A Wilmington restaurant created by star chef Vivan Howard and her husband, Ben Knight, is expected to open in late 2017, in a redevelopment project that continues to attract additional tenants.

The building permit for Benny's Big Time Pizzeria was issued last week after some changes to the kitchen design, said Terry Espy, president of MoMentum Companies. Construction is under way in the building at 206 Greenfield St. in the South Front community, she said, with a winter opening anticipated.

Howard, New York Times-bestselling author of Deep Run Roots, and Knight are stars of the PBS show A Chef's Life and currently own restaurants in Kinston.

Dubbed South Front II and developed by Tribute Properties, the area where the couple's first Wilmington restaurant will be located includes apartments, an existing building that will be split into two stories for retail and office space, and a new building for additional restaurants and businesses behind Satellite Bar and Lounge.

Lydia Clopton, award-winning pastry chef from PinPoint Restaurant, has signed a lease for 1502 S. 3rd St. (pictured below) in South Front II, with plans to open a bakery and café by early next year. 

The small orange house at the corner of Third and Greenfield streets that will house Clopton's venture is one of the few stand-alone buildings that are part of the South Front development. Clopton said that although the building will undergo a major renovation, plans will incorporate as many of the historical aspects of the house as possible.
 
The bakery, which is yet to be named, will serve a variety of breads, pastries and sweets, as well as tea and coffee and some light breakfast and lunch options. There will be café seating as well as a deck.

“We’re really hoping to have Benny’s open by the end of the year with Lydia’s place following right behind it,” Espy said.
 
Espy said plans were approved at a city Board of Adjustment meeting last week for the new building to be located on Second Street behind Satellite Bar and Lounge. The building will house a new restaurant by Celeste Glass called The Second Glass as well as another restaurant and 6,000 square feet of office space. The structure will incorporate a number of shipping containers in homage to the nearby port.
 
“We’re thrilled that Wilmington is looking at architecture in a progressive manner and has allowed the incorporation of these containers into the project,” Espy said.
 
Although Espy could not yet comment on the second restaurant slated for that building, she did say that negotiations were under way for a concept that would include chef-driven street food and a possible butcher shop.
 
A Grand Opening Block Party is planned from 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 9 at  222 Greenfield St. for the South Front Community. The event will include music from the Phantom Playboys and sample menu items from Benny’s Big Time Pizzeria, along with some sweet treats from Clopton and a chance to learn about the new development.

Staff writer Cece Nunn contributed to this report.