BCAR list of the Top 5 hottest-selling areas. “Pricewise our price point is a little bit lower than Wilmington, and our taxes are a little bit lower than Wilmington yet the proximity to Wilmington is tremendous,” said Sheila Connor, the broker in charge in Leland for Wilmington-based Intracoastal Realty Corp. While Leland is known for being a retiree hub, Connor said she is seeing a mix of buyer types. “We do have retirees coming but we also have a lot of first-time homebuyers trying to buy. There’s quite a few that are saying, ‘This is a good time, the interest rates are good, let me go ahead and try to get my first home,’” she said. “And there’s several neighborhoods around here that are wonderful for that ... a place like Windsor Park, where the homes are in the low 200s, so it’s ideal for first time homebuyer.” But that’s also an example of a price point getting multiple offers. “Normally anything that goes in that price range under $250,000, it’s selling within a day, with multiple offers,” Connor said. Many of the buyers used to come from predictable places, including New York and New Jersey, but Connor said she has some clients coming from California and even Iowa who want to relocate to Leland. She said she thinks Leland is going to continue to grow in popularity. “I think when you look even at some of the retail that has gone out, even in the last six months, you know, it’s a great indication of what people are expecting to happen, just getting a Chick-fil-A and a Starbucks and Wendy’s and those places,” she said. “Those are all brand new here. Companies like that are careful where they put their places, especially Chick-fil-A. I mean they do a lot of research to decide if it makes sense or not to put a franchise there, and you know they’re looking at the population explosion and where people are going and they’re saying, ‘Yeah, this is a prime spot for us.’”

wilmingtonbiz.com

TOP 5 LARGEST SALES BY VOLUME

LELAND

$472,347,892 OAK ISLAND

$184,349,144 BALD HEAD ISLAND

$156,338,377 OCEAN ISLE

$184,349,144 HOLDEN BEACH

$184,349,144 SOURCES: N.C. REGIONAL MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE AND BRUNSWICK COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS

March 19 - April 2, 2021

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IN FOCUS: REAL ESTATE: REGION BRUNSWICK COUNTY

Weighing a tornado’s impact BY JENNY CALLISON Brunswick County has learned that it takes a village to raise (up) a village. After a tornado spent nearly 30 minutes churning along a 22-mile swath of southeastern Brunswick County on Feb. 15, the county has leveraged help from an entire “village” of state agencies, county departments, affected residents and volunteers. The costs of cleanup and rebuilding in the heavily hit development of Ocean Ridge Plantation will be significant, but the county cannot expect any federal disaster funds, according to N.C. Emergency Management spokesman Keith Acree. “The uninsured damages in Brunswick County did not meet the level required for a disaster declaration. Most of the damaged and destroyed homes were adequately insured,” he said. But insurance reimbursements alone do not begin to address the twister’s toll on hearts, homes and human life – three people died, and 10 others were injured. Collaborative efforts are needed to put the pieces back together, and they have been happening since right after the tornado. “NCDOT agreed to do vegetative debris pickup, which is fortunate,” said Brunswick County Manager Randell Woodruff. “It’s confined to the Ocean Ridge development and surrounding roads. The county staff will pick up construction and demolition debris.” That effort began March 8 and was projected to take at least two weeks. Woodruff said it is too early to tell just how much the debris collection will cost, although the state’s Department of Transportation has an early estimate for its share of the work. “We did an initial estimate on the site, but that number could fluctuate,” NCDOT spokeswoman Lauren Haviland said. “The initial estimate was for about 1,200 tons – or 6,000 cubic yards – of debris. Based on that estimate, the cost would run about $87,000. It’s important to note that not only does this cover debris removal inside Ocean Ridge but also along N.C. 904 and other state-maintained roads nearby.” Haviland said the state transportation agency solicited bids for the cleanup work and awarded the contract in early March to Graham County Land Co.

PHOTO C/O NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE

In ruins: A tornado destroyed homes in Brunswick County’s Ocean Ridge Plantation neighborhood.

“I suspect it will take a couple of weeks inside the neighborhood, and I believe the cost could exceed the original estimate,” she added. NCDOT had to get a waiver from the state to pick up brush and trees in Ocean Ridge Plantation, which is a private development of 825 single-family homes, but Haviland said the need was obvious. It appears that Brunswick County Solid Waste will have to pick up construction and demolition debris, Woodruff said. County spokeswoman Meagan Kascsak said it’s too early to calculate the expense. “While the initial assessment estimated there was 200 cubic yards of construction and demolition debris on identified roads’ rights-of-way, the official total cubic yards and the cost to collect will not be determinable until after county crews have completed the full pass along each identified road,” Kascsak said. First on the ground after the tornado struck was Brunswick County’s Emergency Services Department, led by its director, Ed Conrow. “We did the initial search and rescue, then we transitioned to recovery mode once the initial phase was complete,” Conrow said. “We serve as the liaison between the [affected] community and our partners; we coordinate and deploy them, assisting them with ways to secure the debris. We’ve also been doing outreach about unmet

needs and seeing if we can resolve them.” Conrow said his component of the “village” consisted of fire departments and the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office. He pulled in area utility companies that had to address supply and safety concerns in the affected areas. His department coordinated with its counterpart agency at the state level and, along with other county officials, met with N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper and U.S. Rep. David Rouzer (R-7th District) when they came to survey the situation. And they organized many volunteers. “The first couple of days, we were trying to get everyone orchestrated, assign tasks and make sure we weren’t wasting resources,” Conrow said. For nearly two weeks after the tornado chewed up vegetation and structures on a path through Ocean Ridge, an ad-hoc command station coordinated efforts of all the responders. In addition to county emergency personnel, the station housed representatives of the N.C. Department of Insurance and Brunswick County Permitting as well as area utilities companies. The command center was also the coordination hub for volunteers, said Donna Ciliberto, president of the Ocean Ridge Master Association, the development’s homeowners association.

“The command center organized volunteers, our own included, to ensure we were addressing the most risky aspects of the damage,” Ciliberto said. “We worked with Randy Thompson, our [county] commissioner, to request him and the governor to ask NCDOT to pick up debris,” she said. “We also worked to make sure all the volunteers could get as much debris as possible to the roadside so it could be picked up and residents can rebuild. The HOA board, committee chairs and property owners worked tirelessly for 13 days.” A church and a few small businesses near Ocean Ridge saw their property damaged, but the major tornado impact was within the development, where Ciliberto says about 70 homes sustained total or major damage. Ciliberto says the HOA still maintains a virtual command center to take care of humanitarian needs. The development already has a 501 (c)(3) organization that makes grants to support social service initiatives in Brunswick County. These days, that organization is handling donations for tornado relief in their own community and making sure the donations reach people who need help. “We have committees that are now going off to make sure we can communicate the damage as we see it and create options for plans to rebuild, restore, replant,” Ciliberto said. “It takes money, so we are working with our insurance providers to ensure we agree with their assessments. Once that’s understood, we can make plans to do appropriate restoration.” Ciliberto said the tornado brought more than destruction: It brought kindness from strangers. In addition to the many donations that the Ocean Ridge HOA’s nonprofit has received, there has been a harvest of willing hands ready to raise up that village. “We have had well over 1,000 people volunteer to help,” she said. “The volunteer organizations and the spirit of tirelessly giving of yourselves to help others was fantastic. It was humbling as to how beautiful it was. We want to thank everyone who helped us.” And although the tornado likely did millions of dollars’ worth of damage, the county manager is grateful. “It could have been far worse than it was,” Woodruff said. “If it had turned a little bit, many more houses would have been in its path.”

