Southern Season has put the brakes on plans to open a store in Wilmington, according to company officials.
 
The Chapel Hill-based gourmet goods retailer was looking to open a smaller version of its store, known as Taste of Southern Season, in the Port City by the end of the year. The Chapel Hill-based store has been facing bankruptcy reorganization, management changes and a potential auction sale of the company Friday.
 
“Wilmington will not open before end of the year, as originally projected,” company spokeswoman Jill Lucas said in a recent email in response to questions about the future of the Wilmington location.
 
Earlier this month, the News & Observer reported that Southern Season, which is in the middle of a bankruptcy filing, named a new CEO, with plans to sell.
 
The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in June, listing its liabilities at $18.3 million then, according to court documents. The company this year closed its stores in Richmond, Virginia, and Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina.
 
Founded in 1975, Southern Season specializes in gourmet foods, cookware, gift baskets and wine.