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Auspicious beginning: Live Oak Bank Pavilion at Riverfront Park in downtown Wilmington welcomed thousands of Widespread Panic fans in July.
Index Banking & Finance .............................4-5 Health Care ........................................... 6 Economic Development.......................... 8 In Profile................................................. 9 The List ................................................11 Real Estate .................................... 18-19 Business of Life.............................. 22-23
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Crowd pleaser NEW CONCERT VENUE AMPS UP ECONOMIC GROWTH DOWNTOWN BY CHRISTINA HALEY ocally owned boutique hotel The Hive had just one suite left as of late July in advance of Miranda Lambert’s performance in Wilmington on Aug. 7.
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And during the sold-out Widespread Panic show last month for the debut of the city’s new Riverfront Park and amphitheater, The Hive not only hosted the band, but several other visitors who came to downtown Wilmington for the weekend-long concert series. “Our experience with the first concert was insane. We were on a 59-person waitlist for people that wanted to stay with us. And we
couldn’t accommodate some people because we actually had Widespread Panic staying with us … they took basically one whole building, so we had even fewer rooms to rent,” said Kaylie O’Connor, who co-owns the hotel with Robert Rosenberg. The 15-suite hotel, located in two buildings at 505 N. Second St., is starting to see an uptick in business, she said. “Typically, people don’t book very far out … but for concerts, we’re definitely filling up faster,” O’Connor said. That’s the type of business boost officials are anticipating from activity around the new amphitheater – recently named Live Oak Bank Pavilion. And local leaders envision more jobs, increasing revenues and development to come, all sparked by the
amped-up activity and tourism the concerts bring. The 7,200-person venue managed by Live Nation pins the city on the destination map for music, Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo said. “The economic impact of these concerts is dramatic,” Saffo said. This year is already bringing in big acts such as Lambert, Carlos Santana, 311 and Lady A. The venue so far has 16 upcoming shows on the calendar with performances scheduled as far out as May 2022, according to the schedule as of press time. Upcoming concerts have Ellie Craig, Front Street Brewery’s sales and marketing manager, preparing now for more traffic through the restaurant and brewery. “I know that there were some See CONCERTS, page 12
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Building stronger communities in Coastal North Carolina Bank of America is helping to meet the need for more affordable housing in neighborhoods across the country. Through Community Development Banking, we’re deepening our commitment to create more communities for people to call home. In 2020, we committed $5.87 billion for affordable housing and economic development financing, resulting in over 13,000 housing units for people and families in need — many of which were constructed by diverse developers.
Working together
In addition, we’re joining Enterprise Community Partners to invest $60 million in capital to support minority developers and their work to build inclusive communities.
We’re also collaborating with organizations that are supporting affordable housing options here in Coastal North Carolina. They include:
My teammates and I remain dedicated to helping more people find a place to live they can both love and afford. What would you like the power to do?®
Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity Wilmington Area Rebuilding Ministry
Derek Cohen President, Bank of America Coastal North Carolina
Go to bankofamerica.com/coastalNC to learn more about the work we are doing with our incredible partners.
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| FROM WILMINGTONBIZ.COM | This is a sampling of stories from the Business Journal’s Daily Update. Subscribe at wilmingtonbiz.com.
TRU Colors CEO responds to shooting deaths TRU Colors CEO George Taylor issued a statement July 25 about the double homicide the day before at his son’s house that included a victim who was connected to the brewery. A gunman came into the house of George Taylor III at about 5 a.m. on July 24, George Taylor said in a lengthy post on TRU Colors’ social media accounts. George Taylor III, COO of TRU Colors, was not one of the shooting victims, according to law enforcement officials, who identified the two people who died as Koredreese Robert Tyson, 29, and Bri-yanna Emily Williams, 21. Another woman was taken to the hospital with injuries. George Taylor in his statement described Tyson as a leader at TRU Colors. The New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office had not announced an arrest in the shooting as of press time. TRU Colors is a for-profit brewery that hires Wilmington gang mem-
bers and those involved in the gang community as a way to address street violence in the area. Earlier this year, Molson Coors Beverage Co. made an equity investment in the local brewery and was expected to be involved in the distribution of TRU Colors’ line. The planned launch of its first beer, a lager, was to take place last month but got pushed back because of issues with the company’s brewing system at its headquarters on Greenfield Street. George Taylor cited a post his son shared with the company that said Tyson was living with George Taylor III “for the past few months as he tried to find a place that would accept someone with a felony background.”
Developer plans $40M cold storage facility in Pender A commercial real estate developer plans to build a $40 million cold storage facility at Pender Commerce Park, according to an announcement Aug. 2. Greenville, South Carolina-based RealtyLink, a real estate development company, expects to build up to 300,000-square-feet of refrigerated warehouse space, which will serve a
third-party logistics tenant, officials with Wilmington Business Development said in a news release. ReadyLink is building cold storage facilities in five regions that have ports, including the Wilmington facility.
UNCW reinstates indoor masks policy
TOP-READ STORIES ONLINE Here are the most popular stories for July 25-Aug. 2 from the Business Journal’s website. 1. TRU Colors CEO issues statement about fatal shooting 2. New restaurant opening soon on Masonboro Loop Road
UNCW will start the next semester with faculty, staff and students wearing masks indoors, chancellor Jose Sartarelli said in a message July 30. The fall 2021 semester at the University of North Carolina Wilmington will begin with classes Aug. 18, and move-in is scheduled Aug. 13-14, according to a release. UNCW temporarily will require face coverings in indoor settings except when a faculty or staff member is in their office or a student in their assigned residence hall room. The rule is based on CDC guidance and because of the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the state. The requirement began Aug. 2 and will be reviewed on or before Sept. 17, depending on circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 virus and its variants, stated the release.
3. TRU Colors investor Molson Coors responds to weekend homicide 4. M onteith, Live Oak among business partners in 1897 Initiative 5. W ilmington-based Green Dot growing HVAC business 6. W MPO turns down Cape Fear toll bridge proposal 7. W ilmington startup pitching at DIG SOUTH Tech Summit 8. R estaurant industry tidbits include openings, closing 9. R esidential real estate company opens new office in Surf City 10. U NCW’s Swain Center moving to new College Road location To read more, go to wilmingtonbiz.com
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| BANKING & FINANCE |
Mortgage broker aids family of 10 A Wilmington mortgage broker helped ring the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange on July 21 as part of an industry celebration. Patrick Stoy, founder and president of MC Mortgage Group in Wilmington, was one of numerous independent brokers honored on National Mortgage Brokers Day by United Wholesale Mortgage, a prominent wholesale and purchase lender. He was JENNY recognized by UWM, which is MC Mortgage Group’s lender, because of his success in helping a family of 10 secure a USDA mortgage during the pandemic. The family was struggling with the high cost of housing in California, Stoy said. When the COVID-19 pandemic allowed the father to work
CALLISON
remotely for the first time, they decided to move to the Wilmington area because they have relatives here. “They got an RV and drove it across the country: the father, the mother and eight kids – two of whom are special needs – and a cat,” Stoy said. “Their RV broke down in Colorado, and they had to replace the RV’s water pipes, which had burst.” Once they reached Wilmington, the family lived in their RV in a local campground searching for a home they could afford. They found one on a couple of acres in Burgaw and, according to Stoy, the family’s income qualified them for a USDA 100% mortgage. But there were complications in explaining to the lender how that income was calculated. “There was also a problem in finding an appraiser who wanted to go out to Burgaw in the middle of COVID,” Stoy said, adding that time was of the essence so the family could avoid having to pay another month’s rent in the campground.
“This was one of the most enjoyable transactions I’ve ever been involved with, and I’ve been doing this for 21 years,” Stoy said.
Live Oak Bancshares reports on investments
PHOTO C/O UNITED WHOLESALE MORTGAGE
Housing honors: MC Mortgage Group President Patrick Stoy recently was recognized at the NYSE for helping a family secure a USDA mortgage during the pandemic.
The USDA came through, and the family is now settled in their new home.
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Live Oak Bancshares’ investments in financial technology companies is paying off, according to company President Neil Underwood, who oversees the company’s investment arm. “The entire portfolio continues to thrive,” Underwood said during Live Oak’s second-quarter earnings call July 22. “Each of these companies solves a major problem in financial services.” Live Oak Ventures, a subsidiary of Live Oak Bancshares, has invested nearly $26 million in Finxact, Payrailz, DefenseStorm, Savana, Greenlight and Philanthropi. While it has not invested cash in Apiture, Live Oak’s joint venture with First Data Corp., it has made a human capital
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| BANKING & FINANCE | investment in the form of seasoned Live Oak professionals who work with the firm. With two exceptions, the fintechs are used by Live Oak Bank to enhance its operations in such areas as mobile payments, cloud-native banking software, digital efficiency, cyber security and fraud detection. The exceptions are Greenlight, a debit card for kids that is managed by their parents through a phone app, and Philanthropi, which is used within the company only to enable Live Oak employees to make charitable contributions that are matched by their employer, officials said. “We’ve invested $26 million at [these companies’] very early stages, and the implied value today is $182 million,” Underwood continued, noting that Live Oak’s estimate of implied value is based on most recent transaction data and is not necessarily indicative of current or future value. Nevertheless, Live Oak’s investment subsidiary is confident these investments will be financially sound and will give the company early access to leading-edge technology. “We expect these companies to continue to raise growth capital at
elevated valuations,” Underwood added. “We know this is a really difficult thing to forecast but as you can see, this quarter is real and it’s tangible. Perhaps more important than the economics is Live Oak Bank’s adoption of these technologies for the next generation cloud-based tech stack allows us to build best-in-class fintech life products.” During the call, Underwood also provided an update on Canapi Ventures, a separate investment engine of which he, Live Oak Chairman and CEO James “Chip” Mahan and Gene Ludwig, are partners. Ludwig is the founder of Promontory Financial Group. Canapi Ventures aimed to attract sizeable investments from financial institutions and create a fund that would find and invest in next-generation financial technologies. Underwood reported in the earnings call that Canapi Ventures ended 2020 with investments of about $650 million from 44 banks. The American Bankers Association, the Independent Community Bankers of America and several state banking associations are also Canapi investors, according to a release from the
venture capital firm. “We’ve been operating for about 18 months and as you can see, we’ve been very, very busy,” Underwood said, noting that the venture capital fund has made 20 investments in 16 portfolio companies in that time. Canapi Ventures will also glean management fees, which will enhance its returns on investment.
Firm becomes RIA, opens Port City office Dominion Wealth Management LLC has become an independent Registered Investment Advisor (RIA), the firm announced in early July. “With this launch, Dominion aims to create a one-of-a-kind wealth management experience by providing unbiased financial advice, cutting-edge technology, and the widest range of investment options available to their clients,” officials stated in a news release, adding that the new designation will allow Dominion to provide “truly unbiased financial advice without the restrictions, sales quotas, and pressures placed on advisors by large, overseeing wirehouse
(multi-branch national brokerage) firms.” Dominion will also launch a new technology suite that allows clients to view their financial plan, investment and bank accounts, and debt balances all from their phone, the release stated. It will also expand its investment offerings to include unlisted securities, exclusive private placement and hedge fund offerings and cryptocurrency. The firm was founded in 2009 in Whiteville but recently added a Wilmington location and hired Webster Burrier as director of wealth management. It is designed to serve as an alternative to the traditional, single-adviser financial services model by working as a team with specializations in wealth management, accounting and estate planning, according to the release. “This is a huge step for us as a firm,” Dominion founder and principal Alan Thompson said in the release. “Serving my clients and fellow community members has always been at the heart of my practice and I am extremely excited to continue to fulfill that mission.”
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| HEALTH CARE |
Jordan health clinics project moves ahead BY SCOTT NUNN he pieces needed to make two proposed Novant Health Michael Jordan Family Medical Clinics in Wilmington are falling into place. Novant, which recently purchased New Hanover Regional Medical Center, announced in February that the NBA legend is donating $10 million toward the clinics, which will provide primary care and behavioral health services. After working with Wilmington nonprofit Cape Fear Collective on site selection, Novant announced in early July that it had selected locations at 1410 S. 15th St. and on Fanning Street, properties owned by New Hanover County and the city of Wilmington, respectively. “After an extensive search, we identified two parcels of land that were a good fit for the development of Novant Health Michael Jordan Family Medical Clinics,” a Novant Health spokesperson said. The New Hanover County commissioners voted July 13 to donate the 2 acres on 15th Street to the Novant Health Foundation. The site is near the county’s Health and Human Services Building. “It is an ideal spot for Novant Health to have a clinic that can serve anyone and everyone in this neighborhood and beyond,” board chair Julia Olson-Boseman said. “I see this clinic working hand in hand with the county’s health and human services agency to provide support services and focus on improving social determinants of health for all of our residents.” Meanwhile, Wilmington City Council is expected to take up the issue sometime in August, according to a city spokesperson. “While the city of Wilmington owns the other identified site, we continue to work with the city and other community organizations to determine the exact location,” the Novant spokesperson said. “We want to ensure these clinics are positioned to have the greatest impact on health equity gaps. Both the county and city have played a vital role in that work, and we look forward to sharing updates in the weeks ahead.” Novant Health and Jordan previously partnered to open two Michael Jordan Family Clinics in Charlotte, “bringing comprehensive primary care, including behavioral health and social support services, to the
true commitment to improving the health of the southeast region.”