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RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE Our region's residential real estate market remains hot, and real estate professionals provide perspective on buying, selling, building, remodeling and other timely real estate topics.

CATHERINE BALDING Co-owner, Balding Brothers

SHERRI INGLE Broker/Realtor®, The Rising Tide Team, Intracoastal Realty

CAMERON MOORE Executive Officer, Wilmington-Cape Fear Home Builders Association

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THE RISE OF “FLEX-SPACE” IN THE HOME

n interesting phenomenon right now is that we are all learning to be more flexible – even the super organized, early planners amongst us are accepting and welcoming change when necessary. As our lives change and evolve to meet these new and sometimes urgent demands, we can’t help but ask our homes to do the same. Because we have all been spending a considerable amount of time in our homes over the past several months, creating a flexible-use space, or flex-space, might be something you have been considering. The addition of flex-space will not only add value to your daily life but to your home as well. Popular ways people are using flex space right now are: · Home Office · Home Schooling Area · Yoga / Gym Room · Hobby Room · Guest Suite If you already have a dedicated space that can truly be separated from the other main living areas, then your home already has a great flex-room. Be sure to consider the effect of sounds or noise levels when deciding upon your flex-space. Your flex-space won’t truly be working for you unless you can take a Zoom call uninterrupted or go for an early morning Peloton ride without waking anyone else up in the house. So, when you are considering which area of your home to convert into a flex space, take a moment to visualize the details of how you will be using the space. Another popular option right now is finishing the unfinished “bonus

room” or FROG (Finished Room Over Garage). They are generally large and spacious and work well at being flexible and separated from the main areas. By design, FROGs and bonus rooms are already separated from the main living areas, making them the perfect destination for flex-space. Creating a plan to personalize one of these spaces is an easy way to use the space in your home more efficiently all while giving you the much-needed custom space you deserve. If every space in your home is accounted for, some popular alternative locations for larger flex spaces are building a detached garage or guest house. These separate buildings are substantial projects but alluring nonetheless because of their custom nature. It is important to consider if and how this investment would make sense for you and your property. For instance, if you’ve accumulated additional outdoor equipment, a recreational vehicle, or a new boat it might be time to add the detached garage that you’ve been dreaming about. The pandemic has intensified our need to be adaptable and created a real advantage to having a flexible living space. At Balding Brothers, we love learning more about our clients, their homes, and their lives so that we can rise to the challenge of creating beautiful spaces that truly work for them. If you’re ready to create a customized plan for your new space, call the team at Balding Brothers today at 910-251-2721 to start the process.

CATHERINE BALDING Co-owner, Balding Brothers Catherine and her husband, Nick, are the co-owners of Balding Brothers. Catherine loves creating fresh, new spaces and assisting clients with the design process. Balding Brothers is an awardwinning, design-build residential remodeling company specializing in larger projects and whole-house remodels. Balding Brothers is proud of its talented team and offers its clients a boutique, personalized service. Catherine received an undergraduate degree from Loyola University in Baltimore, MD, and an MBA from UNCW. When not working, Catherine loves spending time outside with family and friends. Catherine and Nick are proud parents to two sweet and fun-loving young children, Nora and Aidan.

www.BaldingBrothers.com

910.251.2721 · baldingbrothers.com

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The Rising Tide Team’s core values consist of choosing humility, building relationships, being people of integrity, willing to learn and grow, and adding value by being resourceful and communicating effectively. We choose to focus on what is right to help our clients reach their individual goals. therisingtideteam.com Office: 910.256.4503 1900 Eastwood Rd, Ste 38 Wilmington, NC 28403

HOW TO NAVIGATE BUYING AND SELLING IN A BOOMING MARKET The Cape Fear Region is experiencing a bustling real estate market. Whether buying or selling, these tips from the experienced local professionals at The Rising Tide Team will help you along the way.

closing for a week or so. . For the hottest properties, only ask for a home warranty if the home inspection reveals an issue. . Ask your agent to gather a list of “comps” to allow your offer to be at market value, or slightly higher.

BUYERS

. Even though it’s generally a seller’s market, overpricing your home will not equal a sale – especially not a quick one. . Prepare your home for the market by making needed repairs, cleaning, and decluttering; and a professionally staged home can drive the strongest offers. . If your home is priced well at under $500,000, in a desirable location, and in good repair, be prepared for multiple offers. . Obtaining your own home inspection will save you from surprises during due diligence. . Current market conditions present a great opportunity to sell, but be sure to

. Competition is strong, so be ready to make a strong offer. . Obtain proof of funds or a pre-approval letter early – you may need it just to view a property. . When making an offer, generous Due Diligence money usually speaks louder than earnest money. . Plan for about 21 days of due diligence for a loan purchase or 10-14 days for cash – and use that time wisely to survey and perform inspections. . A 30-day closing is usually best, but, if the seller can’t move in time, consider allowing them to keep possession after

SELLERS

SHERRI INGLE Broker/Realtor® The Rising Tide Team, Intracoastal Realty

ask yourself, “Where will I be moving?” Have a plan in place to relocate within a month of accepting an offer to ensure the transition goes smoothly. If you need to sell your home to be in the best financial position to purchase a new one, today’s market will present you with some unique considerations. As a seller, you should consider the tips above to get the best offers. But as a buyer, you may have to wait to receive the funds from selling to be most competitive for your next home, especially if it’s a multiple offer situation. Consider finding a home that needs some work done. Usually, these homes do not receive multiple offers. Once your fixer-upper is under contract, sell yours, and make your new one fabulous. Buying or selling a home in a highly sought-after area like the Cape Fear Region presents an exciting opportunity! Seize that opportunity by choosing an experienced, local real estate teammate from the Rising Tide Team to help you get the results you deserve.

In July of 2008, I began my real estate career. As the Great Recession began, I had the privilege (only from hindsight) to grow and learn how to navigate the ever-changing waters of our local market. At heart, I am a teacher and attempt to educate my clients on current market conditions, enabling them to make the best decision for their family. The difficult early years have provided me with the experience and vast understanding of the local market to play an important role on The Rising Tide Team.

