A physical therapy provider with more than 100 locations throughout North Carolina and other East Coast states is entering the Wilmington market for the first time this summer, a company official said this week.
 
Pivot Physical Therapy plans to open its first Wilmington office in July at 2301 S. 17th St., in 2,200 square feet of space formerly occupied by a Quiznos Subs restaurant.
 
Pivot offers physical therapy, aquatic therapy, occupational medicine and sports medicine services throughout Delaware, Maryland, Northern Virginia, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Washington, D.C., with 22 locations in North Carolina. Currently, the Pivot Physical Therapy office closest to Wilmington is in Jacksonville. 
 
“Our goal is to be a strong North Carolina provider,” said Brad Hancock, a physical therapist and regional president of Pivot Physical Therapy. “Physical therapy is about convenience and good care, and we strive to create convenient locations where people work, live and play while providing a very patient-centric environment.”

Hancock said the Wilmington location, which is next to a Port City Java and near New Hanover Regional Medical Center, is currently under construction, with a target opening date of July 1.
 
The Wilmington office will employ two physical therapists and two to three support staff members, Hancock said.
 
Pivot’s presence in the region could expand from there.
 
“We’re looking at additional opportunities in surrounding communities and counties as well,” Hancock said.

Wilmington-based Eastern Carolinas Commercial Real Estate represented the landlord, Wilkinson Properties, in the lease while Micah Groeber, a broker with Atlantic Retail Properties, represented Pivot Physical Therapy.