Could this iconic downtown Wilmington building become a brewery or convenience store?

An iconic Wilmington shop with a long history within the community is up for lease.

The downtown building at 1202 Market St., which has been the long-time home to Rose Ice & Coal, is up for lease. Cape Fear Commercial is marketing the free-standing 5,782-square-foot building as an “ideal opportunity” for a restaurant, brewery or convenience store.

The listing also notes that the building has high ceilings, large windows and garage doors that lead to a fenced-in yard in the rear of the property.

Rose Ice & Coal was founded in 1933 by the Rose family and was then purchased in 1973 by Archie Harris. Harris owned and operated the business, supplying the community with ice for just over 50 years.

More: PHOTOS: Take a trip back to Wilmington in 1973

"In my opinion, the building does not have any historical significance. It's the business that was iconic," said Gene Merritt, president of GMC Real Estate and Appraisal who's played a major role in revitalizing downtown Wilmington over the years. "Rose Ice & Coal had been there forever, and it was a part of my everyday life. It was just a part of growing up in Wilmington."

"But things change, situations change and people move on. Talking as a real estate developer, I would not have a problem with completely redeveloping the land. It'd be a great location for a commercial or mixed-use development," he added.

Harris’ ownership came to an end when family-owned Valley Ice based out of Mount Jackson, Virginia, purchased Rose Ice & Coal this summer. According to Valley Ice local manager Ronan Sours, they are now occupying the 1122 Market St. location and have decided to lease out the former Rose Ice & Coal location.

So far, Valley Ice has expanded to both Bayboro and Wilmington, with other locations throughout the Virginia area.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Iconic Rose Ice & Coal building in Wilmington up for lease