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WILMINGTON- CAPE FEAR HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION

THE VALUE OF MEMBERSHIP Who are we? Established in 1965, the Wilmington-Cape Fear Home Builders Association (WCFHBA) is a not-for-profit trade association affiliated with the North Carolina Home Builders Association and the National Association of Home Builders. As the second-largest HBA in North Carolina, the WCFHBA represents more than 1200+ members throughout the Cape Fear region. As a member of this association, you are viewed as our extended family. A family of suppliers, finance, tradesmen, builders, real estate professionals, and many others who work together to keep our region strong. Nearly every home built in the Wilmington region is built or touched in some manner by a member of this association. Beyond networking, what other types of benefits do I receive by being a member? As a member, your benefits are vast and tangible. They range from business-building resources to money-saving discounts to an effective grassroots network that helps shape the views of our elected officials and lawmakers. Our 3-in-1 membership provides every member a strong foundation to be noticed, connected, and heard across many different spectrums. We position ourselves to be included in the decision-making process on legislation, regulation, and other issues that affect your bottom line. Whether it be related to a natural disaster, pandemic, or daily operations, the HBA stays in constant contact with the regulatory agencies, policymakers, elected officials, and State & National HBA leadership to keep you up-to-date. Members have access to our exclusive rebate programs and can save hundreds to thousands of dollars on anything from services, to truck rebates to discounts on affordable workers compensation insurance through our partner Builders Mutual.

How does my company get in front of consumers and other members? We host over fifteen different events throughout the year with our largest event being our Annual Parade of Homes™. The Parade showcases the craftsmanship, diversity, and quality of the region’s premier homes. Consumers have the opportunity to explore homes; get to know builders, view home descriptions; view photos and floor plans; take 3D virtual tours, and see the latest in construction, designs, and furnishings. We work to provide connections for our members and each year we publish the Cape Fear Buyers Guide. This guide displays our members and their primary business category to our entire membership and over 18,000 copies are distributed in the Cape Fear Region. How does being a member further my education and the future of the Home Builders Association? As our industry has grown and evolved, it is no secret that education and professional development are key components to our members’ success. Staying abreast of the latest code changes, supplier changes, and technological advancements in construction is paramount. The Association serves as a key Education Provider and can deliver all the required courses needed to fulfill the 8 hours of Continuing Education that General Contractors are now required to take. The future of our industry is rooted in cultivating new leadership through our workforce development initiatives. The HBA sees the direct link of investing in our future and to date has awarded well over $40,000 in Scholarship Funding to deserving students/ applicants that have enrolled in the construction/vocational programs in the Wilmington Region.

CAMERON MOORE Executive Officer, Wilmington-Cape Fear Home Builders Association Mr. Moore serves as the Executive Officer for the Wilmington-Cape Fear Home Builders Association. Prior to this, Mr. Moore served as a Governmental Affairs Directors for (BASE) Business Alliance for Sound Economy for seven years, where he extensively worked on policy and legislative matters related to the building and real estate industry locally as well as regionally. Mr. Moore has over 20 years of public and private planning experience working as the Planning Director for the Town of Leland, in Brunswick County and then serving as a senior project manager with a multi-disciplinary residential and commercial development company in North Carolina. Mr. Moore is a member of the North Carolina Chapter of the American Planning Association, the American Planning Association, and is a certified planner through the American Institute of Certified Planners.

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| BIZ LEADS | Reader’s Guide BizLeads is a collection of information gathered from greater Wilmington courthouses, state government offices and informational websites. These listings are intended to help the business community find new customers and stay on top of happenings with current customers, vendors and competitors. New Corporations lists firms that were recently incorporated in the state of North Carolina. All information is gathered from the North Carolina Secretary of State website. Addresses listed may not be the actual address of the business.

NEW CORPS

Bolivia 28422 Agent: Arthur Andrew Liberty

1 STONE PARTNERS LLC 1900 Eastwood Rd Ste 10 Wilmington 28403 Agent: Ross J Tomaselli

ALLISON KASPER ENTERPRISE 7119 Trucking Lane Leland 28451 Agent: Allison Benton Kasper

Feb. 24 - Mar. 11

BAREFOOT CABANAS INC. 1103 Thrush Court Carolina Shores 28467 Agent: William B. Coffey BARK WILMINGTON LLC 2136 Wrightsville Ave Wilmington 28403 Agent: Kent James Hobson BC DISTRIBUTING LLC 1029 N Lake Blvd Carolina Beach 28428 Agent: Geoff Kirby BEACH HOUSE PARTNERS LLC 1525 S Front St Wilmington 28401 Agent: Erik Hemingway BEACH WATER BUILDERS L.L.C. 1649 Seagull Way SW Ocean Isle Beach 28469 Agent: Hunter Hooks BEYOND CLINIC WALLS WELLNESS PLLC 4704 Weybridge Lane Wilmington 28409 Agent: Constance C. Foreman

13 HECKLERS ENTERTAINMENT INC. 2611 Hydrangea Place Wilmington 28403 Agent: Carlos C Ortiz

AMERICAN HERO LLC 5015 Trumpet Vine Way Wilmington 28412 Agent: Norma Sydnor

1712 CANAL SSB LLC 1712 Canal Drive Sunset Beach 28468 Agent: Margo Mazzeo

ANDERSON BHI LLC 1416 Quadrant Circle Wilmington 28405 Agent: John Steven Anderson

24/7 PRO NOTARY LLC 101 Hideaway Shores Rd Hampstead 28443 Agent: Carolyn Patrick Henson

ANGEL’S CERAMIC TILE & MULTISERVICES LLC 9188 Highland Hills Dr Leland 28451 Agent: Jose Angel Lemus

BLONDIEZ DONUTS LLC 2 Cumberland Street Ocean Isle Beach 28469 Agent: Danielle C Nace

3328 WEST BEACH DR LLC 3328 West Beach Drive Oak Island 28465 Agent: Stephen Byrd

ANICEUS MANAGEMENT L.L.C. 30 N Front St Apt 2 Wilmington 28401 Agent: David Turner

3W LLC 103 South Front Street Wilmington 28401 Agent: Christopher Joel Wallin

ANOTHER LOAD TRUCKING LLC 1010 S. 6th St. WILMINGTON 28401 Agent: Clifford E. Waddell Jr.

BOGDAN HOME INSPECTION SERVICE LLC 6B Mallard St Wrightsville Beach 28480 Agent: James Bogdan

4914 ORIOLE DRIVE LLC 1509 Country Club Road Wilmington 28403 Agent: George Edward Holt IV 774 GOLF COURSE ROAD LLC 3737 Stormy Gale Place Castle Hayne 28429 Agent: Daniel O’Malley ADIA THERAPEUTIC SERVICES LLC 2515-11 Costmary Lane Wilmington 28412 Agent: Haylee Brooke Allen AINSLEY-KONGTHUM PROPERTIES LLC 7800 Banyan Trail Wilmington 28411 Agent: Mary F. Ainsley ALL VETERANS MOTORCYCLE ASSOCIATION INC. (AVMA) 765 Heron Ct SE

ANTOJITO LA BELLA LLC 196 Gobbler Court Rocky Point 28457 Agent: Yurisbeth Romero Villeda

BIZZEE BEEZ LLC 6368 Myrtle Grove Road Wilmington 28409 Agent: Sharon Faye Haggett BLIZZARD BILL’S LLC 438 Raleigh Street Wilmington 28412 Agent: Jeremy E Fenton