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U.S. News rankings give NHRMC high marks
PHOTO BY CHRISTINA HALEY O'NEAL
Expanding care: Local government and health officials on July 7 announce proposed locations for two Novant Health Michael Jordan Family Medical Clinics in Wilmington.
area’s most vulnerable communities,” officials said. The Wilmington clinics would be similar to those two existing Michael Jordan Family Medical Clinics. Such clinics fit into Novant’s goals of providing health care services closer to patients and providing better access to underserved communities, which was a significant issue as local leaders explored selling NHRMC. The sale of county-owned NHRMC to Novant closed on Feb. 1, and the Jordan announcement came just weeks after. “These two clinics … are geared toward serving people who maybe traditionally haven’t been served too well, areas where the populations are heavily uninsured or have Medicaid,” said Philip Brown, chief community impact officer for Novant Health and former chief physician executive at NHRMC. The clinics also build on NHRMC’s efforts to reach out beyond the hospital and directly into communities. “We talk about health equity, and of the biggest factors [is] the social determinants of health and poverty, possibly the largest social determinant of health,” said John Gizdic, a Novant vice president and former CEO of NHRMC. Gizdic said that Southeastern North Carolina suffers from some of the highest poverty levels in the state, and that on top of that, the region has some of the lowest health scores in a state that itself ranks in the bottom half of the country for health
scores. “We believe achieving health equity requires valuing everyone,” Novant President and CEO Carl Armato said, adding that there will be “ongoing efforts to address avoidable inequities, historic and contemporary injustices and the elimination of healthcare disparities in the communities we serve.” Jordan graduated from Laney High School in Wilmington in 1981, and in 1982 he helped lead UNC to a national championship. He went on to play 15 seasons in the NBA, winning six championships with the Chicago Bulls. His last year in the NBA was 2003. Most of Jordan’s wealth has come from endorsement deals, and, in 2012, Business Insider reported that he had become the first billionaire athlete. Jordan, now the principal owner and chairman of the Charlotte Hornets, is currently worth $1.6 billion. Prior to the $10 million gift for the Wilmington clinics, his biggest charitable donation had been the $7 million he gave in 2017 for the Charlotte clinics. “When we set out to partner with New Hanover Regional Medical Center, we made it absolutely clear that one of our top priorities was to improve health outcomes in Southeastern North Carolina with access to affordable care for all,” Armato added. “With Michael’s gift, we’ll be able to more quickly and directly have an impact. The establishment of these two new clinics reinforces our
NHRMC is one of the top hospitals in North Carolina, according to U.S. News and World Report. For its 32nd annual Best Hospitals report, U.S. News evaluated 134 North Carolina hospitals. Of the 18 hospitals that meet the magazine’s highest standards, NHRMC was ranked 11th. The top-rated hospital in the state is Duke University Hospital, followed by UNC Hospitals at No. 2. Rounding out the rest of the Top 5 are Carolina’s Medical Center in Charlotte, UNC Rex Hospital in Raleigh and FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital in Pinehurst. Nine of NHRMC’s specialty-care also were recognized as “high-performing,” the report’s top rating: cancer, cardiology and heart surgery, diabetes and endocrinology, gastroenterology and GI surgery, geriatrics, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopedics, pulmonology and lung surgery and urology. The complete list is available at health.usnews.com/best-hospitals.
Novant Health mandates employee COVID vaccines Novant Health, now the Wilmington area’s largest employer, announced July 22 that all employees must be fully vaccinated against the coronavirus by Sept. 15. The vaccine mandate includes workers at NHRMC, Novant Brunswick Medical Center as well as a host of clinics and other outpatient facilities in the area. “We appreciate and acknowledge the tens of thousands of team members who eagerly received the vaccine,” Novant said in a statement. “Unfortunately, the reality is that vaccination rates remain stagnant across the country, including at Novant Health.” Novant joins with the state’s largest health care systems in mandating employee vaccinations, including Atrium Health, UNC Health and Duke Health. Also, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough announced that the vaccine will be mandatory for anyone who provides direct patient care. The VA has outpatient clinics in Wilmington and Supply.
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Mark Loudermilk Architecture builds team
The UNCW Board of Trustees has added new members and elected officers for the 2021-22 academic year. The board has elected GIDGET KIDD as chair, HENRY “HANK” MILLER as vice chair and CARLTON FISHER as secretary. Kidd, a member of the board since 2013, will also lead the executive committee and the endowment board. The UNCW Board of Trustees has also welcomed its newest members, JEFF CLARK, MALCOMB COLEY, HOLLY GRANGE and JAMES “CHIP” MAHAN. The new board also includes reappointed members ROBERT RIPPY, JIMMY TATE and ROBBY FENSOM, as well as trustees AGNES BEANE, YOUSRY SAYED and WOODY WHITE. Trustees who are rotating off the board after serving from 20132021 are DENNIS BURGARD, MICHAEL DRUMMOND, HENRY “HAL” KITCHIN and MAURICE SMITH.
Mark Loudermilk Architecture, which has opened its first office in downtown Wilmington, has added several people to its team of professionals. The firm this year has hired JAMIE FEASTER, RONALD COVIL, DEVANSHI SHASTRI and PHIL HOOD to join the firm, located at 201 N. Front St., Suite 1004. Hood started working with the company in June. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Clemson University and his master’s degree at Southern California Institute of Architecture in Los Angeles. Feaster started working with the firm in March. She graduated from Marywood University in Pennsylvania. Covil, a graduate of Cape Fear Community College, began working with the company in April. And Shastri started working with the firm in May. She earned a master’s degree from University at Buffalo. The firm handles commercial and residential architecture, including dental offices and more recently, single-family homes and condo projects.
Wilmington Health adds ortho surgeon Fortun
Intracoastal Realty hires Kirby, Gee as agents
Wilmington Health has added CHAD FORTUN to its primary and specialty care services. Fortun, a board-certified and fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon, brings expertise in Fortun sports medicine to Wilmington Health to establish the new service within the health care network. “Fortun provides comprehensive orthopedic care ranging from minimally invasive surgery and non-operative injuries to cutting edge joint replacements. Additionally, Dr. Fortun serves as a leading expert in hip preservation surgery through hip arthroscopy,” officials said. Fortun is a fellowship-trained hip arthroscopy surgeon. Fortun began his work in orthopedics and sports medicine as a physical therapist before attending medical school. After he completed medical school, he spent an additional year at Southern California Orthopedic Institute in Los Angeles training in sports medicine, arthroscopy and reconstructive surgery.
Intracoastal Realty has hired two new agents for its team. The realty company has added TAYLOR KIRBY to its Barclay Pointe office. And DANIEL GEE has joined the agency’s Lumina Kirby Station office. Kirby is originally from the Supply area and owns property in Holden Beach. He has experience in coastal markets. Gee Kirby attended Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina, where he obtained his bachelor’s degree. While obtaining his degree, he worked with Speedway Motorsports, Speedway Children’s Charities and Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord. Gee moved to the Wilmington area in 2019. Originally from Ohio, he completed college at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. He began practicing real estate while attending school.
UNCW Board of Trustees welcomes new members
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| ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT |
Group targets transportation funding
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egional organizations are taking part in an NC Chamber-led coalition to update the state’s transportation funding methods. The chamber initiative entitled “Destination 2030: The Road to a Stronger Transportation Future” has brought together more than 100 businesses and CHRISTINA HALEY organizations to back changes to the way the state funds its transportation projects. The coalition includes several Wilmington-area organizations, including the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce, N.C. Ports, Wilmington International Airport and Andrew Consulting Engineers P.C. Natalie English, president and CEO of the Wilmington chamber, said the region’s transportation network plays a significant role in economic development. It has been a top priority of the local chamber for years, she said. “The Destination 2030 effort is about state policy and state decision-making. Having the Wilmington chamber and business leadership at the table in the Destination 2030 coalition shows the state, whether it’s the N.C. DOT or the legislature, that transportation infrastructure matters a great deal in Southeastern North Carolina,” English said. The N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has experienced funding issues and has changed some of its project plans across the state, some of them in Southeastern North Carolina. The long-discussed Cape Fear Crossing project, which looked at another bridge across the Cape Fear River to link Brunswick and New Hanover counties, was shelved. And other projects such as the Hampstead Bypass had a change in timeline. The recent unsolicited proposal by a developer to build a toll bridge to replace the aging Cape Fear Memorial Bridge was also being discussed among regional transportation officials. NCDOT officials brought the idea to the Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (WMPO) to see if there was support to explore the bridge option, as the traditional means of funding trans-
ing to data from 2015, every $1 billion of transportation investment in the state generates 14,300 jobs, $10.3 billion in wages and $10.8 billion in gross state product. “We want to offer bold solutions,” English said. We want to stand up as a group of business leaders across the state of North Carolina and give our decision-makers, our policymakers that support to make bold decisions and changes to solve our transportation challenges.”
O’NEAL
New jobs coming to Brunswick County
PHOTO BY MICHAEL CLINE SPENCER
Road woes: Funding issues have led to a change in the timeline for the Hampstead Bypass.
portation projects would not likely fund construction within the next 10 years. That concept was ultimately voted down by the WMPO board in a 7-5 vote. English said there needs to be continued discussions on other ways to fund a replacement bridge. The state’s primary transportation revenue source is the motor fuels tax, which NC Chamber officials and many across the state believe will not be enough to fund statewide projects in the future. Other funding solutions would also help to ensure that the state’s major infrastructure gets the improvements they need, and future projects get funded, English said. “The Wilmington chamber has had a position on our policy agenda that speaks to the need for continued investment in our transportation infrastructure to ensure we can accommodate the growth in population that we know is coming to our region and to continue to be able to attract investment by businesses that might want to relocate and or expand,” English said. The Wilmington chamber has been actively involved in the Destination 2030 initiative. For example, English recently took part in a panel discussion about the initiative during a virtual transportation and infrastructure summit in July.
The NC Chamber launched the initiative in 2020 and built a network of businesses and economic development organizations to bring the private sector to the table to advocate for policy changes and solutions for funding transportation infrastructure. According to the NC Chamber, there are four goals for the coalition: discussing sustainable transportation funding solutions; simplifying transportation policy issues and explaining to the public why modernizing transportation income streams are important; creating a sense of urgency for decision makers to act; and bringing together private-sector leaders to advocate for solutions. Several transportation research reports have laid out some ideas for funding alternatives, according to the NC Chamber. A 2020 report, “Modernizing North Carolina’s Infrastructure Through Sustainable and Diversified Revenue Streams,” conducted on behalf of the NC Chamber Foundation by N.C. State University’s Institute for Transportation Research and Education, points to funding alternatives including a road user charge and highway use tax. Those that join the coalition are not required to support specific policy recommendations that come out of the initiative. The report also states that, accord-
Precision Swiss Products Inc. is expected to bring 125 new jobs with the move of its headquarters to Brunswick County, Gov. Roy Cooper announced in late June. The California-based company will invest more than $9.3 million to locate its headquarters and manufacturing facility to the International Logistics Park shared by Brunswick and Columbus counties, officials said in a news release. Precision Swiss Products (PSP) is slated to bring operations into the first speculative building now under construction in the industrial park, said Bill Early, executive director of local economic development organization Brunswick Business and Industry Development (Brunswick BID). PSP is a major producer of small, high-precision parts for the aerospace, medical device and semiconductor industries, officials said. The spec building, estimated to cost about $8.5 million, is a 150,000-square-foot facility in the industrial park. PSP will open its new headquarters and manufacturing operation in about 60,000 square feet of the space, Early said. PSP’s relocation will be funded partially by the state’s Job Development Investment Grant based on investment and job creation that could potentially reimburse the company up to $1.8 million over 10 years, stated the release. The new jobs include highly skilled machinists, shipping and receiving workers, quality control personnel, executive and administrative staff, stated the release. Officials said the average annual salary for all new positions is just over $54,000, “creating an annual payroll impact of more than $6.7 million per year.”
