An unnamed restaurant is looking to take over the remaining space of new shopping center under construction on South College Road, according to a leasing agent.

Bryce Morrison Jr., vice president and broker of Wilmington-based Cape Fear Commercial, said this week that the South College Marketplace Shopping Center could reach full occupancy in the coming weeks if the restaurant inks a deal with the brokerage firm.

The South College Marketplace is a 5,712-square-foot development at 820 S. College Road next to a Harris Teeter that is currently undergoing a multi-million renovation.

Raleigh-based Legacy Property College Road Investments owns the development. Wilmington-based Buskirk Consulting PLLC is the general contractor overseeing the project valued at $2.5 million, according to New Hanover County building permits.

Morrison, who would not release the name of the restaurant, described it as a locally based establishment that could occupy 2,200 square feet, including 800 square feet of outside patio space.

Construction crews hope to complete the retail center by September, Morrison said.

He said pre-leasing has been swift at the three-unit development.

Since announcing plans for the shopping center earlier this year, Morrison has added two new retailers to the future tenant mix of the development.

Mani-Q Salon, which operates a location near Target on New Centre Drive, will open a second location in 1,800 square feet of space at the retail center. Electra Vapor, an electronic cigarette retailer, will occupy 1,680 square feet of space.  

Morrison said the demand for the center is being driven by its proximity to the University of North Carolina Wilmington and growing traffic counts along College Road.

“Being close to the college is very attractive to the tenants,” Morrison said. “The Harris Teeter also has the highest number of single-sale transactions of all its stores in the area, which also makes it an attractive location.”