BONES AND CONES L.L.C. 463 Deer Path Calabash 28467 Agent: Hope Lardieri

Road SW Supply 28462 Agent: Gary L. Boling BW CUSTOM HOMES LLC 7741 Market St. Ste. D Wilmington 28411 Agent: Brandon Whittington BY THE SEA MOBILE NOTARY LLC 2811 Shandy Ave Wilmington 28409 Agent: Amy Ford CABANA REALTY INC. 4808 W Beach Drive Oak Island 28465 Agent: Morgan Melanie Q CAIN HOLDINGS LLC 8711 Champion Hills Drive Wilmington 28411 Agent: Daniel Kelly Cain CAMERON-CCOF2 LLC 1201 Glen Meade Rd Wilmington 28401 Agent: Scott C Sullivan CAMPBELL ST PROJECT LLC 802 N 5th Avenue Wilmington 28401 Agent: Robert M McCord CAMS HOLDINGS LLC 720 N. Third St. Suite 301 Wilmington 28401 Agent: Anthony Lucchino CAPE FEAR CULINARY SERVICES L.L.C. 368 Aurora Place Hampstead 28443 Agent: James Foss CAPE FEAR DEMOLITION AND REMODELING LLC 5303 Old Myrtle Grove Rd Wilmington 28409 Agent: Adrien Snively CAPE FEAR DENTAL STAFFING SOLUTIONS INCORPORATED 3317 Masonboro Loop Road Suite 140 Wilmington 28409 Agent: Michele L. Simpson D.D.S. P.A.

Agent: Paul Benjamin Christman CITY STORAGE WRIGHTSBORO LLC 1525 S Front St Wilmington 28401 Agent: Erik Hemingway CJP FLOORING INST. LLC 319 Quarter Horse Ln. Hampstead 28443 Agent: Christopher PLeva CLEANCUTCLEANING LLC 9913 River Rd Trlr 30 Wilmington 28412 Agent: Evelina Cole CLOSET LABS LLC 102 Fayetteville Avenue Carolina Beach 28428 Agent: Jacob Ingle COASTAL SAFARIS LLC 2334 41st St Wilmington 28403 Agent: Yoel H. Balter CRABBY CLIFF’S SEAFOOD INC 410 Brewster Lane Wilmington 28412 Agent: Clifton Dent Jr CRE8 GOD L.L.C. 517 Minnow Way Wilmington 28405 Agent: Joseph Nathaniel Hill CROOKS’ OLD HOMESTEAD FARM LLC 503 S Bickett St Burgaw 28425 Agent: Stephani L. Garrett CS RETRO LLC 5325 Woodhaven Dr Castle Hayne 28429 Agent: Stephanie Allen Daniels CZL HAIR LLC 3819 Park Ave Wilmington 28403 Agent: GM Entity Services Inc. D L HOLLIDAY REALTY L.L.C. 1401 Fennell Town Rd Rocky Point 28457 Agent: Demetria Holliday

BOO’S LLC 5526 Dunmore Rd Wilmington 28409 Agent: Mike C O’Connell

CAPE FEAR LIE DETECTION LLC 371 N Front Street - A Wilmington 28401 Agent: Francis Murphy

DARA’S STUDIO LLC 9983-3 Traders Lane Ext. SW Calabash 28467 Agent: Dara Gentile

ASTELLA INC 2772 Cedar Crest Drive Southport 28461 Agent: Natale Scaccianoce

BRANDON C. PETTIJOHN ATTORNEY AT LAW PLLC 1154 Spring Glen Court Leland 28451 Agent: Brandon Pettijohn

CAPE FEAR OYSTER KNIVES L.L.C. 4637 Whiteweld Terrace Wilmington 28412 Agent: Michael Tarble

DAVIDS DELI INC. 1984 Eastwood Road Wilmington 28403 Agent: Douglas E Efting

AUTISM CENTERS OF NORTH CAROLINA LLC 8 Inlet Hook Rd Wilmington 28411 Agent: Caroline Kelly

BREAKTHROUGH AUTISM SOLUTIONS PLLC 7444 Chipley Drive Wilmington 28411 Agent: Ashleigh Leuck

B5 CONSULTING PLLC 612 Tibbys Drive Wilmington 28411 Agent: James Robert Buckingham Jr.

BRUNSWICK COUNTY WELLNESS CENTER 2655 E Boiling Spring Road Southport 28461 Agent: Christina L Gillenwater

CAROLINA BOYS CUSTOM HOME RENOVATIONS LLC 501 Birch Court Carolina Beach 28428 Agent: James Burris Lewis Jr

BACKYARD GARDENERS LLC 1117 Haymarket Ln Wilmington 28412 Agent: Steven M Clark

BRUNSWICK ISLAND POOLS AND SPAS LLC 2472 Ocean Station

CAROLINA COAST BEACH HOMES LLC 247 NE 63rd St Oak Island 28465 Agent: Carolyn LeBlond CHRISTMAN SERVICES INC. 4986 Carol St Southport 28461

DAWO LLC 3304 Brushy Mountain Ct Wilmington 28412 Agent: David Allen Owens DENISE LOPATKA & COMPANY LLC 1845 S. Churchill Drive Wilmington 28403 Agent: Denise Lopatka DICK’S GETAWAYS LLC 1213 Culbreth Drive Wilmington 28405 Agent: Thomas W. Kerner DIVERSIFIED SERVICE

CONTRACTORS LLC 711 Brewster Lane Wilmington 28412 Agent: William F Austin Jr. DJOSEY BROTHERS LLC 138 Whitman Avenue Castle Hayne 28429 Agent: Anthony Rocco D’Josey DK PORTLAND LLC 3414 Wrightsville Ave Wilmington 28403 Agent: Robbie B. Parker DPAC TRANSPORT LLC 3819 Park Avenue Wilmington 28403 Agent: GM Entity Services Inc. DR. ROBERT S POINT DDS PLLC 300 Windchase Lane Wilmington 28409 Agent: Robert Point DREAMING DAISIES LLC 504 Redwine Ave Shallotte 28470 Agent: Sarah A Serraro DRIFT YOGA CLUB LLC 508 Fifth Ave North Kure Beach 28449 Agent: Julie Farriss EASTERN MOSQUITOES NC INC. 5126 Lord Tennyson Rd Wilmington 28405 Agent: George Macon Wessell ELARIA LLC 305 Palmer Way Wilmington 28412 Agent: Amber Moles ELITE INSTALLATION AND LOGISTICS LLC 6201 Mallard Dr Wilmington 28403 Agent: Trevor Penny FIN REAPER LLC 142 Cherokee Trail Wilmington 28409 Agent: Michael Moore FIRE & ICE HEATING & COOLING INC. 1725 County Dr North Castle Hayne 28429 Agent: Richard John Wells FJB LAND CLEARING & DEBRIS SERVICES LLC 329 McMilly Rd NW Shallotte 28470 Agent: Frank Junior Burgess Jr. FLATLINED LLC 8911 Shipwatch Dr. Wilmington 28412 Agent: James J Foutty FLOW ENTERTAINMENT GROUP LLC 2525 Wonder Way Wilmington 28401 Agent: Paul Allen FOREST SOUND PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION INC. 1833 Avalon Avenue Wilmington 28409 Agent: Lisa Beaman FORT HOLMES HIDEAWAY LLC 1104 Baldwin Park Dr.