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| IN PROFILE | Wilmington Eye CEO sees growth BY LAURA MOORE athy Erickson started at Wilmington Eye 15 years ago with no medical experience but immersed herself in learning. Now, as CEO, she is leading the way for the practice to help those in need of eye care across the Cape Fear region. After earning her bachelor’s degree in engineering from N.C. State University, Erickson started her career in the paper industry and worked there for the first 10 years of her career. After deciding that she “preferred business to steel-toed shoes,” she went to night school for her MBA at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Erickson’s next job was as a business development manager for Coca-Cola, serving the Southeastern North Carolina territory. It was where she got “her first taste in finance.” She declined an offer to move to Mobile, Alabama, and went to work at UNCW in graduate program administration instead. After getting a tip from an assistant dean at UNCW, Erickson applied for a job at Wilmington Eye as a practice administrator, got the job and worked her way up the ranks to executive director. This summer, Erickson was named Wilmington Eye’s first CEO. “I take everything I have learned in various positions and apply the best practices from various industries to the job,” Erickson said. “Being able to help people see better is what motivates me as well as knowing I work for a group of fantastic doctors who are ethical and compassionate and really good, and their outcomes are fantastic.” Wilmington Eye has grown to nine locations and added a new surgery center at 1919 S. 16th St., which is set to open with full Medicare accreditation this fall. Some self-pay, elective procedures will be offered before then. The 15,500-square-foot facility has six procedure rooms, three rooms on one side and three on the other. Wilmington Eye will open at 50% capacity, using only one side initially. “We built it with room to grow,” Erickson said. The facility has two operating rooms and four procedure rooms with a total of 24 bays for pre- and post-procedure phases. Cataracts surgery is the most com-
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PHOTO BY MICHAEL CLINE SPENCER
Eyeing the future: Kathy Erickson is CEO of Wilmington Eye, a growing practice that has added a surgery center on South 16th Street in Wilmington.
mon surgery conducted by Wilmington Eye and its six cataract surgeons with an average of 5,000 surgeries a year. With the addition of the new surgery center, they expect to do 7,000 cataracts surgeries a year. Wilmington Eye serves patients “as far north as Jacksonville, as far west as Whiteville, and as far south as Carolina Shores,” Erickson said. It serves Onslow, Pender, Brunswick and New Hanover counties. Columbus and Bladen counties have no full-time ophthalmic surgeons there, so Wilmington Eye works with Columbus Regional Healthcare System to use one of its exam rooms to see patients and operates in their facility. It does not have a location to do this in Bladen County, but Erickson said Wilmington Eye is working on that currently. It also uses space at Pender Memorial Hospital in Burgaw. “We recognize the rural areas in our area are underserved. It is important to serve these communities,” Erickson said. Erickson attributes the organization’s success to the collective aspiration of helping patients to see their best. “It is the shared vision of our partners, nine ophthalmologists who are truly in sync with their commitments to patients,” Erickson said.
“Although we have gotten really big, we stand by that core value.” The goal of the practice is to help patients achieve all of their eye care needs in one place. “We are a comprehensive practice that offers just everything they’re going to need. From infants to geriatrics, 0-100, young and old, we help with glasses with our optical shop as an auxiliary offering. We want to help patients handle everything,” Erickson said. With more than 100 optometrists in the area sending them regular referrals, Wilmington Eye wants to make it convenient for patients to reach them. Wilmington Eye specializes in cataract, refractive, cornea, glaucoma, pediatric and oculoplastic surgeries, as well as preventative care and full-service optical shops. Its team of ophthalmologists and sub-specialists provides patients with full-service care. When deciding where to open a new center, Erickson said she uses her prior training and experience to make the best, most-informed decision. “It’s all about data. That’s when my engineering background comes into play. Without data, we cannot solve the problem,” Erickson said.
Using the latest demographic data, Wilmington Eye recently decided to open a new medical clinic in Scotts Hill and its newest location, Wilmington Eye Surgery Center, close to New Hanover Regional Medical Center. The next frontier is the Leland area, where they just went under contract on land in Brunswick Forest. “We had been talking about Leland for a while, and we decided to make that move,” Erickson said. There will be five providers in the Leland primary office with specialists rotating through. The location close to the planned community of Liberty Senior Living will address some of the issues of caring for a population that is living longer, healthier lives. “One of the challenges is the demand for eye care in an aging population and for those with ocular diseases. More and more patients need to have eye surgery,” Erickson said. Erickson said she appreciates the path that led her to where she is now. “Every day is different, and I am thankful for every job I have had and every step I have taken that has led me to where I am now,” Erickson said. “I know we are helping patients and there’s a lot of joy in it.”
August 6 - 19, 2021
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ful DISCUSSIONS Sponsors’ Content Distributed By Greater Wilmington Business Journal
CHAMBLISS & RABIL CONTRACTORS:
ON COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE ARE COMMERCIAL CONTRACTORS EXPERIENCING A LABOR SHORTAGE OR TALENT SHORTAGE (OR BOTH)? The lack of availability of an adequate labor force has put unprecedented stress on contractors in the greater Wilmington market. The COVID 19 crisis combined with financial assistance and increased unemployment benefits from the government has resulted in some members of the workforce being less motivated to return to work. The pressing issue is a shortage of skilled labor. Essentially, we have a talent shortage. Contractors depend on a trained workforce to deliver projects on schedule, in budget and up to quality standards. Availability of trained labor in many sectors of construction is at a critically low point. It becomes more difficult to meet the contractor’s obligations in terms of schedule, budget and quality. The labor shortage issue seems to have hit bottom but it is far from being behind us.
WHAT IS THE CURRENT ACTIVITY LEVEL OF COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION IN OUR MARKET AREA?
WHAT QUESTIONS SHOULD YOU ASK A GENERAL CONTRACTOR FOR YOUR COMMERCIAL PROJECT?
YATES CHAMBLISS (PICTURED LEFT) VP, Business Development & Projection Operations Chambliss & Rabil Contractors, Inc. NORMAN CHAMBLISS III (PICTURED RIGHT) Co-Founder/COO Chambliss & Rabil Contractors, Inc.
910.350.0554 www.chambliss-rabil.com
YEAR
45 Wilmington
Raleigh
S
BUSI NES
In commercial construction, the general contractor is typically brought on board during the planning stages. Clients often use interviews to select their GC. One of the first questions asked is “how much will my building cost?” That question is often asked before there is a building or site plan. The request for a “ball park” amount is typically followed by “I will not hold you to it.” You should not pick a GC solely based on a “guesstimate” of cost with no preliminary plans. Ask the GC for a list of anticipated project operating costs, project management and supervision costs and a basis for the contractor’s fee. Ask for a list of completed projects similar to your project and a list of recently completed projects with client’s names and contact information. Ask about licensing classifications and limits and insurance carriers and coverages. Ask for bank references and written verification of the ability to provide a bond, if requested. Most important, ask for a list of subcontractors with whom the GC intends to bid the larger phases of your project. Once you check these items off, select a GC that you feel you can best work with and most enjoy working with. Remember, you and your GC are going to be working together for many months.
IN
Commercial development and construction in the greater Wilmington area is in high gear! Given our area’s great amenities, how can we help but grow? Because of Covid, many people left highly populated urban areas and selected the greater Wilmington market area as their destination. That factor is creating additional demand for commercial growth. Besides typical commercial development, we are seeing rehabbing and repurposing of
existing commercial properties plus “scrape and build” projects. Demand for the services of commercial contractors is at a peak. Consequently, challenges with a labor/talent shortage and fluctuations in material prices are problematic for commercial contractors and developers.
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Greater Wilmington Business Journal
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| THE LIST |
General Contractors
Ranked by number of local full-time employees RANK
COMPANY ADDRESS PHONE
1
Monteith Construction 208 Princess St. Wilmington, NC 28401 791-8101
2
Thomson, Corder and Co. P. O. Box 12167/5707 Market St. Wilmington, NC 28405 791-2733
3 4 5 6 7 8
EMAIL WEBSITE bthomas@monteith.com www.monteithco.com
wcorder@tccoconstruction.com wwwTCCOconstruction.com
McKinley Building Corp. kdull@mckinleybuilding.com 3807 Peachtree Ave., Suite 200 www.mckinleybuilding.com Wilmington, NC 28403 395-6036 Thomas Construction Group jsullivan@thomasconstructiongroup.com 1022 Ashes Drive www.thomasconstructiongroup.com Wilmington, NC 28405 799-2295 W.M. Jordan Co. rbeale@wmjordan.com; 1712 Eastwood Road, Suite 200 jcheshire@wmjordan.com Wilmington, NC 28405 www.wmjordan.com 679-4551 Clancy & Theys Construction Co. robbridgers@clancytheys.com 2250 Shipyard Blvd., Suite 1 www.clancytheys.com Wilmington, NC 28403 392-5220 Chambliss & Rabil Construction Co., Inc. yates@chambliss-rabil.com 6426-C Windmill Way www.chamblissandrabil.com Wilmington, NC 28405 350-0554 DAE BUILDING 771 S. Kerr Ave. Wilmington, NC 28403 833-2147
JEarle@daebuilding.com www.daebuilding.com
NO. OF LOCAL FULL-TIME % OF WORK EMPLOYEES SUBCONTRACTED 110
87
85
42
77
70
90-95
44
100
42
85-90
35
80
26
90
SPECIALTIES
NOTABLE PROJECTS
TOP OFFICIAL/ YEAR LOCALLY FOUNDED
Health care, assisted living, commercial, K-12, higher education, institutional
New Hanover Health and Human Services building, MegaCorp, Live Oak Bank Fit Park, Del Webb amenity center, Baker Porsche, Wrightsville Beach Elementary School
Bryan Thomas, President 2006
Airlie at Wrightsville Sound, Autumn Hall Southport Commons, East and Mason, Davis Health Care Expansion, Riverwood, Polyhose, Pender Commerce Park, Southside Commons, Preservation Point, Scotts Hill Medical and Residential, Hanover Reserve
Wesley Corder, President, COO Robert Thomson, Vice President 1984
Turn key civil construction and site work for residential, commercial and industrial sites including clearing, mass grading, water and sewer, storm drainage, paving and concrete. Design/build class-A office space, medical, retail, flex space, industrial-warehouse, apartments, religious facilities, parking decks Corporate commercial, acute & behavioral health care, medical offices, skilled nursing & assisted living, hospitality Commercial, higher education, arts and entertainment, hospitality, government, health care, industrial, senior living, student housing Commercial office, retail, apartments, student housing, hotels and hospitality, senior living, K-12, higher education, medical Health Care, Commercial Office, Retail, Dental, Veterinary, Restaurants, Hospitality, Pre School facilities, Religious facilities Commercial construction, designbuild, new construction, additions, renovations, automotive, car washes, medical offices, nonprofit, retail and more
List is based on voluntary responses to a Business Journal survey. Barnhill Contracting Co. ranked No. 3 on the previous list but had not submitted a survey as of press time.
Bradley Creek Station, nCino, Offices at Mayfaire V & VI, Wilmington Health, Parkway Volvo, Corning Credit Union regional HQ, New Hanover Regional Medical Center, I-140 Business Park, Leland Town Center New Hanover Co. Government Center Redevelopment, nCino HQ, Renaissance Apartments, Pender Co. Courthouse, Uncommon Wilmington, Wilmington Treatment Center, Atlantic Packaging HQ Expansion, Nir Family YMCA Trinity Landing active senior living community, Wilmington Food Bank, Waters at Oakbrooke(Charleston), Windsor Hills(Charleston), Woodmont Highschool(Greenville, SC), Riverside Highschool(Greenville, SC) Riverfront Park, The Metropolitan at the Riverwalk, Live Oak Bank I, II and III, Aloft Hotel downtown, Flats on Front multi-residential, 17 Social multi-residential, Midtown Park at Barclay Medical office complex and Wilmington Health fit-up, Apiture,
McKinley D. Dull, President 1992
NHRMC Radiation Oncology, Costal Pediatric Dentistry, Smith Dental Surf City, Live Oak Dental, Conrad & Wilson Oral Surgery, Pine Valley Country Club, Cape Fear Club, Nourish NC, Wilmington Ear Nose & Throat, Elderhaus Senior Care
N. Yates Chambliss, IV, Vice President 2004
Splash-N-Dash Carwash, Carolina Shores Carwash, Flow Sciences 15,000 SF Addition, Solar Brewing, Wilmington Reproductive Offices at Bradley Creek Station, Coldwell Banker Seacoast Advantage, Howard RV Center, Paws4People, A Safe Place
JonathanEarle, Owner 2017
Christopher Reid, President 2005 Rob Beale, Vice President, Carolinas 2011 David Michael, CEO-Wilmington Division 1984
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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 Marian Welsh mwelsh@wilmingtonbiz.com KEN Sydney Zomer szomer@wilmingtonbiz.com
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From CONCERTS, page 1
business owners in town that articulated that the weekend [of Widespread Panic July 16-18] was one of their best weekends ever, even more so than a River Fest or an Azalea Festival or Fourth of July,” said Craig, who is a board member with the Wilmington Area Hospitality Association. The business is taking advantage of its former top-floor events space to use as a taproom to accommodate more customers coming during the tourist season, and now, show nights. Craig said that she foresees Live Oak Bank Pavilion helping to rebound business lost during the pandemic last year. Staffing availability still is a concern at the brewery and throughout the downtown restaurant scene, she said. And employees are working more hours to keep up with demand from concertgoers. “There’s definitely been an uptick in sales and need for more labor because of the venue,” she said. Craig is also board president of the Cape Fear Craft Beer Alliance, which is working to bring local beer to shows. One thing the alliance is hopeful for is the continued conversation around local craft beer being offered at Live Nation venues Live Oak Bank Pavilion and Greenfield Lake Amphitheater, Craig said. Beer Barrio owner Hayley Jensen said her North Front Street restaurant is preparing for even more business ahead during weekday concerts and outside the normal tourist season. And while more out-of-town clientele is coming in from the venue, Jensen hopes to still keep the locals downtown. She said that during the concerts, there’s plenty of restaurants and bars that still could use business. “I think a lot of locals were avoiding downtown. So then the concertgoers kind of displaced what would have been our normal traffic,” Jensen said. “I just want to make sure that locals know that you don’t have to avoid downtown just because there’s a show.” Future impacts of the venue should also translate into even more business and real estate development, Saffo said. “A lot of our businesses have been concentrated within the CBD [Central Business District] and near the front of Market Street, but I see with this park, the potential for additional businesses to opening up in the Fourth Street corridor, closer to the park, and along the Nutt Street
PHOTO BY MICHAEL CLINE SPENCER
Downtown dollars: Crowds at the July performances of Widespread Panic boosted area businesses.
