One of Wilmington’s largest retail developments is nearing full occupancy and has additional plans to expand.

Hank Miller, senior vice president and broker with Wilmington-based Cape Fear Commercial, said Wednesday that a 1,120-square-foot retail unit is all that remains available in the more than 200,000-square-foot Smith Creek Station development at 132 Racine Drive.

The open unit is part of a roughly 17,000-square-foot shopping center anchored by Kohl’s that is part of Smith Creek Station, which is located blocks from University of North Carolina Wilmington and sits west of the busy Racine Drive and Eastwood Road intersection.

Miller said while the unit, which was occupied by Muscle Max before the business relocated to the Willow Woods Shopping Center on Oleander Drive, has been available since Nov. 1, the space is already netting interest from potential retail users.

Cape Fear Commercial is the primary leasing and management team for Smith Creek Station.

“As a commercial real estate broker, I’m excited about what is occurring,” Miller said of the area’s continued increase in new retail leasing activity. “You’re starting to see retail comeback to the area.”

While a number of Smith Creek Station’s national eateries and big box anchors – such as Texas Roadhouse, Buffalo Wild Wings, Home Depot and Gold’s Gym – remained rooted in the development, the Kohl’s-anchored shopping plaza has experienced a number of tenant changes during the past several months.

One the largest additions to Smith Creek Station will be The Little Gym – a national franchise that caters to physical activities for infants and children. It is slated to open its first Wilmington location in 4,200 square feet of retail space in the development’s shopping center.

Miller said officials with the gym plan to open sometime in January.

Springleaf Financial Services, which relocated from University Commons on South College Road, also opened its branch in the shopping center – occupying roughly 2,100 square feet of space, Miller said.

“We had to relocate Neuwirth Motors’ office to make room for The Little Gym addition,” Miller said. “They are now in about 2,000 square feet next to Springleaf.”

And more changes could be in store for Smith Creek Station.

Miller said he and his Charlotte-based business partner are currently marketing the development’s last parcel of land, located between Home Depot and Gold’s Gym, for a build-to-suit retailer.

“The site can accommodate a 10,000-square-foot retail development,” Miller said. “Its construction would be tenant driven.”

Miller said as the area’s economy improves, he expects the pace of leasing in and around the Racine Drive corridor to continue.

“We feel pretty confident,” Miller said of the region’s current market conditions. “I think going forward we are in position to see more growth because things are getting better.”