Wilmington 28411 Agent: Ian Padrick FOUR TIDES UNIT OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION INC. 110 W Nash St. Southport 28461 Agent: John Lindsay Allen FRESH NEW DAY BOUQUET LLC 3813 Mayfield Ct Wilmington 28412 Agent: Pamela Stacy Bolkcom FUNSUN LLC 6648 Shire Lane Wilmington 28411 Agent: Joseph Alan Austin

HEROES OF HAPPINESS INC. 347 Lockerby Lane Wilmington 28411 Agent: Marcia Guimaraes HEY MOKI LLC 2013 Wrightsville Ave Wilmington 28403 Agent: Reagan Simon HIGHWAY 210 FARM LLC 134 Forest Lane Hampstead 28443 Agent: David Barnes HOMEPORT HOMES LLC 3620 Needle Sound Way Wilmington 28409 Agent: Thomas LaGumina

G & G DETAILING LLC 1051 Holden Beach Rd Shallotte 28470 Agent: Garrison Gause

HOOKAH DELIGHT LLC 4405 Wrightsville Ave Ste D Wilmington 28403 Agent: Mohammed Ijaq

GENUINE LAWN SERVICE LLC 1416 Eastwood Road Wilmington 28403 Agent: Andrew Riley Smith

HOWARD SEAFOOD RENTAL LLC 253 Peiffer Avenue Wilmington 28403 Agent: Renee Williamson Bloodworth

GLAZEBROOK PROPERTIES LLC 827 Fox St Shallotte 28470 Agent: Andrew Glazebrook

IPROMOTE LLC 206 Greenview Dr Wilmington 28411 Agent: Charlene Marie Cain

GLOBAL METAL PRECISION LLC 6831 Main Street Apartment 216 Wilmington 28405 Agent: Martin Stankiewiez GOING TO THE BARN LLC 1131-B Military Cutoff Rd Wilmington 28405 Agent: Jason David Swain HANOVER BARBER SHOP LLC 921 Cicada Ct Wilmington 28405 Agent: Deborah Bartholow HARE PROPERTIES OF NC LLC 1851 Dawson Street Wilmington 28403 Agent: Qiong Chen HARRINGTON & WILHARM DDS PA 3071 Southport Supply Road Bolivia 28422 Agent: Robert Aaron Wilharm HARVAN LLC 221 Calabash Road NW Calabash 28467 Agent: Harvey Gerald Sutton HEAT & HAMMER FABRICATION LLC 1604 Middle Sound Loop Rd Wilmington 28411 Agent: Eric English HEGLAR CONSULTING GROUP INC. 413 E Avenue Kure Beach 28449 Agent: Lisa Rene Heglar

ISLAND LAWN & LANDSCAPE INC. 211 Sand Dollar Lane Hampstead 28443 Agent: Jason Valleix J & J FLOORING NC LLC. 330 Virginia Ave Wilmington 28401 Agent: Claudia Carolina Gomez Mrs. J. WADDELL ENTERPRISES LLC 5424 Gerome Place Wilmington 28412 Agent: Jillian N Waddell J&A LAST CHAPTER BY THE SEA LLC 4539 Old Towne Street Wilmington 28412 Agent: John Howard JDOERR CONSULTING L.L.C. 3576 East Medinah Ave Southport 28461 Agent: Jeffrey L. Doerr JINDCO LLC 4501 Main St. Shallotte 28470 Agent: Jesse Driscoll JJC PROPERTY HOLDINGS INC 309 E. Seaview Road Wilmington 28409 Agent: Jack Carlisle JOAQUIN F. MALAVET AND ASSOCIATES LLC 4838 Sequoyah Lake Cove Leland 28451 Agent: Joaquin F Malave JREW LLC 311 Lennox Pl Wilmington 28412 Agent: Julia Anne Mallozzi JSL CB PROPERTIES LLC 1108 Merchant Lane

Page 20

March 19 - April 2, 2021

Greater Wilmington Business Journal

wilmingtonbiz.com

| BIZ LEADS | Carolina Beach 28428 Agent: Jeffrey Hogan KATCO ENTERPRISES LLC 243 Yulan Drive Wilmington 28412 Agent: Kathy Graham KBSWIM LLC 3814 Gillette Dr Wilmington 28403 Agent: Rushell Bongiorno KDG E COMMERCE LLC 5006 Carleton Dr Unit 26 Wilmington 28403 Agent: Kenneth D Gerowitz KELLITT LLC 4925 Stag Park Road Burgaw 28425 Agent: Jason Wells KEM KANDLES LLC 209 Smith Ave Unit 505 Shallotte 28470 Agent: Kemetra Edwards KLEIN FAMILY INVESTMENT COMPANY LLC 3017 Sunnybranch Dr. Wilmington 28411 Agent: Allison E. Klein KNUCKLEBUSTERS’ CUSTOM DESIGNS LLC 59 Thatcher Dr Rocky Point 28457 Agent: Donald Ray Bobo Jr. LANDSCAPES ETC. LLC 1519 Windsong Dr. SW Ocean Isle Beach 28469 Agent: Joseph Godley III M.S.S. ELECTRIC COMPANY LLC 5006 Hunters Trail Wilmington 28405 Agent: Peter Standfield MAGIC NAILS LLC 6055 Willow Glen Dr Wilmington 28412 Agent: Katie Ho MAN AND MERMAID VENTURES LLC 576 Rivage Promenade Wilmington 28412 Agent: Dennis Snow MARCM LLC 632 Brewster Ln Wilmington 28412 Agent: Marc Mereyde MARK LOUDERMILK ARCHITECTURE PLLC 104 Turtle Cay Drive #3 Wilmington 28412 Agent: L. Mark Loudermilk MARKET STREET EXPRESS LLC 1712 Carolina Blvd Topsail Beach 28445 Agent: Michael D. Soignet MARKET STREET LEASING LLC 1712 Carolina Blvd Topsail Beach 28445 Agent: Michael D. Soignet MASONIC HOLDINGS CORP

1325 Goldengrove Ln Wilmington 28411 Agent: James Oliver Kidd Jr

GROUP LLC 5033 Crown Point Ln Wilmington 28409 Agent: Niccolo C Leone

MCRAE’S LAWN CARE & TRACTOR SERVICES LLC 32 Arlene Dr Castle Hayne 28429 Agent: William McRae

NEMEAN VALUE ADVISORS LLC 5033 Crown Point Ln Wilmington 28409 Agent: Niccolo C Leone

MEG CASWELL COLLECTION INC. 2840 S College Rd # 226 Wilmington 28412 Agent: Margaret Caswell