corridor,” Saffo said. That would also translate to more temporary, part-time and full-time jobs, as well as a boost in gig jobs like for Uber, he said. “It’s a big game-changer. We’ve seen a dramatic tax base increase in the northern riverfront area … And we’re starting to see a significant transformation of downtown Wilmington to a 24-hour downtown where people are working, people are living and people are playing,” Saffo said. Another hotel will likely come downtown in the future to offset the wave of concert activity on top of the area’s normal tourism, Saffo said. For many downtown hotels room rates ran in excess of $400 a night during the weekend of Widespread Panic’s tour. Such rates, which fluctuate based on demand, are expected to drive up room occupancy tax revenues, the majority of which support beach nourishment with a smaller portion supporting travel and tourism marketing, the Wilmington Convention Center and some beach capital projects. The business isn’t only going to downtown hotels. “We are hearing from various lodging properties throughout the county that concertgoers were among the guests staying at their properties,” said Kim Hufham, president and CEO of the New Hanover County Tourism Development Authority, doing business as Wilmington and Beaches CVB. “The new riverfront amphitheater serves to elevate Wilmington’s reputation as a live music/ arts destination.” The first round of concerts was eye-opening for both businesses and short-term rental owners, said Terry
Espy, president of the Downtown Business Alliance. “We knew it was going to be an asset. But everyone is still figuring out what they are looking at,” Espy said. Espy, who also owns Wilmington-based brokerage and real estate firm MoMentum Companies, also expects more eyes on Wilmington as a place to invest in commercial real estate. “We are getting a ton of interest in downtown Wilmington. Our challenge is we don’t have a lot of space available,” Espy said. “It’s good for the city.” Holly Childs, president and CEO of Wilmington Downtown Inc., has also noticed people clamoring for space downtown just within the first few weeks of the venue opening. Developers from out of state are looking to invest in Wilmington, she said. And the city, and its downtown real estate, are becoming even more of a hot market. Childs expects not only growth beside the concert venue but also in other outlier districts. “It spreads throughout the city and up in the Northside. I’m very excited for the continued development of North Fourth Street and what that concert venue is going to mean up there. There is just a lot of opportunity,” Childs said. Downtown Wilmington has been elevated to a new level now, being able to offer the type of national music venue that can bring in largely followed national acts like Widespread Panic, she said. “Live Nation has really created this tremendous energy and buzz around Riverfront Park,” Childs said. “I think we’re going to see lots more of this ahead.”
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ful DISCUSSIONS Sponsors’ Content Distributed By Greater Wilmington Business Journal
CAN BUILDING SUPPLIES KEEP PACE WITH DEMAND: A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE
STEVE ANDERSON Owner and Developer, SAMM Properties
SAM BLAIR General Manager, Baker Roofing Company
KEN DULL President, McKinley Building Co.
DAVID RIZZO Market Executive, First Carolina Bank
T
hroughout the Cape Fear Region, demand for development and construction has steadily increased even throughout the pandemic and continuous supply chain strains. Our area’s ability to continue to meet the demand that growth brings has been a testament to the strength of our community and the resilience of our local leaders in the industry. Here is what a few local leaders had to share about building material supply and demand in our region. What is different about the building material market now versus two years ago?
more challenging and therefore takes more time to get accurate numbers. Furthermore, there is an increased need for communication between all members on the team, including the owner, GC, design team, and sub-contractor team.
KEN DULL: There is just so much volatility in the marketplace right now, not only in pricing but also in delivery of materials. Steel and wood have increased dramatically but it is everything from resin for piping, paint, to doors. Pricing and scheduling a job are much
DAVID RIZZO: Certainly, we did not see the disruption in the supply chain two years ago that was brought about by the pandemic. Demand in our region was still strong two years ago but not nearly as high as it is presently, so there is pressure on material pricing from
both the supply side and demand side. In addition, there was a demand spike for many building materials during the shutdown of 2020 – this was one of the unintended consequences of the pandemic. Many home and business owners decided to take on renovation/ improvement products while at home. Low interest rates and consumer demand have really exacerbated the supply side problem. Lead times for obtaining many materials are longer and contracted delivery dates are much harder to put in place. The time it is taking for materials to get in the hands of builders is very prob-
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Greater Wilmington Business Journal
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Steel seems to be “ one of the worst hit due to large companies such as Amazon and Wal-Mart buying up a large percentage of the world supply to build out their distribution networks just as supply is contracting.
It’s amazing to be “ in a market and an area that
is experiencing the growth that we are here in Wilmington when you consider where we were at this time last year.
”
”
KEN DULL President, McKinely Building Co.
lematic – managing expectations with clients is becoming more and more difficult from that standpoint. It’s amazing to be in a market and an area that is experiencing the growth that we are here in Wilmington when you consider where we were at this time last year. We slammed the brakes on the economy, we have all of these factors converging that are affecting construction, and we still see people coming here and businesses expanding here. It is truly a testament to our great city. SAM BLAIR: The biggest difference for the market now versus two years ago is the availability of materials. In 20182019, orders and lead time for materials (specifically in the roofing industry) were consistent, and orders were able to be filled. Currently, we are seeing lead times for commercial roofing materials extend beyond the norm, which is much more challenging for our customers to plan for. This demand has strained the raw material providers to the point that manufacturers and distribution are struggling to provide goods within their estimated lead times. In turn, almost all trades are seeing price increases. This pricing fluctuation has increased the stress on our partners as we work together to find the best solution for their buildings and developments. These factors have sometimes led to changes in design depending on both material availability and overall pricing.
How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected construction demand?
DAVID RIZZO Market Executive First Carolina Bank
STEVE ANDERSON: Starting in the second quarter until the end of 2020, we were in a holding pattern as many people were due to so many unknowns. Our top priority was finishing construction on Bradley Creek Station so the clients who were already signed up with us could move in and start to operate. Outside of the clients we already had committed at Bradley Creek Station, demand softened as expected until the first quarter of 2021 at which point it was like someone turned on the lights. We filled all our available space, which at the time was a substantial amount, in a matter of weeks. That’s really a testament to the vaccine, and businesses started planning for space needs because they knew it would be several months before they could occupy a new space with lead times for design and construction. BLAIR: When the COVID-19 pandemic first began to cause shutdowns across our great state and footprint, we expected a slowdown in the construction demand. That slow down never really materialized. Some trades even ramped up, (especially in the residential market). We saw our own customers continue with future planning and roofing needs, all while managing this crisis for themselves and their employees. The pandemic brought about additional needs for our hospitals and healthcare partners, and other customers saw the lessened occupancy rates of their buildings as a great time to make improvements to their current buildings/infrastructure. In hindsight, if 1-1 1/2 years ago, you would have told me how busy we would be during the upcoming pandemic, I am not sure I would have believed you. RIZZO: For us in southeastern NC (as
well as our friends in the Triangle), the pandemic had a very strong impact on residential construction demand just because of the number of people who wanted to exit urban areas in favor of NC. For commercial demand, it really depends on the project and sector. Multi family is still a very strong property type, and we are seeing a strong pipeline of projects from our multi-family development clients. Hospitality and retail are two sectors that may be a little slower on a macro level. The movement towards working remotely had many worried about the future of the office market but I’m one who believes that most people want to work in an office environment, and I have confidence that office will remain a strong and viable property type. Bradley Creek Station is a perfect example – it is home to First Carolina Bank’s Wilmington office and was delivered in the middle of 2020. It’s an 80,000 square foot building that is now completely full which is remarkable given the timing of the building’s delivery but also speaks to the demand for high quality office space. There are several office projects in various stages of development in our region and I have seen strong activity in other of First Carolina Bank’s market areas as well. DULL: Demand is very high for construction currently. The pandemic has accelerated some macro trends such as the need for more warehouse space as e-commerce continues to grow. The pandemic has also accelerated population migrations and I believe we all feel the energy from new people moving to our area at a faster rate. All these folks need a place to live and demand services.
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Is the volatility in material markets solely a function of supply and demand, or is there more at play? DULL: It depends on the material. For example, with resin, it is due to the refineries in Texas being closed last winter due to the ice storms and some of it is due to macro events such as the Suez Canal fiasco earlier this year. For a large part it is due to contractions in supply as mills were shut down; coupled with increases in demand which have shifted the equilibrium axis of prices out. The amount of liquidity the government has pumped into the economy and a limited workforce due to emergency unemployment benefits still being paid in NC until September have also contributed to price increases. BLAIR: This current volatility is much more than just supply and demand. The construction industry as a whole has always been on the late end of any economic change. When the Housing Bubble/Market Crash in 2008 happened, the construction industry was busy and stayed busy through the beginning of that crisis. When you have current contracts and buildings ongoing, that work continues. We see the biggest dip on the backend of any economic change as our developers and partners pause on future projects. This same dynamic is happening now. When the pandemic hit, it shut down shipping, ports, manufacturing, and material distribution. Turning all those parts back on took time and the stop/
Greater Wilmington Business Journal
start of our raw material industries and manufacturing is a large part of the current supply issue. Labor availability is the other half of the challenge. People could not go to work and then it was not clear who or what was the safest way to go back to work. There were so many unknowns on the front end of this pandemic it created a lot of confusion and challenges to getting the manufacturing of our raw goods back up and running. RIZZO: There is more at play in that there are more demand drivers now than what we would see in a typical “bull” market for real estate (low interest rates, market liquidity, and an exodus from urban areas into our market). Supply and demand really control the market but there are different inputs on both the supply and demand side. Right now, there is clearly volatility and it’s harder to find equilibrium in the markets. There are signs that the market is becoming less volatile, and many believe that this will continue into next year. We’ve talked a lot about pricing but not as much about the bottlenecks created by lack of inventory and shipping issues. There were weather events earlier this year (the deep freeze in Texas in February) that caused several manufacturers to shut down and this made an already bad situation even worse. I think that, because of the aftereffects of COVID, the material markets are more sensitive to disruption (like weather, etc.) than they would be otherwise.
Have all building sectors been uniformly affected by market volatility – government, commercial, residential? RIZZO: First Carolina Bank is very active in both commercial and residential lending, and I would say that the volatility has been similar in both sectors on a percentage basis. Commercial projects are typically more complex and more expensive so the price increases may be more evident there. The government is not as constrained by price and huge increases in
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DULL: Yes. Steel seems to be one of the worst hit due to large companies such as Amazon and Wal-Mart buying up a large percentage of the world supply to build out their distribution networks just as supply is contracting. Not only has the price tripled, but the lead time is 9 – 12 months.
government building spending are proceeding despite the volatility in input pricing. I think we can safely say that costs have increased across the board, but the severity of these increases vary by project. DULL: Yes, I believe so.
BLAIR: While some building materials have been affected more than others, it has been consistent across the board with delays and pricing issues. Most everyone is familiar with the increased prices for lumber. At one point, lumber was up 348% year over year. While this is the extreme, there are not many building materials that have not seen some increase or delay. Our major materials have increased, and we have worked hard to offset those increases for our customers with scope revisions or other options. It is a challenge each day, but every little bit helps in this current market.
BLAIR: From our perspective, material volatility has affected all the building sectors evenly. When the prices of goods are rising and supply is dwindling, no one building sector is immune to those market conditions. Recently, while reviewing current status with our suppliers, it seems the materials are starting to level out and the ability to plan for the future is more certain. The lead times have not greatly improved, but they are leveling off (some are
People are excited about “getting back to the office as
virtual and remote work has been taxing on many and created ‘zoom fatigue’.
”
STEVE ANDERSON Owner and Developer, SAMM Properties
showing improvements), which gives everyone the ability to make a more concrete plan. Some of the first material shortages are starting to rebound. Specific to commercial roofing, in March/April 2021, we really started to hear about shortages and delayed shipments. By June, we knew our industry had some challenges ahead of it. Even now, we are starting to see more guaranteed ship dates and a comfort level from our distribution partners on when they are going to be able to provide the needed materials for a job.
Have some building materials been affected more than others?
Is there anything unique about how material market volatility is affecting Southeastern NC? BLAIR: Baker Roofing covers the majority of the Southeast US, in addition to Southeastern NC. Through all our markets, we have seen the same volatility and challenges. Our distributors provide raw and finished materials throughout the country so a change anywhere can have an effect here. For example, the freeze in Texas in February caused shutdowns for (3) of the plants that produce our adhesives. This natural disaster was completely outside of the Southeastern footprint but had lasting effects on our material availabil-
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Page 15
ity. More specifically for Wilmington, the current and continuing population growth locally within the last two years has caused more demand for all goods and services. DULL: Not necessarily unique to Southeastern NC, but states that have ended the emergency unemployment benefits like South Carolina seem to have more efficient and normalized supply chains.
