New industrial flex space could be on the way to Leland Industrial Park.

Mercantile Park LLC, managed by husband and wife Manoj and Shelley Bhatia, purchased 15 acres at 2195 Mercantile Drive NE in Leland for $400,000 in January. 

The couple also owns 2216 Mercantile Drive, an 18,000-square-foot facility occupied by eland Industries.

On part of the 15 acres, the Bhatias are planning a 12,800-square-foot building, said Manoj Bhatia and listing agent Joaquin Canals of NAI Carolantic Realty Inc.

They said the planned space can be subdivided into two units, four 3,200-square foot units or be leased to a single larger user.

Manoj Bhatia, whose family developed the recently opened Leland Self Storage, said in their conversations with Leland and Wilmington area officials and real estate agents, "one of the things that kept coming up over and over is the need for flex space in the area or the lack of it."

Canals said the types of businesses that could use the space include industrial users or services, such as an HVAC or plumbing company or general contractor.

"We'd like to get at least one commitment and then we'll come out of the ground," Canals said of the project's potential leasing and construction timeline. "We think there is demand there. We really do, and we have just started the marketing process."

The property has room for additional buildings in the future. Manoj Bhatia said as with Leland Self Storage, the developers want to use best practices when it comes to aesthetics and an innovative design.

"That's what we want to do for every one of our developments," he said.