NEXKEG INC. 305 N 15th St Wilmington 28401 Agent: Stuart Adam McCall

MENDOZA SIDING LLC 6509 Greenville Loop Lot 65 Wilmington 28409 Agent: Miguel Mendoza Espinoza MICHAEL’S MASSAGE LLC 505 Cobblestone Dr. Wilmington 28405 Agent: Michael Nicholson MIDDLE SOUND OMS LLC 1979 Eastwood Road Suite 101 Wilmington 28403 Agent: Brian G. Morrison MILLENNIUM MYLES MEDICAL HOLDINGS LLC 3819 Park Avenue Wilmington 28403 Agent: GM Entity Services Inc. MOORE’S BROTHERS TRUCKING LLC 1756 Halfway Branch School Road Atkinson 28421 Agent: Tywaun Omar Moore MTY LEGACY LLC 7010 Eschol Court Wilmington 28409 Agent: Michael Shane Scribner MULLET RUN CHARTERS LLC 102 Fieldcrest Dr Hampstead 28443 Agent: Thomas Isaac Hall Jr NAI COSMETICS LLC 1542 s 12th st Wilmington 28401 Agent: Khadijah A Motley NEK PROPERTIES LLC 1001 Military Cutoff Road Suite 204 Wilmington 28405 Agent: Carrie L. Mincey NEMEAN BUSINESS SOLUTIONS LLC 5033 Crown Point Ln Wilmington 28409 Agent: Niccolo C Leone NEMEAN CAPITAL PARTNERS LLC 5033 Crown Point Ln Wilmington 28409 Agent: Niccolo C Leone NEMEAN PRIDE LLC 5033 Crown Point Ln Wilmington 28409 Agent: Niccolo C Leone NEMEAN PROPERTY

NINA L. YOKOCHI DO PLLC 2311 Canterwood Dr. Wilmington 28401 Agent: Nina YokochiFunkhouser NORTH CAROLINA COUNCIL OF CHAPTERS LLC 3116 Kirby Smith Dr. Wilmington 28409 Agent: Michael A Covell OAK ISLAND CANDLES LLC 219 NE 59th St Oak Island 28465 Agent: Kim Cappella OASIS CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC 4571 Atrium Ct Wilmington 28405 Agent: Thomas J Robertson ODG LLC 3819 Park Avenue Wilmington 28403 Agent: GM Entity Services Inc. ONE BUC PROPERTIES LLC 8100 Saltcedar Drive Wilmington 28411 Agent: Robert H. Hollingsworth OVATION PRODUCTION SERVICES LLC 506 Clearbrook Drive Wilmington 28409 Agent: Raymond Millard Hayes III PADGETT’S AUTOMOTIVE NC LLC 11509 U.S. Hwy 117 S Rocky Point 28457 Agent: Nicholas Padgett

Wilmington 28405 Agent: James L Curtis

Wilmington 28403 Agent: Roger G. Powell

PORT CITY AUTO PARTS LLC 1720 N 23rd Street Wilmington 28405 Agent: Lance Lazarus

ROYAL FLEET TRUCKING LLC. 4934 Richardson Drive Wilmington 28405 Agent: Bronson Tyler Apple

PORT CITY TECHNOLOGIES INC. 5006 Randall Parkway Wilmington 28406 Agent: Charles R Rogers III POWER SOLUTIONS LLC 1011 Ashes Drive Wilmington 28405 Agent: T. Ryan Legg PRO WIRE ELECTRICAL SERVICES LLC 136 Division Drive Leland 28451 Agent: William Stancill PURE ROMANCE BY BECKY LOCKE 5247 Shipmast Way Southport 28461 Agent: Rebecca Locke QPW L.L.C. 3765 George II Hwy 87 Southport 28461 Agent: J Lynnwood Stephens

SAGE HYPNOTHERAPY L.L.C. 773 Driftwood Drive Hampstead 28443 Agent: Sage Shenanigans SALTY SOAP CO. LLC 6911 Haberdeen Drive Wilmington 28411 Agent: Melissa K Arbucci SAMMY CALD PHOTO LLC 4901 Big Gum Rd Wilmington 28411 Agent: Samantha Caldwell SANCHEZ A FLOORING LLC 1608 White Rd Wilmington 28405 Agent: Julian Resendez

QUEEN TAXI LLC 2709 Castle Hayne Rd Wilmington 28401 Agent: Tresha Claiborne

SANDY PAWS PET SERVICES PC 149 Scotch Bonnet Drive Holden Beach 28462 Agent: Catherine Dyer

RAGLAN LLC 1914 Perry Ave Wilmington 28403 Agent: Joseph Comiskey

SC GATTIS LLC 300 Smilax Lane Wilmington 28412 Agent: Stephanie J Harris

RALEIGH STREET SELF STORAGE LLC 304 Raleigh Street Wilmington 28412 Agent: Della Lamm Conway

SC-1 LLC 1201 Glen Meade Rd Wilmington 28401 Agent: Grace Marshall

RBELL CONSTRUCTION GROUP LLC 1416 Eastbourne Dr Wilmington 28411 Agent: Roderick Bell REAL ‘N’ REEF LLC 10007 Burning Bush Ridge Ct SE Belville 28451 Agent: Phillip Rhinehart

PGR RSB LLC 39 Pipers Neck Road Wilmington 27411 Agent: Richard S Black

REAL GUD PRODUCTIONS LLC 218 Shamrock Dr. Wilmington 28409 Agent: Aaron Mitchel Carter

PHOENIX GENERATORS LLC 1044 Lake Norman Lane Leland 28451 Agent: Kelly Simpson

RENEWITT MARKETING LLC 117 Crutchfield Avenue Surf City 28445 Agent: Todd M Hewitt

PIEDMONT PREMIER LLC 9012 Forest Dr SW Sunset Beach 28468 Agent: Justin Wade Vachon

REVIVE DIY LLC 6507 Rustling Leaves Way Wilmington 28409 Agent: Craig Wagner

PIERCE PROPERTIES ILM L.L.C. 617 S. 7th St. Unit B Wilmington 28401 Agent: Brian Pierce

ROADIES LOCAL LLC 221 Shannon Dr Wilmington 28409 Agent: Rachel O Holla

POINT DUME LLC 1421 Landfall Drive

RYDR LLC 1914 Perry Ave Wilmington 28403 Agent: Joseph Comiskey

ROGER G. POWELL LLC 2234 South Live Oak Parkway

SEA HOLDING II LLC 1017 Ashes Dr Ste 200 Wilmington 28405 Agent: Brent Bossen SEACOASTIN’ YACHT RENTAL LLC 153 NW 2nd Street Oak Island 28465 Agent: Todd M Tanck SEASALT RESTORATION DESIGNS LLC 5601 Shell Road Village Dr. Wilmington 28403 Agent: Christa Dean SENTINELS OF FREEDOM INC. 9270 Buccaneer Ct Leland 28451 Agent: Kevin Morse SEPTIC REPAIRS PLUS LLC 132 Marcil Lane Hampstead 28443 Agent: Scott Murray SEVENTY 7 INDUSTRIES LLC 3819 Park Avenue Wilmington 28403 Agent: GM Entity Services Inc. SJ COMPLEXION L.L.C. 123 Poplar Branch Way Hampstead 28443 Agent: Bethany McElroy