What are the financial impacts of the current building environment on the end user? ANDERSON: Commercial and residential development obviously have distinct differences, but the two that have been especially apparent lately are the supply and demand and the cost of materials. The price of lumber sent everyone into a frenzy when it skyrocketed seemingly overnight. We all sat back and thought for sure this would be the cause of a slowdown in the housing market because of the price increases that buyers would see. That notion was quickly put to rest and the residential market continued to get hotter, not only in our local market because of the amount of inbound moves we saw over the past year, but all over the country. It was though buyers did not have any concern with the fact they were paying more for a house because of the cost of materials. For the commercial aspect and specific to SAMM Properties investments, it will be difficult to gage what effect material cost will have until we start construction on our new projects in the coming months. Bradley Creek Station was halfway through construction when Covid arrived so our price was already locked in so we did not have to account for rising cost in our leasing/sale rates. We are currently in the process of pricing several new buildings so now we will really be able to examine the difference of cost in certain categories. RIZZO: I’m not sure that we really know the answer to that question yet only because of the historically low interest rate environment and because there is so much liquidity in the system
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right now. I’m certain that builders, residential and commercial alike, are having some tough conversations with their clients regarding pricing but my sense is that, more often than not, end users are moving forward with projects because the financing costs are so low and because demand is so high. For commercial users, longer lead and delivery times mean more carrying costs. Banks partnering with commercial clients on projects now have to be mindful of this and flexible in terms of structuring construction loans. There is a lot of perceived value in Southeastern NC for those moving here for the first time, and those of us who have been here for a while know what a wonderful place this is. As costs continue to increase, however, the expense of owning and renting will also increase and at some point, higher prices will mean less demand. BLAIR: The financial impacts for the end user are a real consideration right now. Businesses create maintenance and construction budgets year(s) in advance and a significant change in material cost and availability can stress those budgets. Baker Roofing works hard to help building owners and property managers manage these budgets with any means possible. We strive to provide accurate long-term budgets and more immediate services for extending the building’s life expectancy in relation to the building envelope. DULL: Higher cost buildings; as well as adjustments to scope and delivery date.
How has access to capital changed as a result of the pandemic and has material pricing affected the commercial loan process? RIZZO: First Carolina Bank continued to grow despite the shutdown of 2020. Coming out of the pandemic, we have seen a steady pipeline of new construction projects and I would say that our process for underwriting
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these projects has not changed as a force, which has a negative impact on supply chains. result of COVID. We are so fortunate to live and work in an area that is in high demand – as long as people and How has the companies want to be based in Wilmbuilding industry ington, there will need to be infrastructure (homes, offices, retail, etc.) permanently to support them. As a North Carolina changed in based bank, all of our decisions are made locally. It is critically important the wake of to have people who not only underthe COVID-19 stand our markets but who live in our pandemic? markets making decisions that impact our clients. Many banks stopped their BLAIR: The building industry has lending activity altogether during continued to embrace newer techCOVID (outside of PPP lending) and have been slow to ramp up. Because we continued to grow and help our customers throughout the pandemic, First Carolina Bank is well positioned to meet market deWe are starting to see more mand going forward.
“
guaranteed ship dates and a comfort level from our distribution partners on when they are going to be able to provide the needed materials for a job.
”
SAM BLAIR General Manager, Baker Roofing Company
How have, or how could, governments – local, state, federal – respond to address the effects of material market volatility? RIZZO: The market is still going to be determined by supply and demand economics, but more stable and predictable trade policies would help offset volatility as would a reduction of tariffs on certain raw material imports. DULL: It is well past time for the emergency unemployment benefits to end. Every restaurant in town has a help wanted sign in the window and this percolates throughout the labor
nology and management opportunities over the last 20 years. We have transformed from paper blueprints and large plan tables to digital building files, BIM integration, and field crews having all the plans on tablets. This change continued with the social distancing requirements from COVID-19. Crews are more capable of documentation on their phones, meetings via ZOOM or TEAMS. However, there will always be the need for our teams of developers, builders, clients, and tradesmen to be able to meet on a jobsite and review the pertinent issues. That face-to-face relationship will be even more important as we reengage and move back to a normal business operation. DULL: I think it is too early to make a prediction on a permanent change; but I do think that Southeastern NC and therefore the building industry will economically be a net winner because of COVID. RIZZO: I am not sure “permanent” is the word I would choose here. Mar-
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kets adapt, as do consumers. Banks will also adapt, or pivot, to meet the needs of customers. This is where I feel First Carolina Bank has an advantage over some of our competitors in the marketplace as we are better able to quickly and nimbly pivot and make decisions more efficiently. I do believe that there will be lessons learned across the board resulting from the pandemic and that there will be safeguards put in place to better prepare all of us going forward.
What impact has the current market stressors had on building design trends? DULL: Value engineering projects to meet a budget is more important than ever. From the ground up, the design of a project should utilize materials that have less price volatility and are more readily available. ANDERSON: There are two main forces driving design trends — material cost and availability of material, both being critical factors when designing a building. SAMM is currently in the design phase with over 240,000 square feet of retail and office space, and for the first time we are having to closely look at the availability of certain products to see if it meets our timeline and budget. We hope to see improvements in material cost and availability as we move through 2021.
How can banks aid in the economic recovery and with new construction in our region? RIZZO:All of the growth that we’ve talked about is going to require capital so there will definitely be a role for banks to play going forward. The Payroll Protection Program (PPP) was a lifeline to many businesses at the height of the pandemic – banks stepped up then and will step up now to provide funding for new residen-
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tial and commercial projects that will keep our community growing and vibrant. It is so important for banks and their key decision makers to realize that our market is different from others in the state, and I would urge borrowers to ask their lenders early on where decisions are made that could impact the loan approval process. Flexibility will be a very important factor for borrowers to consider given the uncertainty that exists now with the supply chain. Customers have enough to worry about with waiting for many of the deliverables needed to start or complete a project, so they definitely don’t want to wait on their bank on top of that!
Considering these market challenges, are there still opportunities for builders and buyers in Southeastern North Carolina? RIZZO: Absolutely. It has become abundantly clear that Southeastern NC is a highly desirable place to live and work – Wilmington was highlighted multiple times on national news as one of the top places where people were relocating (primarily from the Northeast) in 2020. The real opportunities will likely be to our north and south – Brunswick County has been the fastest growing county in the state for some time now and this will likely continue. We’ve also seen tremendous growth in Hampstead and north along the Highway 17 corridor. There will be opportunities for residential contractors to support the demand for housing and also for commercial developers as there will be infrastructure needed to accommodate more residents.
DULL: Absolutely. There is so much energy in our community right now as more and more people move to this area. Supply chains will catch up and markets will stabilize in the next 12 months. BLAIR: Yes. The population growth in Southeastern NC is one of the main driving factors to show that there are still great opportunities for builders and buyers. This area and market will never stop being an ideal place to live. The standard of living, relative cost of housing, and the work opportunities are great drivers for people wanting to relocate here. The foresight and investments in the Port of Wilmington, infrastructure along 421, and the partnership between NHRMC and Novant Health are huge steps to continue opportunities for all types of commercial buyers and builders. ANDERSON: Absolutely, and that answer shouldn’t be a surprise for anyone. When everything slowed to a halt from the second quarter of 2020, it caused a pent up demand that I don’t believe many people anticipated. Wilmington saw many people relocate here during Covid and with that came existing business owners bringing their businesses with them and entrepreneurs seeing opportunities to start new businesses. For SAMM, it caused a substantial supply and demand issue. We went from plenty of available space at the end of 2020 to being totally out of space in the second quarter of 2021, and the phone was still ringing constantly for people wanting space in our developments and we had nothing available.
What are your predictions for the future of our local building market? RIZZO: Our local building market
should remain strong due to the continued influx of people. The Triangle has seen many companies open regional offices as well and I think that will also help continue to drive demand in Wilmington. We have such a tremendous value proposition to offer residents and business owners – the Atlantic Ocean and our beaches sell themselves and we have a great school system that includes UNCW and CFCC. I see continued growth, particularly to our immediate south and I see First Carolina Bank as an important participant in that growth. There will be challenges and there will be a slowdown in the broader economy at some point, but my feeling is that Wilmington will be somewhat insulated from this if for no other reason than the continued demand for people who want to live here. We can take the lessons that we learned from COVID and apply them in the future which should make us all better at what we do. ANDERSON: I predict the commercial market will continue to get stronger. You are starting to read more announcements about businesses getting back to the office, and more importantly people are excited about getting back to the office as virtual and remote work has been taxing on many and created “zoom fatigue.” We still need to navigate material cost and shortages, but again I think as we progress through the year you will start to see relief for both BLAIR: Two years ago, no one saw a pandemic sweeping across our region, country, and world. Our businesses responded and we are seeing the efforts of that work as we work back to normalcy. We expect the building market to continue growing for the next 5-10 years. There are always chances for small dips within that period, but Southeastern NC has shown it is a growing community. The investments from Novant are going to
be a key contributor in multiple markets. The material volatility is already improving, and we expect our suppliers/distributors to catch up within Q1 2022. Our community has had a challenging two years, but we are headed in the right direction. DULL: The future for the next 5 – 10 years is very bright for SENC.
What is the current demand for office space as a result of the pandemic? ANDERSON: We are seeing increasing demand in our area. We are now in the design and planning phase for several new Class A office and retail developments in our region. For Wilmington specifically, there is a pent-up demand for new Class A office space and not enough inventory. Businesses that have already been in Wilmington are continuing to grow, and now you have additional factors with people moving their businesses to Wilmington and entrepreneurs recognizing new opportunities. The supply for new Class A office space will need time to catch up to the current demand. We are currently planning projects in Leland, Raleigh and Charleston in addition to Wilmington. In all four markets we are seeing and hearing that people are getting back to the office and there is an increasing demand for office space, especially new Class A space. Our timing is advantageous since we can give clients the ability to design their space from a blank canvas. Clients are taking into account the lessons Covid taught us in addition to new enhancements that will make the office more versatile for work and collaboration.
For more information, contact marketing@wilmingtonbiz.com or call (910) 343-8600 x209.
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| REAL ESTATE | Area retail trends include new stores BY CECE NUNN hile national chains have faced bankruptcies and closed stores for the past couple of years, some parts of the Wilmington area are attracting more retail space and tenants. More than 8,000 stores in the United States closed last year, and experts predict 10,000 could close in 2021, according to a Business Insider article. Locally, although spaces emptied in some shopping areas throughout the region last year, other retailers are calling Wilmington home. “I think the local retail market has been resilient,” said developer Dean Scarafoni of Live Oak Development Co. “One reason is the number of new people moving into the area, many of whom are looking to start or relocate businesses.” His company’s projects include The Crossroads at Independence in
W
PHOTO BY CECE NUNN
Opening soon: Burlington Stores is set to open a Wilmington location off New Centre Drive.
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| REAL ESTATE | Wilmington, a center anchored by a massive Harris Teeter grocery store, and The Crossroads at Carolina Shores in Brunswick County. “Port City Java has just signed the first formal lease commitment for The Crossroads at Independence. Several other tenants are in the lease negotiation phase,” Scarafoni said. “The center will open in 2022; the exact date has yet to be determined due to delays in steel shipment.” The Crossroads project in southern Brunswick County is located at the intersection of U.S. 17 and Calabash Road. It includes an existing CVS pharmacy, three outparcels fronting on U.S. 17, two outparcels on Calabash Road, as well as “highly visible interior acreage well suited for anchor retail, office, and hospitality development,” according to the Live Oak Development Co.’s website. Scarafoni said a Dunkin’ Donuts franchisee recently purchased a 1-acre parcel in The Crossroads at Carolina Shores. The Dunkin’ Donuts is expected to open in 2022, and will be the second business in the commercial development, joining CVS, he said. Elsewhere in Wilmington, Burlington Stores is preparing to open a location in Wilmington off New Centre Drive in a commercial center anchored by Target. The Wilmington location will be Burlington’s 22nd store in North Carolina, said Nicole DiTolla, a Burlington spokeswoman. “We are excited about our continued store growth and look forward to bringing more great values to area residents on apparel for the entire family and home,” she said in an email. “In addition, the store opening will provide new job opportunities to the community.” The official grand opening date will be released shortly, DiTolla said in late July. Burlington is occupying space that previously held an OfficeMax. Restaurants are often considered part of the hospitality sector rather than retail, but they have an impact on each other. When it comes to the health of the retail market, “one thing to watch is how quickly restaurants will come back,” Scarafoni said. “In recent years they have been driving retail, but labor and supply chain issues have slowed their return post pandemic. Staffing in particular, has been a problem. Retail won’t fully recover without a vibrant restaurant sector.” That sector has been growing at
Independence Mall, where two new restaurants were being added to the lineup of eateries in front of the mall. Aye! Toro features regional Mexican cuisine made with locally sourced ingredients. The 4,000-square-foot restaurant was set to have indoor and outdoor dining at 3540 Oleander Drive, next to Jersey Mike’s, according to a Greater Wilmington Business Journal article in July. An early August opening was expected, the article stated. Under construction next to First Watch at 3532 Oleander Drive is Masa Sushi, a new restaurant led by Jun Li of Nikki’s Gourmet & Sushi Bar at the mall’s food court. New retailers, including T-Mobile, have also recently come to Independence Mall. And despite numerous empty spaces at Mayfaire Town Center, the shopping destination on Military Cutoff Road has been welcoming some new tenants. Simply Mac opened July 24 at 6837 Main St., said Paige Coniglio, Mayfaire spokeswoman. The space was previously occupied by clothing stores Paisley and bevello. A different Apple service and resale store in the Military Cutoff Road area, CityMac, closed its location last year at The Forum. Simply Mac bills itself as “the largest Apple Premier Partner in the U.S.” and, as of a June 23 news release on the opening of a store in Winston-Salem, has at least 47 retail stores in 16 states. It’s an authorized reseller of all Apple products and provider of warranty repair service by Apple-certified technicians. Also coming to Mayfaire, Coniglio said, is Buff City Soap, a handmade soap store that offers products “free of harsh ingredients and full of nourishing plant-based goodies,” according to its website. The store is expected to open around the Christmas holidays at 1039 International Drive in the space next to First Watch, a breakfast, brunch and lunch restaurant. Costume store Spirit Halloween is occupying the former Pier 1 space from August through October. Another temporary occupant is Art in Bloom Gallery, which is hosting a pop-up exhibit featuring art by Elizabeth Darrow and friends through Aug. 28 at 820 Town Center Drive, unit 120. In another potential retail addition, developers based in Cary want to build a mixed-use project with apartments and commercial space in Wilmington, on South College Road property that previously held a
Honda dealership. The proposal calls for 298 apartments and 15,000 square feet of commercial space that could contain retail, food and/or beverage businesses, on about 6 acres, a rezoning application stated. The project, dubbed Paseo, would involve 821 and 825 S. College Road and 4881 and 4885 Wilshire Blvd., according to the application. Bella Vista Development Group and Craig Davis Properties Inc.,
which share an office in Cary, are seeking a rezoning of the property from the city of Wilmington for the project. The new zoning designation would be UMX (CD), urban mixeduse conditional district. In the developers’ zoning application, they said the property “is located on a major thoroughfare and primary retail corridor, College Road, in an area that is ideally positioned for redevelopment and growth.”
