While Brunswick County as a whole is considered underserved in some retail categories according to a recent report, the areas closest to the New Hanover County line could see a boom in retail growth in the coming months.

The new owners of 60 acres of undeveloped land on the east side of U.S. 17 in northern Brunswick County are in the process of coming up with a plan for the property that will include retail, said Don Harley of Harley & Associates, a firm that lists numerous commercial properties in the county.

Another 25 acres next to the Harris Teeter at Waterford could be next, he said.  

“We’re getting a lot of activity with respect to retail developers very interested in that site,” Harley said.

A retail study presented to officials and local business leaders in November says, “The strongest opportunity for retail growth in Brunswick County is currently in Leland,” and its proximity to Wilmington and “the concentrated residential growth will drive additional retail to the market.” 

U.S. 17 and Village Road in Leland; U.S. 17 and N.C. 211 in Supply; Main Street and Holden Beach Road in Shallotte; and N.C. 133, N.C. 211 and Long Beach Road in Southport made up the four focus areas of the study, commissioned by the county’s economic development panel earlier this year.

Lacy Beasley, vice president of business development for Retail Strategies, the firm hired by the Brunswick County Economic Development Commission to complete the retail market research, presented some of the findings.

“Retail, through the recession, started to gain a lot more interest among industrial development boards,” Beasley said.

The report, titled “Retail Market Research & Strategic Plan Overview,” was paid for with $30,000 from the Brunswick County Economic Development Foundation.

“I would argue that retail is perhaps the most dynamic of all the commercial real estate sectors,” Beasley said during her presentation.

A major developer has been looking at the Supply area as a potential site for what would be the largest shopping center in Brunswick County, Jim Bradshaw, executive director of the Brunswick County Economic Development Commission,  said recently.

Developers of the potential center have not submitted any site plans to the county’s planning department so far, county staff members said.

The Retail Strategies report highlighted some potential opportunities:

In Leland’s Village Road area: “Convenience shopping categories to catch traffic to and from running errands or work such as restaurant, fitness, dry cleaners, nail and hair salons, office supplies and other service oriented concepts will work here.”

For Supply, in addition to a shopping center suggestion, the report says the existing trade area “being serviced by the retailers today consists of 6,000 people. If a regional center were not developed in Supply, the market could still support a dozen new retailers and restaurants.”

In Shallotte, the report says the retail node anchored by Lowe’s Home Improvement, Coastal Cinemas and Planet Fun at U.S. 17 and N.C. 130 (Whiteville Road) “has significant potential for retail and restaurant growth.”

In the case of Southport, where two grocery-anchored shopping centers are in the works nearby, the report says, “Given the current retail landscape, it is best to continue to focus on value, convenience and service oriented retail” in the nodes outside of downtown. In Southport’s downtown, the report recommends a focus “on potential businesses for entrepreneurs to open with an emphasis on jewelry, specialty goods, stationary, beauty supplies and family clothing.”