SKILLED HOME MAINTENANCE LLC 107 Stacey Greg Road Hampstead 28443 Agent: Jeffrey T Jerrow SMC HOMES LLC 201 Fort Fisher Blvd S Kure Beach 28449 Agent: John P Maguire SORELLE HOLDINGS LLC 1019 Windlea Run Wilmington 28409 Agent: Kirk Howard SOUND WATER AND SERVICES LLC 14868 NC Highway 210 Rocky Point 28457 Agent: Madison Hollingsworth SOUTH BRUNSWICK COUNSELING SERVICES PLLC 804 N. Howe Street Southport 28461 Agent: Carrie S.C. Menke SOUTHERN BRUNSWICK NC LLC 1209 Tremont Ct Wilmington 28411 Agent: Anthony Mills SOUTHERNSTYLEZ TINTING LLC 7217 Ogden Business Ln Ste 117 Wilmington 28411 Agent: Ethan Waller SPLIT APPAREL SHOP LLC 526 Mill Creek Court Unit D Wilmington 28403 Agent: Brittany Guthrie Bell SPRINGER’S A HANDYMAN LLC 111 Periwinkle Street Burgaw 28425 Agent: Brent Aaron Springer STELLA BLACE BAKES LLC 6309 Gadwall Court Wilmington 28403 Agent: Holly Graham White STONEHOLD LLC 1 Stone St Wrightsville Beach 28480 Agent: Luke A. Waddell STRAY DOG TRAVEL LLC 413 Oceana Way Carolina Beach 28428 Agent: Claire Hearn STROUD HOLDINGS LLC 117 Coquina Dr Wilmington 28411 Agent: Seth Fabry Stroud SUNNY DAZE MOBILE DOG GROOMING LLC 5531 Myrtle Grove Rd Wilmington 28409 Agent: Elizabeth L Jordan SWEET SANCTUARY LLC 1609 Bratton Ct Wilmington 28405 Agent: Tracy Guardino SYNERGY WELLNESS CENTER PLLC 2595 S. 17th Street Wilmington 28401

Agent: Charles Sayre TAKING ROOT LLC 8553 Primm Forest Dr NE Leland 28451 Agent: Jason Falank TD MCLAUGHLIN INC 1124 Matteo Dr Apt. 305 Wilmington 28412 Agent: Tadd D McLaughlin THE BURGESS GROUP LLC 1979 Eastwood Rd Ste 101 Wilmington 28403 Agent: Brian G. Morrison THE COTTAGES AT BRADLEY CREEK LLC 575 Military Cutoff Rd. Ste. 106 Wilmington 28405 Agent: Jennifer D. Scott THE CRANE’S NEST LLC 407 E Creekview Drive Hampstead 28443 Agent: Linda KosterDurso THE GREEN MOSQUITO ORGANIC SOLUTIONS INC. 7032 7th St Surf City 28445 Agent: Teri Poplaski THE IMPETUS GROUP LLC 3337 Jasper Street Wilmington 28409 Agent: Alfred E. Hendricks Jr. THE KENNEDY RAY PROPERTIES AND DEVELOPMENT LLC 925 Hankinsville Road Southport 28461 Agent: Minerva C RayDavis THE OLMINSKY LAW OFFICE PLLC 3698 Lewis Loop SE Bolivia 28422 Agent: Brad Hynde THE STEM MENTORSHIP ACADEMY 7236 River Road Wilmington 28412 Agent: Zane Dash TOPSAIL SURF & CYCLE LLC 133A James Avenue Surf City 28445 Agent: David William Beckinsale Jr. TYDA SERVICES LLC 371 N Front Street - A Wilmington 28401 Agent: Francis Murphy URBAN TYCOON ENTERPRISES LLC

13 Bell Swamp Connection NE Winnabow 28479 Agent: Adrein Delts VERANDA HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION INC. 1015 Ashes Dr Ste 204 Wilmington 28405 Agent: Miechelle Knotts VETERANS COASTAL REALTY LLC 6409 Motts Village Rd Wilmington 28412 Agent: Richard Orlen Callesen Jr. VIGILANTE VENTURES LLC 4647 Fairview Drive Apt 121 Wilmington 28412 Agent: James R Vigilante VM CLEARING AND GRADING LLC 1434 Old Fayetteville Rd NE Leland 28451 Agent: Victor Rene Mendoza Gutierrez WATERWORKS AUTO DETAILING LLC 740 New Road Burgaw 28425 Agent: Johnnie Jackson WEBB LANDSCAPE LIGHTING L.L.C. 830 South Lumina Ave Wrightsville Beach 28480 Agent: Carl Gregg Webb WILMINGTON TRANSPORT LLC 1290 Liberty Landing Rd SE Winnabow 28479 Agent: Michael Jones WNDP #2 LLC 1201 Glen Meade Road Wilmington 28401 Agent: Raymond Hill Rogers WORKING BEACHES LLC 1978 Goose Creek Road SW Ocean Isle 28469 Agent: Leslie Gore WR2 LLC 609 Hollingsworth Dr Wilmington 28412 Agent: Chayse Christopher Roth WRITTEN IN INK NOTARY SERVICES LLC 238 Rose Ave Wilmington 28403 Agent: Dominique T Rogers XSYS LLC 2036 Willowhaven Ln Leland 28451 Agent: Jason Blind

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Greater Wilmington Business Journal

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March 19 - April 2, 2021

Page 21

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March 19 - April 2, 2021

Greater Wilmington Business Journal

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RESTAURANT ROUNDUP

BUSINESS OF LIFE

This is a sampling of stories from the Business Journal’s weekly Restaurant Roundup email. Subscribe at wilmingtonbiz.com.

New restaurant on way from Indochine owner T E L E H E A LT H USE SURGED

7,000

% 1

D U R IN G C OVID- 1 9

BECAUSE WE MADE ACCESS EASY. For more than 20 years, our members could count on telehealth. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, the coverage we had in place helped virtual visits to soar by more than 7,000%. By always working to make health care simpler and more affordable, we’re there when our members and communities need us most.

BlueCrossNC.com/Transform

WE RESOLVE. TO TRANSFORM HEALTH CARE. 1 Internal Data January 2021 ® Marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. U37678C, 3/2021

Solange “Niki” Thompson, owner of Indochine and Indochine Express, has announced plans for a new Asian-fusion concept, Café Chinois. The Wilmington restaurant will be located in the space formerly occupied by Southern Thai at Fulton Station off South 17th Street. Thompson said that late last year, several Southern Thai employees came to work for her at Indochine Express because Southern Thai was not open for lunch, and they were looking for lunchtime work. After several of them made a permanent move to working for Thompson full time, the owners of Southern Thai asked if she was interested in purchasing the restaurant. “It was a win-win situation for everyone,” Thompson said. “The staff is happy, I’m happy and I’m always excited to bring something new to Wilmington.” Thompson said the restaurant will feature dishes from Thailand, Vietnam, Korea and China. While she would not describe it as upscale, she said it will be simple and elegant, featuring dishes such as Chinese roast duck and fried fish with ginger sauce, Bahn Xeo (Vietnamese crepes) and several popular Korean dishes. Thompson said she has consulted her feng shui calendar, and the best day for opening looks to be either March 29 or 31, so she is hopeful that she will be able to open on one of those dates. Café Chinois will be located at 3715 Patriot Way.