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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
June 14- July 10 5 STEP REAL ESTATE LLC 4636 Still Meadow Dr Apt 103 Wilmington 28412 Agent: Joshua Hollman ACCESS 38 L.L.C. 919 Castle St Unit 202 Wilmington 28401 Agent: Joshah Allen McKinney ADVANCED INTELLECT L.L.C. 1618 Pembroke Jones Dr Wilmington 28405 Agent: Nathan Munton ALPHA I BOATING SERVICES INC 5010 Robert Ruark Dr SE Southport 28461 Agent: Cynthia Brittain ANDY LEE LLC. 103 Pennypacker Ct. Wilmington 28412 Agent: Andrea Lyn Lee APRIL SHOWERS EVENT PLANNING LLC 4455 Noland Drive Wilmington 28405 Agent: April Flynn Stephens ASHLEY LEMOINE CONSULTING LLC 614 Clarendon Ave Southport 28461 Agent: Ashley Lemoine
Kelly 28448 Agent: Thomas H Sheehan Jr. BURNS AND SON LOGISTICS AND MORE LLC 9590 Magnolia Drive Leland 28451 Agent: Milton Burns C.W.A. MANAGEMENT LLC 7203 Brisbane Court Wilmington 28405 Agent: Andrew Garrett CAROLINA BORDER SHIELDS 1189 Moultrie Dr. NW Calabash 28467 Agent: Douglas P. Scherzer CAROLINA METAL LLC 707 Pine Grove Drive Wilmington 28409 Agent: Kimberly Michelle Jaeger COASTAL LOAN SIGNERS LLC 8371 Reidmont Dr SE Southport 28461 Agent: Tina L Hannabass COASTAL PAINT & FLOORING INC. 20180 US Highway 17 N Hampstead 28443 Agent: Steven M Wheatley CORNER R&B LLC 1931 S Live Oak Parkway Wilmington 28403 Agent: James S Mahan III
AZIMUTH INSURANCE LLC 1213 Culbreth Drive Wilmington 28405 Agent: Thomas W Kerner
CRIDER & JOHNSON REALTY LLC 563 Sea Holly Drive Castle Hayne 28429 Agent: Monic J Crider
BDA INTERNATIONAL CORP. 3600 South College Road Suite E Wilmington 28412 Agent: David B. Kane
CROWNS AND ACCESSORIES LLC 2708 Bunche Street Wilmington 28405 Agent: Roxanne JamisonGeorge
BEACHNINJA COMMUTING LLC 317 Racine Dr Apt H Wilmington 28403 Agent: Vicky Anne Dempsey
EDGAR TOMAS ROOFING LLC 804 Nature Trail Dr Unit 103 Wilmington 28405 Agent: Edgar Lopez Tomas
BES TOOLS LLC 2423 Morgan Rd
EMCSS LLC
341 South College Rd. Wilmington 28403 Agent: Katherine E. Edwards EMERGING BOTANICS AND FLOWERS LLC 3301 Merchant Court Wilmington 28405 Agent: Andrew Archibald EMPIRE WC LLC 3629 St. Johns Court Unit B Wilmington 28403 Agent: Elizabeth Herman
Unit 1 Wilmington 28405 Agent: Craig Noyes INTENT SOLUTIONS LLC 5076 West Chandler Heights Drive Leland 28451 Agent: Kristin Devone ISLAND GIRL COLLAGES LLC 311 NE 55th St Oak Island 28465 Agent: Angela M. Kaiser
Agent: Michael Alexander Burton MLW LLC 6177 Kingtown Road NW Ash 28420 Agent: Mitchell L. Williams MUDD & MUSSELS LLC 8601 E. Oak Island Drive Oak Island 28465 Agent: Better Beach Rentals & Sales Inc
EQUIPRESENCE LLC 9628 River Road Wilmington 28412 Agent: Lauren Ann Cryan
JACKIE COOPER HOME REPAIR LLC 510 Taylor St Apt. 106 Wilmington 28401 Agent: Jackie Cooper
NAWIC WILMINGTON CAPE FEAR CHAPTER 390 1901 Market St Wilmington 28403 Agent: Deseree Muraglia
FIVE STARS LANDSCAPING SERVICES LLC 2697 Flamingo Dr Shallotte 28470 Agent: Edilio Velasquez
JENNIFER K PETERKEN LLC 7019 Cayman Court Wilmington 28405 Agent: Jennifer K Peterken
OCEAN ISLE BEACH ENTERPRISES LLC 6437 Timber Hitch Dr SW Ocean Isle Beach 28469 Agent: Maria T Mullen
FORKS ‘N’ MOTION L.L.C 4801 Grinders Way NE Leland 28451 Agent: Satin Eve Miller
KANE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY LLC 5128 Fernwood Drive Southport 28461 Agent: Kristine Kane
ONLY IN AMERICA INDUSTRIES & INVESTMENTS INC. 3600 South College Road Suite E Wilmington 28412 Agent: David B. Kane
FORTIBUS VENTURES LLC 4 Sunset Ave. Wrightsville Beach 28480 Agent: James David Petrilla Jr. GAGA’S GOODIES LLC 4118 Breezewood Dr. #203 Wilmington 28412 Agent: Sharon L Rice GCC PROPERTIES LLC 3921 Executive Park Blvd Ste C Southport 28461 Agent: Zachary Clouser GHM HOLDINGS LLC 1015 Ashes Dr Ste 202 Wilmington 28405 Agent: Graham Mitchell GHOSTLIGHT GRAPHICS LLC 100 South Walker Street Burgaw 28425 Agent: Jason Edward Aycock HILLARY STEVENS LCSW PLLC 1257 Big Field Dr. Castle Hayne 28429 Agent: Hillary Stevens HLH VENTURES LLC 98 J H Batts Rd Surf City 28445 Agent: James Malcolm Hall III HOME INSPECTOR OF NORTH CAROLINA LLC 6721 Newbury Way Wilmington 28411 Agent: Luey Kirk Santas ICE ATLAS LLC 302 Saint Rosea Road Wilmington 28405 Agent: Kawana J Bacon IEA CONSTRUCTION INC 1803 Castle St. Wilmington 28403 Agent: Elias De Andrade INK SPOT TATTOO LLC 6603 Market Street
KANE LAND & CATTLE LLC 3600 South College Road Suite E Wilmington 28412 Agent: David B. Kane KRAMER MARINE LLC 2312 Lumina Avenue North Wrightsville Beach 28480 Agent: Peter Gibbs Kramer Jr. KRP NURSE CONSULTING PLLC 314 Lennon Dr #12731 Wilmington 28405 Agent: Kenya R. Parker LIA SWEETS LLC 1611 Dusty Miller Lane Wilmington 28412 Agent: Labib Ismail MAGGIE GORE CHILDCARE & MORE INC 108 Red Hawk Road Wilmington 28405 Agent: Maggie Ann Gore MAKI + BOBI LLC 128 Lighthouse Drive Carolina Beach 28428 Agent: Halyn Jo Blackburn MALLARD CREEK DETAILING LLC 1712 Canady Rd Wilmington 28411 Agent: Chapman R. Edwards MALLARD CREEK MARINE DETAILING INC 5 Millhouse Rd Castle Hayne 29429 Agent: Finn Nelson Kautz MEDHERBAL LLC 1005 Lake Norman Ln Leland 28451 Agent: Sriyana Vhattarai MICHAEL BURTON CPA PLLC 307 N 16th Street Wilmington 28401
PATRIOTS FISHING INC 2160 Creekwood Ct SW Supply 28462 Agent: William L Baucom PJ’S GIFTS4U LLC 7713 Trap Way Wilmington 28412 Agent: Pamela Huggins Smith PROPERTY LOSS CONSULTANT’S LTD. 4132 Lark Bunting Ct Se Southport 28461 Agent: Tyndall Wade Smith PROPERTY PURCHASE SOLUTIONS ETC LLC 2619 N College Rd Wilmington 28405 Agent: Edwin Tilghman Coulbourn III
Wrightsville Beach 28480 Agent: James E. Wallace
2128 Maple Leaf Drive Southport 28461 Agent: Judy Cardella
SHIPWRX LLC 501 Porters Neck Rd Wilmington 28411 Agent: Michael Shipley
MARSH CREEK CANDLE COMPANY LLC 307 Lafayette St. Wilmington 28411 Agent: Rebecca Milar
SHUG PARTNERS LLC 1417 South Anderson Boulevard Topsail Beach 28445 Agent: Julia Catherine Willoughby SJC RENTALS LLC 34 Ranso Drive Hampstead 28443 Agent: Sandra Chisholm SOUTHERN SWELL LLC 305 Edgewater Way Surf City 28445 Agent: Andrew Tod Davis STANDBY YOU LLC 2013 Olde Regent Way Suite 150 Box 224 Leland 28451 Agent: Ronald Galen STEADFAST MORTGAGE SERVICES INC 547 Crown Pointe Drive Hampstead 28443 Agent: Leeann M Carter THE BIKINI CLOSET BOUTIQUE LLC 4412 Bridgeport Drive Wilmington 28405 Agent: Lateisha Racole Dowd-Williams THE BLACK KITTY/ ACEOFSPADES LLC 319 Main St Navassa 28451 Agent: Torrie Bryant THE TIMELESS TABLE LLC 5134 Helms Port Ave Wilmington 28409-3707 Agent: Karen Perkins Allen TILYOU RETREATS LLC 143 Downy Drive Hampstead 28443 Agent: Skip Eames
QUICKSIG NOTARY SIGNING SERVICES LLC 1110 Maple Rd Southport 28461 Agent: Jennifer E Rogers
WHRRR INC. 6653 Trolley Lane Wilmington 28403 Agent: John William Healy
REDFISH PROJECT MANAGEMENT GROUP L.L.C. 110 Mount Vernon Drive Wilmington 28403 Agent: Samuel Douglas Boyce
WILDWOOD CONSTRUCTION SERVICES INC. 216 Mendenhall Dr Wilmington 28411 Agent: Gideon Vaughn
ROBB SUPPLY COMPANY LLC 56 Northwood Dr. Wilmington 28405 Agent: Robert Trevor Wigal S RHEM COMPANY INC 416 Bayshore Dr Wilmington 28411 Agent: Stephen Rhem SCHULE INC. 2517 Flint Dr. Wilmington 28401 Agent: Marcus A Lacewell SEMTAR LLC 12 Shore Drive
MARTIN DELLO PROPERTIES LLC 4921 Nicholas Creek Circle Wilmington 28409 Agent: Eileen Dello Martin MASON INVESTMENT PROPERTIES LLC 225 Yorkshire Lane Wilmington 28409 Agent: Michael Mason MASONBORO FITNESS LLC 5017 Godfrey Way Wilmington 28409 Agent: Natalie Elizabeth Pino MASONBORO PADDLE COMPANY LLC 1117 Haymarket Ln Wilmington 28412 Agent: Steven M Clark MATTHEWS RENTALS LLC 1028 Golden Sandsway Leland 28451 Agent: Charlie Luther Almond MCLEAN DUMPSTER RENTALS LLC 5315 New Britton Loop Rd NW Ash 28420 Agent: Christian McLean MEGAN DANIIELLE INC. 50 Hillsdale Dr. Wilmington 28403 Agent: Megan Danielle Olivaria
INC. 5713 Rock Creek Road NE Leland 28451 Agent: Mitchell Rockfellow Lanier MKROK HOLDINGS LLC 2986 Sorrento Place Southport 28461 Agent: Michael W. Klemens MODERN CONSTRUCTIONS LLC 5221 Penny Lane Wilmington 28405 Agent: Saulo Marques MODULO LOTUS LLC 3659 Echo Farms Blvd Wilmington 28412 Agent: Matthew Lane Davidson MONARCH RENOVATIONS LLC 6210-104 Riverwoods Drive Wilmington 28412 Agent: Bridget Ausmus MOREN AQUATICS LLC 15 Bramble Drive Hampstead 28443 Agent: Melania Arrieta Martinez. MOTHER LIKE IT MATTERS LLC 4305 Aftonshire Drive Wilmington 28412 Agent: Lauren Mikala Butler MOXIE SALON LLC 733 Avington Lane NE Leland 28451 Agent: Teresa Kathleen Connolly Mrs. MP3 HOLDINGS LLC 1001 Military Cutoff Rd Wilmington 28405 Agent: Manda Price
MENTAL MANAGEMENT LLC 311-4E Judges Road Wilmington 28405 Agent: Barry A. Moore
MZGROWTHS ENTERPRISE LLC 901 N. 30th Street Wilmington 28405 Agent: Latorche Jones
MENTONE MANAGEMENT LLC 650 Mentone Lane Wilmington 28403 Agent: Charles Joseph Babington Jr.
