A new Surf City building is almost ready for business. Who's moving in?
Last year, entrepreneur Wally Diehl and Cape Fear Commercial announced plans to bring new businesses to the mainland of Surf City along the N.C. 210 corridor.
A 11,000-square-foot building with parking lots is now ready for several tenants and customers. In 2022, Diehl, owner of HT210 LLC., received approval from the town officials to build an energy efficient and storm-resistant building.
Cape Fear is helping Diehl manage the property on Alston Boulevard, near the Dollar Tree store.
Surf City Manager Kyle Breuer is also looking forward to the businesses coming to eastern Pender County.
"That area seems to continue to attract new businesses, just like all of Surf City," he said. "We're certainly excited for a new opportunity for our residents and people that visit Surf City."
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Who's coming?
Bryce Morrison Jr., senior vice president of Cape Fear Commercial, said all of the spaces are leased.
One of the first announced tenants announced in 2022 was Surf City Brewing Company, which will have a taproom, outdoor patio seating and beer garden. It will also lease another unit to store dry goods and ingredients to brew beer on site.
Spectrum Paint was another. It will be one of several Wilmington-area locations. It's been in business for more than 36 years and known as the country's largest independent paint dealer.
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More entertainment options
Cape Fear Commercial is leasing 1,800 square feet of space to Xit Room, an entertainment experience where participants are locked in a room and use clues and puzzles to get out.
Morrison said the fourth tenant is a golf simulator business, which will give members 24/7 access to the building similar to gym locations, after making reservations online.
"It's kind of turning into an entertainment complex of sorts," Morrison said. "Apparently, there's obviously a need for it. That's where our interest has been."
Originally, Cape Fear Commercial envisioned the building being more of an industrial flex office warehouse type of product.
"As we went to market, pre-construction all of the interests came through service-oriented retail and entertainment uses," Morrison said. "It quickly transitioned into more of a retail project than an industrial project. With the growing population of Surf City, there are more year-round residents. It gives the seasonal vacationers more options on overcast and rainy days when they want to get off the beach."
When will the doors open?
The tenants are currently going through inspection process. Each business will be allowed to open its doors after getting a Certificate of Occupancy from state officials, which is issued when a building has passed all inspections and is ready for use.
Morrison expects them to be done within the next 60 days or sometime late spring.
"I think they're all trying to get in and open by the summer," he said.
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Reporter Chase Jordan can be reached at cjjordan@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Surf City nears opening of commercial building. Here's who's coming.