Tapas bar in the works for South Front district Bobby Zimmerman, owner of True Blue Butcher & Table, announced recently that he and his team plan to open Mariposa Tapas Bar in Wilmington’s South Front District this spring. Located at 1502 S. Third St., in the building formerly occupied by Love, Lydia Bakery & Cafe, Mariposa is designed to create an authentic Spanish dining experience, serving traditional tapas and carefully selected wines.

Chef Zimmerman selected the name “Mariposa,” which means “butterfly” in Spanish, because he views this building as the gatekeeper to the South Front District. Mariposa will feature vibrant colors designed to welcome visitors to the neighborhood. Because the interior of the building is small, Zimmerman expects most of the activity will take place on the wraparound porch and in the courtyard, where there will be a fire pit and lounge area. Zimmerman said that following discussions over the past few years with Mark Maynard Sr. and Mark Maynard Jr. from Tribute Properties and Steve Hall from Wilmington-based commercial real estate firm Maus, Warwick, Matthews & Co., the time was finally right to be a part of the continued development of the South Front District.

Italian ice shop opens in downtown Wilmington Sunset Slush joins a growing number of new businesses popping up along Castle Street in downtown Wilmington. Cassandra and William Kelley said they have been seeking the right location for their Italian ice shop for some time now, and when they came upon 906 Castle St., they knew they had found their spot. Having grown up in New England, the Kelleys have always had an affinity for Italian ice. Several years ago they were introduced to Sunset Slush at a festival in Sunset Beach, where they met the company’s founders, Stephen and Catherine Saia. The Saias’ operation began in Sunset Beach with a simple push cart in 2003, and has grown to include over 100 independently owned locations throughout the Midwest and Southeast. “We were drawn to Sunset Slush because of the quality of the product,” Cassandra Kelley said. “And also because the Saias were so handson in helping us to develop a business plan. This is a family-oriented business, and as the parents of young twins, that was a huge draw for us.” Sunset Slush offers 33 flavors of Italian ice, including a range of fruit flavors, as well as chocolate, coconut cream, bubble gum and cotton candy. Sunset Slush also offers gelati, which is Italian ice layered with chocolate or vanilla ice cream. - Jessica Maurer

Greater Wilmington Business Journal

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March 19 - April 2, 2021

Page 23

| BUSINESS OF LIFE | TRU Colors gets ready to start brewing BY CHRISTINA HALEY O’NEAL

rewery equipment is making its way into TRU Colors’ new headquarters on Greenfield Street, after a delay in the operational timeline due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Soon TRU Colors, a for-profit company that hires Wilmington gang members to develop their leadership skills and promote their personal and professional growth, will start training employees next month to help run its brewery operation. “We’re in the phase right now where a lot of the equipment is starting to show up … It’s starting to really look like a brewery,” said Brian Faivre, vice president of brewery operations. Faivre, who was recently hired, will supervise 15 to 20 gang members. This summer, the company is slated to start canning beer, said George Taylor, chairman and CEO of TRU Colors. Taylor, a local entrepreneur who’s taken an interest in stopping local gang violence, works with a small group of private investors through TRU Colors to employ about 65 people and to outfit the new facility with the brewery, a recording studio, office space, a daycare and a gym. About 50 of TRU Colors employees are local gang members or involved in the gang community, Taylor said. Much work is left on finalizing construction on various parts of the TRU Colors building. The company this year moved from under the roof of Untappd – a beer technology business started by the Taylor family – and into its own 53,000-square-foot headquarters building at 715 Greenfield St., formerly the old Century Mills site, which was purchased by TRU Colors for $950,000 in 2019. Work is also taking place on laying out the recipe for its first brew. “We’re really close to finalizing a recipe,” Faivre said. “Press, director of brewery operations, has done a lot of the small-scale test brews and it has gone through a few iterations. The direction we are heading toward right now is your classic American light lager.” All canning and kegging will also take place at the facility, Faivre said. TRU Colors has a goal to “build a national brand within two years,”

RESTAURANT ROUN DUP

PHOTO BY MICHAEL CLINE SPENCER

Beginning brew: Max Hall (from left), TRU Colors health and wellness specialist and yoga instructor, and Chaz Springer, director of content and production, listen to Brian Faivre, vice president of brewery operations, talk about TRU Colors’ brewing equipment.

Taylor said. Taylor took an interest in the local gang issue following the driveby, gang-related shooting death of 16-year-old Shane Simpson in 2015. It was the catalyst of Taylor’s efforts to learn more about the local gang community and to help solve the greater issues behind gang violence through a private business. TRU Colors started in 2018. “Our key goal as an organization is to stop street violence and unite communities. At the highest level, everything we do should be able to get tied back to those two goals. And in particular the first one: Our goal is to save lives,” Taylor said. There are a variety of ways TRU Colors works on this mission, including with the curriculum team, which works through its Disrupt-U program on several different levels of personal and professional development for gang members. The Disrupt-U program includes a 60-day boot camp, and gang members are paid $30,000 a year plus full health benefits, Taylor said. When they finish the program, they become interns and their salaries rise to $35,000 a year. Graduates of the boot camp will

join one of the teams at TRU Colors, such as the brewery, marketing or sales teams, and have 90 days to earn their way into the business. The pay scale, he said, moves up from there. And upon becoming a TRU Colors employee, there are also stock options available. “The money matters. In the beginning, for a lot of guys, that’s the thing that brings them here is the money. What we see over time is the mission,” Taylor said. “Their own personal and professional growth is what keeps them here and keeps them moving.” In addition, the company promotes its mission further through online media and music and video production. The 34,000-square-foot brewery section of TRU Colors’ headquarters, once complete, will include 19 fermentation tanks and a six-vessel, 55-barrel brewhouse. Running on two shifts, TRU Colors’ brewery, which would be one of the largest in town, is expected to produce about 1.3 million case-equivalents a year, he said. “We will have enough equipment to easily do 50,000 barrels of beer production a year. That’s a lot of beer,” Faivre said, adding that the

brewery could build out in the future, by adding more tanks to its space, with the ability to go up to 120,000 barrels. “If this really takes off like we expect it to, that just brings more jobs to the community, which is a great thing,” Faivre said. “The mission of TRU Colors is really what drove me to be a part of this.” The company plans to announce a major strategic partner in the distribution arena later this month. Among other goals, TRU Colors also plans to reach about 110 to 120 employees by 2022 to meet its hiring needs, Taylor said. The interactions that people have with TRU Colors and its employees almost always change perceptions, he said. “Everyone walks away scratching their heads. And that’s really – on a national level at scale – that’s all we can ask, is that it causes someone to reconsider,” Taylor said. “What we hope that people see is that these problems are economically driven and they need an economical solution, which means entrepreneurship is probably best suited to solve these major social problems much better than the government.”

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March 19 - April 2, 2021

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