NAVIGATOR CONSULTING LLC 1613 Futch Creek Road Wilmington 28411 Agent: John F Kane
METAL&PEARLS LLC 996 Whiteville Rd NW Shallotte 28470 Agent: Ashley Bodenhamer
NC HAMPTON ENTERPRISES LLC 7412 Alcoa Way Wilmington 28411 Agent: Nicholas Hampton
WILMINGTON BUNGALOW LLC 102 Skystasail Drive Wilmington 28409 Agent: Brandon J. Parrow
MFD APARTMENTS LLC 204 Ronald Ave Castle Hayne 28429 Agent: Michael Dombroski
NEW YORK ALTERATIONS AND CLEANERS LLC 3500 Oleander Dr Ste C002 Wilmington 28403 Agent: Paulina Arevalo
X CLEANING SERVICES LLC 4905 Blue Clay Rd Castle Hayne 28429 Agent: Dennis Lee McRae
MGB SERVICES INC. 5042 Tradeway Dr. Apt 106 Leland 28451 Agent: Melissa Bradshaw
NIPPY’S SOUL FOOD RESTAURANT LLC 1504 Ann St Wilmington 28401 Agent: Marsha Corbett
MARIO R. GUITY MASONRY LLC 1001 Monitor Dr. Apt 7-M Wilmington 28412 Agent: Mario R. Guity
MILLENIA CPR & SAFETY TRAINING LLC 2656 Hastings Drive Wilmington 28411 Agent: Selena F Robinson
NO. 10 PARK LLC 723 Autumn Crest Pl Wilmington 28405 Agent: Ashraf Aziz
MARKETSMITH INC.
MITCH’S AUTOMOTIVE
NOAH’S ARK HOLDINGS LLC 300 Whisper Park Dr
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| BIZ LEADS | Wilmington 28411 Agent: Ladd Gasparovic O’NEAL HOME SOLUTIONS INC. 5721 Camellia Lane Wilmington 28409 Agent: Hunter G O’ Neal OFFGRID LAND MANAGEMENT LLC 4503-303 Coddington Loop Wilmington 28405 Agent: Taylor Ray Chambers OIB138 VENTURES LLC 60 Gregory Rd Ste 1 Belville 28451 Agent: D Isbell Logan OJSK BOUTIQUE & BEAUTY BAR LLC 4024 Holly Shelter Rd 608 Castle Hayne 28429 Agent: Lashaunda Monique Lewis-Freeman OKI PADDLE COMPANY LLC 333 NE 45th St Oak Island 28465 Agent: Joshua Calvin Easley OUTREACH OF CAPE FEAR 6616 Wedderburn Dr. Wilmington 28412 Agent: Emmanuel D Harris II P & C CLEANING LLC 2202 Ovalberry Ct Wilmington 28411 Agent: Ingrid Paola Tautiva PAMMY’S PAD LLC 313 Columbia Avenue Carolina Beach 28428 Agent: Pamela Boles PEAK PRODUCTS CORPORATION 1121 Turnberry Lane Wilmington 28405 Agent: Matthew K Peek PEREZ & SON LLC 5658 Malpass Corner Rd Currie 28435 Agent: Roberto Perez PHIPPS ENTERPRISE OF CAPE FEAR LLC 6901 Ontario Rd Wilmington 28412 Agent: Makila Ann Phipps PHYSICAL THERAPY FIT FOR LIFE INC 6410 Delvin Circle Leland 28451 Agent: Gerard Desmond PINE GROVE VENTURE LLC 404 Oceana way Carolina Beach 28428 Agent: Elisabeth M. Struckell PITA DEVELOPMENT LLC 4010 Oleander Dr Wilmington 28403 Agent: James L Wolfe PLANT LYFE LLC 8695 Slocum Trail Atkinson 28421 Agent: Jeremiah A Peterson
PLEASURE ISLAND CLEANING LLC 926 Carolina Sands Dr Carolina Beach 28428 Agent: Jeff Page POPLIN GLEN PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION INC. 1833 Avalon Avenue Wilmington 28409 Agent: Lisa Beaman PRESA ENTERPRISES LLC 1508 Flushing Drive Wilmington 28411 Agent: Tyshoan Tyrice Jones PROFESSIONAL PAINTING & MORE LLC 721 Silver Lake Road Wilmington 28412 Agent: Karla Patricia Martines Arriaga QP INVESTMENTS LLC 922 Harry Bell Rd SW Shallotte 28470 Agent: Phillip Gause QUALITY OF LIFE CB LLC 917 Basin Rd Carolina Beach 28428 Agent: David W. Pierce QUARTERS-SHELDON LLC 3527 Highway 421 North Wilmington 28401 Agent: Frank H. Hamilton III QW HOLDINGS LLC 205 N 5th Ave Wilmington 28401 Agent: Aaron D. Lindquist R. M. HIGHTER INC. 3414 Calistoga Lake Ct Carolina Shores 28467 Agent: Mary Ann Highter R3SOLUT3 PAINTING & ASSOCIATES LLC 818 Inlet Acres Dr Wilmington 28412 Agent: Charles Edward Caulder RALEIGH AIRE REPAIR INC 7950 Huron Dr Wilmington 28412 Agent: Stephen D Forrest REFLECTION SURF CO LLC 214 Apollo Drive Wilmington 28405 Agent: Andrew David Clemmons REMOH CONCEPTS LLC 314 Edgewater Club Rd Wilmington 28411 Agent: Augusto Rosales Varela RESENDEZ RENTALS LLC 702 Pine Cone Dr Winnabow 28479 Agent: Maria Teresa Resendez RHENO / THE MASK’D DANCER LLC 1006 Dawson Street Wilmington 28401 Agent: William Clyde Murphy Jr RIGHT ON FISHING CHARTERS LLC 1806 Middle Sound
Loop Road Wilmington 28411 Agent: Joseph Chaplin Turley II ROADKILL BATHMAT LLC 331 Arboretum Dr #201 Wilmington 28405 Agent: Shelly McClure ROBERSON HAULING LLC 121 Dan Owen Dr #1158 Hampstead 28443 Agent: Brent Roberson ROMEO WHISKEY LLC 2356 Ocean Point Drive Wilmington 28405 Agent: Richard B Williams ROZ GEE ENTERPRISES LLC 7418 Cordoba Circle #201 Leland 28451 Agent: Rosalyn Ardelle Gee RUDD SPORTS ENTERPRISES LLC 448 Middle Grove Lane Wilmington 28411 Agent: Shannon Rudd RYKNOWS LLC 280 Turner Way Hampstead 28443 Agent: Ryan Mcfadyen SAFE N SOUND TRANS LLC 4602 Norwich Road Wilmington 28405 Agent: Benay Huff SALTWATER SHANTY ICE CREAM LLC 3148 Windward Village Ln Supply 28462 Agent: Jeff Whitfield SAPPHIRE INTEGRATIONS L.L.C. 4717 Prior Dr Unit 156 Wilmington 28412 Agent: Kyle Andrew Mote SAROS LINES INC. 1090 Longleaf St SW Supply 28462 Agent: Wanda Seitz SEASIDE APPRAISALS INC 5021 Pender Rd. Shallotte 28470 Agent: Billy D. Settlemyre SEASIDE ELECTRICAL LLC 610 Holbrooke Ave. Wilmington 28412 Agent: Edwin Scott Henderson SEASIDE HOME CARE LLC 116 Stokley Drive Wilmington 28403 Agent: Jill F Baker SEASIDE POOL AND SPA SERVICES LLC 2501 West Dolphin Drive Oak Island 28465 Agent: John Mark Erwin SEASIDE SISTERS LLC 1424 N Howe St Southport 28461 Agent: Ryan W Johnson SENPAI STREAMS LLC
4142 Breezewood Dr. #204 Wilmington 28412 Agent: Wesley Addison Hucks
SOUTHPORT SPRAY TANS LLC 5229 Walden Ct. Southport 28461 Agent: Linda Joy Tomasek
SHARK POWER WASHING INC 5 Stone St Unit 3 Wrightsville Beach 28480 Agent: Charles Scott Hall
SPADE TRANSPORT LLC 90 Rock Road Maple Hill 28454 Agent: Alvin Julius Holmes
SHINE MANAGEMENT LLC 771 S Kerr Avenue Wilmington 28403 Agent: Jonathan Earle SHIV CAPITAL GROUP LLC 5012 Nicholas Creek Cir Wilmington 28409 Agent: Anand M. Joshi SHP SURF CITY LLC 3414 Wrightsville Ave Wilmington 28403 Agent: Robbie B. Parker SIMPLY INTEGRATED 101 LLC 308 S 15th Street Wilmington 28401 Agent: Ashley Shardae Jones SINK’S AUTOMOTIVE & ENGINE REPAIR LLC 8528 Market St Wilmington 28411 Agent: Matthew William Sink SIRENS CAR WASH LLC 2000 Castle Hayne Rd Wilmington 28401 Agent: Nicole Utz SMEYERCOPELANDLLC 1417 Ann St Wilmington 28401 Agent: Sarah Meyer
TH CONSTRUCTION SERVICES LLC 188 George T. Bryant Rd Bolivia 28422 Agent: Tyrone Hopkins
SPECIALTY RN STAFFING PLLC 621 Highgreen Drive Wilmington 28411 Agent: Kristen K. Smith
THALASSA LLC 2307 Chestnut St Wilmington 28405 Agent: Norwood F. Crawford
SRA PRODUCTIONS LLC 1059 Echo Dr. NE Leland 28451 Agent: Raymond L. Shepard
THE BYRD BATH - DOG GROOMING LLC 109 Antoinette Drive Wilmington 28412 Agent: Ivy Gray Byrd
SRP2021 LLC 315 Bradley Drive Wilmington 28409 Agent: Angela Kay Sealey
THE DON’S CONTRACTING LLC 501 E Henry St Atkinson 28421 Agent: Adonis Olivari
STEADFAST TILE LLC 1404 Bluff Dr NE Leland 28451 Agent: Brandon Kinzie STELLMAR LLC 2608 Shandy Lane Wilmington 28409 Agent: Patricia D Bennett STEPPING STONE LAND TRANSACTIONS AND CONSULTING LLC 3921 Executive Park Blvd Ste C Southport 28461 Agent: Zachary T. Clouser STONES THROW CONDO LLC 122 NE 34th Street Oak Island 28465 Agent: Kristin J Aroner
SNOOP LLC 1914 Pender Ave Wilmington 28403 Agent: Brett Edward Christmas
STORSAFE STORAGE OF HAMPSTEAD LLC 3829 Carolina Beach Rd Wilmington 28412 Agent: Archie J. McGirt Jr.
