After seven years at 111 Military Cutoff Road, Professional Builders Supply plans to move to U.S. 421 because of the upcoming Military Cutoff extension project.

McKinley Building Corp. started construction this month on the company's new 50,000-square-foot facility on 10 acres at 4301 U.S. 421 North.

“The new facility is in what we consider to be a perfect location, so we’re very excited about it from that standpoint,” said Professional Builders Supply CEO Van Isley. “It allows us good access to the whole market.”

Isley's company, founded in Raleigh in 2003, opened its Wilmington location in 2009 and sells building supplies mainly to single-family homebuilders with some multi-family customers, Isley said. Recently, the firm has seen a noticeable increase in business from Brunswick County, he said.

Professional Builders Supply, which also has locations in Raleigh, Charlotte and Charleston, plans to move its Wilmington operation to the new U.S. 421 location in late summer, when the new facility is expected to be finished.

The Wilmington branch currently has 30 employees in a 30,000-square-foot building.

“We’ll add some folks as we get over there and grow the business,” Isley said.

In addition to getting more space, the company is also moving to U.S. 421 with the expectation that water lines will eventually be extended along the corridor. Before that happens, Professional Builders Supply will be using underground water tanks, Isley said. 

Last year, New Hanover County officials agreed to fund a preliminary engineering report to determine the design and cost of extending water and sewer along the industrial corridor.

On Dec. 29, Seamist Properties LLC bought the land from Invista in a $740,500 purchase of 25 acres, according to a deed recorded in New Hanover County. Professional Builders Supply plans to buy the 10-acre portion where it’s new facility is being constructed. The company has been leasing its Military Cutoff location, which is in the path of the Military Cutoff Road extension project that's expected to start in 2017.