What businesses does Hampstead want to see?

As Hampstead continues to be one the fastest growing communities in the Wilmington region, there are a lot of shopping and food joints for people to choose from.

Some of them include places such as McDonald's, Dunkin, Hardee's, a Walmart Neighborhood Market, and Food Lion. But sometimes, residents and visitors will have to take a short trip for more options.

As the director for Pender County Tourism, Tammy Proctor believes it matters where people shop and spend their money.

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"When you support local business you are supporting your neighbors," she said. "You are supporting your tax base. You are strengthening your community."

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Proctor spends a lot of time promoting county towns and unincorporated areas like Hampstead. She often hears requests about what they would like to see.

Here are some of the places.

Is Hampstead a 'bullseye' for Target?

With a tagline of "Expect More. Pay Less," a lot of residents would like to have an option to push red carts down the aisles of Target. The big-box store selling groceries, clothing, electronics and more is something officials are often asked about.

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Target's headquarters is located in Minneapolis. The first target store opened in 1962 under The Dayton Company.

There are now close to 2,000 locations in the United States. In Wilmington, Target is located on New Centre Drive. According to Google maps, it's 17 miles away and about a 30 minute drive from Hampstead depending on driving conditions. Jacksonville is another option, but that's even farther away at 39 miles (about a 44-minute drive).

According to Target, 75% of the U.S. population live within 10 miles of a Target store.

Will Hampstead 'Eat Mor Chikin'?

Rated as America's top fast-food restaurant in 2021 according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index, Chick-fil-A is one of the top requests according to local officials. In the metro area, there are several locations in New Hanover and Brunswick County - but nothing in Pender County.

The closest location for residents wanting a chicken sandwich is in Porters Neck, an unincorporated community of New Hanover.

"To attract businesses like Target and Chick-fil-A we need to prove we have the population to support them," Proctor said. "They also need location, location, location, and infrastructure."

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Large outdoor malls like Mayfaire in Wilmington, which has a Chick-fil-A, are also popular shopping attractions for area residents. Although Hampstead is continuing to see growth, it's unknown if Hampstead or eastern Pender will have something similar. But Proctor believes the bypass will be a big convenience for residents.

"I don’t have a crystal ball and I can’t answer that question," Proctor said about having a large outdoor mall. "What I do see is the progress of the Hampstead Bypass that will provide easier access for potential shoppers, located strategically halfway between Wilmington and Jacksonville."

Along with Chick-fil-A, Proctor said a major breakfast restaurant would also be welcomed.

Supporting local entrepreneurs

Much like larger Wilmington, the independent businesses are also vital to the area.

"Having said that, our residents support and shop our local mom-and-pop shops and boutiques," she said. "These shop owners are our neighbors and we support them. They are the first businesses to support our Scouts, our school athletes, etc. In turn, we support them."

She stressed that shopping locally is important because it keeps tax dollars local. It's a point county officials have stressed recently while talking about concerns behind a statewide economic ranking system.

According to the N.C. Department of Commerce, Pender received a Tier 3 ranking, which means it's among the 20 other counties that's least distressed. The other designations are 40 counties at Tier 1, "high economic distress" and another 40 at Tier 2, "moderate economic distress." Brunswick and New Hanover are in the Tier 2 categories.

Along with losing economic assistance, Pender County Extension Director Mark Seitz, also presented data about adding County Trade Pull Factors and other data to show how much money is pulled away from the community because they shop outside the county.

According to a previous 2021 report, Pender County has a population of more than 64,000 people, but related data is showing the county's spending power is only at 40,968.

More:On a 'Tier 3' island: Pender County officials question state's economic ranking for area

If incorporated, Hampstead would be Pender County's largest town with its own officials seeking more developments. Recent attempts at incorporation for the area with more than 6,000 people have been turned down by voters.

As a county, Proctor said they don't promote or degrade the idea of incorporation. She said the idea is solely the decision of residents.

"As a county, we will continue our pursuit of economic health and vitality for all of Pender County," she said.

Reporter Chase Jordan can be reached at cjjordan@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Amid rapid growth, what businesses does Hampstead want to see?