SODY PARTY RENTALS LLC 3508 Dogwood Rd Leland 28451 Agent: Eduardo M VegaHernandez
STRONGARM LOGISTICS LLC 53 Worley Place Rocky Point 28457 Agent: Antony Armstrong
SOUTHERN TIDE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY 3602 Stratford Blvd. Wilmington 28403 Agent: Jeremy R Millard SOUTHPAW 6 LLC 506 Owens St Southport 28461 Agent: Beverly Hammond SOUTHPORT SOAP AND SUNDRIES LLC 2537 Saint James Dr SE Southport 28461 Agent: Linda Stiebris
TENORSAX LLC 6781 Parker Farm Drive Suite 210 Wilmington 28405 Agent: Lisa SalinesMondello
SPARTINA ADVISORS LLC 2608 Shandy Lane Wilmington 28409 Agent: Patricia D Bennett
SMITHSCAPES LLC 1620 Henry Brown Road Burgaw 28425 Agent: Jared N Smith
SOLID CORE FUNDING LLC 5006 Randal Wilmington 28403 Agent: Michelle Deanne Sherman
24807 Hwy 421 Willard 28478 Agent: Tamika Pickett
SUMMIT AND FLOW WELLNESS COACHING LLC 303 Arboretum Drive Wilmington 28405 Agent: Corrie Kerr SURF CITY HAULING LLC 129 Shaes Lndg Surf City 28445 Agent: Monica Batts SWEET ROELS LLC 5700 Oleander Drive Wilmington 28403 Agent: Kevin T May T. RENEE’S CLEANING SERVICE LLC 1202 N. Atlantic Ave Southport 28461 Agent: Tonya Hilliard TEE’TEE TIRES TOWING & RECOVERY LLC
THE E&E BOXER GROUP LLC 1009 Anchors Bend Way Wilmington 28411 Agent: Erin Elizabeth Feisal THE PILOTS PAD LLC 1702 North Kerr Ave Wilmington 28405-1038 Agent: Jeremy Ryan Bailey THE REEFER CORNER INC. 89 Twin Oaks Dr Hampstead 28443 Agent: Trent Matthew Farless THE VIBE AT GRINDERS LLC 890 S. Kerr Unit 2A Wilmington 28403 Agent: Leah A Jackson THE WILD CHILD ART STUDIOS LLC 14888 US Hwy 17N Hampstead 28443 Agent: Carla Paschal THE WRIGHT BEACH CO. LLC 404 Grandiflora Ct Wilmington 28405 Agent: Kelsey Lynn Norris THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE WITH JESSICA CATTS LLC 1970 Eastwood Road Wilmington 28403 Agent: Jessica M Catts THOMAS E. MELIN M.D. PLLC 137 Trombay Drive Wilmington 28412 Agent: Thomas E Melin
Zombron TIMMYT LLC 201 Alston Blvd C Hampstead 28443 Agent: William Lee Moise TKO TRUCKING LLC 575 Military Cutoff Road Suite 106 Wilmington 28405 Agent: James T. Moore Jr. TNT MARKETING ENTERPRISE LLC 2824 N 23rd St Lot 9 Wilmington 28401 Agent: Bobbie Jean Overbey TOMASEK HOLDINGS L.L.C. 5229 Walden Ct. Southport 28461 Agent: Josh Tomasek TOPSAIL STEAMER WHSE LLC 29 Sandy Lane Surf City 28445 Agent: Danielle Mahon TRASH MONSTER LLC 415 Shipyard Blvd Wilmington 28412 Agent: Timothy Reardon TRICE REALTY LLC 2 Point Place Wrightsville Beach 28480 Agent: Edwin R. Trice TRIPLE O CLEANERS INC. 4825 Oakview Drive Southport 28461 Agent: Oleksandr Malenko TRIPP’S LAWN CARE LLC 9044 St George Rd Wilmington 28411 Agent: Robert B Tripp TROLLEYS SNOWBALLS LLC 12 Yaupon Way Oak Island 28465 Agent: Jennifer Benson TTJT SERVICES LLC 441 Shipyard Blvd Wilmington 28412 Agent: Thomas Lanier Wallace II URS HOLDINGS LLC 708 Windswept Place Wilmington 28405 Agent: United Restoration Services LLC UTLEY IMAGES LLC 319 S Belvedere Dr Hampstead 28443 Agent: Donald Utley VARNISH ALE & SPIRITS LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP 23 Market St Wilmington 28401 Agent: Clark Sumner
THREE FRIENDS LLC 608 Barksdale Rd Wilmington 28409 Agent: Michele Mittelbuscher
VELMA LLC DBA CARRS ACADEMY 5613 Andrew Reach Loop Road Wilmington 28409 Agent: Tracy M Carr
TIERRA Y SAL LLC 213 Friendly Lane Wilmington 28409 Agent: Jason Jude
VELMAS LLC DBA CARR’S ACADEMY 2 5613 Andrew Reach Loop Road
Wilmington 28409 Agent: Tracy M Carr VIBE WILMINGTON LLC 5010 McClelland Dr. Apt 115 Wilmington 28405 Agent: Rachel Economos VILLA’S LANDSCAPING INC 8062 Market St Wilmington 28411 Agent: Luis Antonio Villa Casco VINEYARD LANDSCAPES LLC 14805 NC Hwy 210 Rocky Point 28457 Agent: Kevin Leobardo Santos-Contreras WE OVERSEE LLC 195 East First Street Ocean Isle Beach 28469 Agent: Jeffrey Johnson WEATHERLY TRUCKING LLC 9092 Arden Rd NE Leland 28451 Agent: Michael Weatherly WENDY H HARVESTING LLC 15746 Hwy 53 W. Atkinson 28421 Agent: Wendy Hernandez Santiago WHALEROK LLC 122 Saltwater Landing Dr Hampstead 28443 Agent: Michael J Rokoski WILMINGTON CLINIC HOLDING COMPANY LLC 603 Eastwood Road Wilmington 28403 Agent: Myleme Ojinga Harrison WILMINGTON EAST ROTARY CHARITABLE TRUST INC. 134 Partridge Rd Wilmington 28412 Agent: Jerry Flake WILMINGTON RESTAURANT HOLDINGS LLC 2225 Moreland Dr Wilmington 28405 Agent: Stephanie Castagnier Dunn WILSON SPEED LLC 40 Russell Rd Southport 28461 Agent: Eric Wilson WINSOME WAY LLC 367 Arboretum Drive Unit 308 Wilmington 28405 Agent: Richard H Welch WIRED & FREE LLC 535 Old Maccumber Station Road #212 Wilmington 28405 Agent: Dianne Brososky YAY SPACES LLC 124 High Tide Drive Wilmington 28411-6814 Agent: Jennifer M Katzir YERKES TECHNICAL LTD. 103 Wayne Drive Wilmington 28403 Agent: Christopher Yerkes
Page 22
August 6 - 19, 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.
mushroom stroganoff with buttered noodles and a side of pickled vegetables. Desserts include matcha brulee, darkest chocolate cake and milk and cookies.
Wheelz Pizza driven to Wrightsville Ave. spot
New restaurant opening on Masonboro Loop Road
Joy Sprenger and Paul Parker, owners of Wheelz Pizza, have announced the expansion of the business to include a new location at 7037 Wrightsville Ave. “Our growth has exploded, even through COVID,” Parker said. “And we’ve been scouting a larger, second location for some time now.” Parker said the Wrightsville Avenue location, most recently occupied by Peño Mediterranean Grill, is three times larger than their current location at 2323 S. 17th St. The new place will serve as the main commissary kitchen for Wheelz, as well as a second location for pickup and delivery. The owners expect to open the new Wheelz spot by Sept. 1.
Upscale vegan eatery opens doors to diners
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A longtime dream of Laura Tiblier’s has come to life with the opening of The Green House, Wilmington’s first upscale vegan restaurant. The restaurant is a collaboration between Tiblier and business partner Anastasia Worrell. Tiblier and Worrell signed the lease for The Green House space next to Slice of Life at 1427 Military Cutoff Road in April 2020 and spent much of the pandemic researching recipes, coming up with a design for the restaurant and planning. They enlisted the help of professional vegan chef Anna Marstellar and chef Dean Neff of Seabird as consultants and hired chef Dave Herring, the original owner of Sweet N Savory, as executive chef. In addition to Herring, Tiblier and Worrell are also supported by pâtissier Lauren Wright, bar manager Nick Sorrells, maître d’ Colby Perkins and horticulturist Michelle Lyon-Heatherly. Tiblier, being raised in North Carolina, brings a Southern flair to dishes such as the Southern Barbecue, with roasted and basted ribs of chard served with tomato and cucumber salad, cornbread, mac and cheese and butter beans, while Worrell, who hails from Eastern Europe, brings warm and hearty dishes such as wild
Steve West, principal owner of Grand Cru Food & Wine, and partner Russell Snyder are putting the finishing touches on 3315 Cut & Pour, their new concept expected to open at the Courtyard at Masonboro in Wilmington in early August. Snyder, who serves as managing director at Grand Cru, will hold the same position at the new restaurant. Snyder came to Grand Cru from Siena Trattoria, which was located in the same building that Cut & Pour now occupies at 3315 Masonboro Loop Road. Cut & Pour will focus on a wide variety of cuts of beef as well as pork, chicken and fish. There will also be a significant wine program, though West said Cut & Pour will not offer as many boutique wines as Grand Cru. Because the kitchen contains a large pizza oven, Cut & Pour will also serve two “cuts” of pizza: Neapolitan and Chicago’s tavern-style thin crust.
Chef returns, reopening celebrated at CAM Café The CAM Café, at Cameron Art Museum, has announced that chef Chip Pridgen has returned as executive chef, and a grand reopening was held July 30. Pridgen, who held the position of executive chef at the cafe prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, brings a desire to focus on fresh seafood, farm-raised products and seasonal offerings. A Wilmington native, Pridgen has worked at the Wrightsville Beach Surf Club, the Maritime Market on Bald Head Island, the Bald Head Island Country Club and the Haig Point Club in South Carolina. Pridgen plans to highlight the best of coastal Southern cuisine in his CAM Café menus. Highlights of the lunch menu include: Carolina black-eyed pea hummus with pickled okra and pita chips and crispy buttermilk calamari tossed with capers, banana peppers, and roasted tomatoes along with Meyer lemon aioli. -Jessica Maurer
Greater Wilmington Business Journal
wilmingtonbiz.com
August 6 - 19, 2021
Page 23
| BUSINESS OF LIFE | Area a nursery for baby products BY JENNY CALLISON
W
ilmington is known for its clinical research cluster and its financial technology cluster. But how about its baby products cluster? The area is home to at least five companies that provide niche products for infants and toddlers. Officials of three companies recently met and talked. “I’m surprised and delighted that we are sharing best practices and that we are rooting for each other,” said Amanda Legbeti, co-owner of Glider Skirt. The fledgling company makes a fabric skirt to keep the moving parts of glider chairs and ottomans from pinching fingers. Legbeti and her husband, Emmanuel, met Edward “Trip” Coyne, CEO of DockATot, and Brendan Collins, CEO of Mimijumi, this spring. Both established global companies have their headquarters here. Mimijumi, in Wilmington since 2014 when Seahawk Innovations LLC invested in the then-Nashvillebased enterprise and brought it to town, makes and sells baby bottles with nipples that replicate the breast nursing experience, allowing babies to alternate smoothly between breast and bottle. DockATot, whose baby lounger and associated products are manufactured in Europe but sold all over the world, came to Wilmington in April 2020 when Coyne, a local attorney who served as the company’s legal adviser, was tapped to lead the company. Glider Skirt, which the Legbetis envisioned three years ago, is still a home-based operation. Most of the company’s sales are done through its website, but the owners recently negotiated with Amazon and Walmart to have the skirts available also through these retail giants, which sell glider chairs and ottomans. To be accepted by the big e-tailers, Glider Skirt had to jump through some procedural hoops. “We have to be approved as a brand, have a trademark and all that,” said Amanda Legbeti. “It’s more than we thought, but we are really concerned about Asian copycats who are Amazon vendors. If you are an approved brand, you can protect your product.” In the month since Glider Skirt became an approved Amazon ven-
PHOTO C/O DOCKATOT
Baby business bumps: Amanda Legbeti, who founded Glider Skirt with her husband, Emmanuel, is shown with her children and the company’s product, a skirt to cover the moving parts of glider chairs and ottomans for safety.
dor, sales have gone well, the Legbetis said. Their next steps are to hire an Amazon advertising specialist and then to build their brand within Walmart. For all their efforts to expand online sales, the Legbetis are not passing up in-store options in the local market. While the Legbetis work on a micro scale to increase their exposure and boost sales, DockATot and Mimijumi have distributed workforces and sell their products globally. “Our bottles and nipples are made in Austria and are sold in more than 30 countries,” Collins said. “Sales continue to grow, and we’re placing more and more focus on direct-to-consumer sales. We sell through Amazon and through our own website; we recognized the online commerce trend pretty early on. You can be in Wilmington and sell around the world.” Mimijumi now has a complementary sister company. Seahawk Innovation has invested in a Danish company, Natursutten, that specializes in all-natural pacifiers made from rubber. Natursutten is now headquartered in Wilmington.
The same Brunswick County facility is used for assembly, warehousing and fulfillment services for the two product lines. DockATot continues to expand its product line. In addition to two sizes of the original oval-shaped, padded lounger, the company has added a nursing pillow, a Moses Basket and a play tent. “DockATot is a fast-growing global company,” Coyne said. “In some territories we do direct sales, but in others we work with well-recognized juvenile product distributors, who have their own sales relationships. … I’ve added seven people since coming on board.” Coyne supervises a global staff of about 25, and manufacturing is done in several European countries. A fourth Wilmington-area company, LainSnow, produces specialty swimwear for babies and young children as well as adults. The 4-month-old company operates out of the Ocean Isle Beach home of owner-founder Becca Ingle. “The idea started about a year ago,” Ingle said. “I had been doing family travel blogging for five years, and I represented other brands of
swimwear. During COVID I was doing nothing and wanted to start my own brand, partnering with some other companies. But some friends said I should create my own line [and company].” Ingle didn’t have to look far for the company name, a play on that of her daughter, Lainey Snow, a 6-yearold who sketched out the high-neck, long-sleeved girls’ bathing suits. Ingle also created a look for adult women. Armed with the concepts, Ingle contacted officials at other swimsuit brands and asked how they got started. She was referred to a consultant who knew many swimwear manufacturers and who had also started a brand from scratch. The consultant coached her through LainSnow’s nine-month gestational process and continues to advise the company. Ingle’s California-based manufacturer is hustling to enable production to keep up with demand. Ingle said she “worked full time to get this off the ground; it was just me with no investors. With my initial investment of $20,000 I have doubled and now tripled my inventory. My consultant is projecting LainSnow to be at $1 million by next year.”
Page 24
August 6 - 19, 2021
Greater Wilmington Business Journal
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