With the purchase of 2035 Eastwood Road, a Wilmington boat dealership is expanding again.

Atlantic Marine bought the property, which includes 33,000 square feet of buildings on about 2.4 acres, for $1.75 million from Eastwood Canal, a Crocker family limited liability company, according to a New Hanover County deed.

N. Kay Crocker bought the location in 1973 and operated a Grady-White Boats dealership that grew to prominence within the boatbuilder's network of dealerships, according to a news release. After N. Kay Crocker died in 2009, the dealership closed; Atlantic Marine added Grady-White Boats to its other new boat lines and hired former Crocker's Marine employees.

These days, Atlantic Marine is one of the largest Grady-White Boats dealers in the Carolinas and has gained accolades for its sales volume from the boat brand, the release said.

The Eastwood Road acquisition is the latest sign of growth for Atlantic Marine, which added a more than 30,000-square-foot, climate-controlled warehouse in 2013 and an indoor Grady-White Boats showroom in 2014.

David Floyd, president of Atlantic Marine, said the recently purchased Eastwood facilities will allow his business to expand its service operations, which will be moved to Eastwood from Wrightsville Avenue. 

"It's ideal for us. We had outgrown the current spaces that we have," Floyd said Tuesday. He added that the facilities are at "a great location for what we have to offer."

The property is close to the Wrightsville Beach bridge and was formerly home to retail locations for Coastal Urge and the Ella Vickers Sailcloth Collection.

Now that Atlantic Marine owns it, the Eastwood Road location will soon feature a new facade that will complement its showroom at 6707 Oleander Drive, the release said. 

"The facility design will allow customers and staff to see between the lobby and the shop. An expanded parts facility will allow stocking of more specialty parts and easier inventory management," the release said.

According to the release, customers without trailers will also be accommodated. Boats will be hauled to and from Atlantic Marine’s Wrightsville Beach location, 101 Keel St., by the dealership's growing fleet of service trucks and trailers.

"Atlantic Marine considers the acquisition of this property the next step in improving their customers’ experience and increasing capacity to meet demand. Improvements to the property are expected to begin in the next 30 days, with the facility opening early 2018," the release said.

In addition to selling Grady-White Boats and Yamaha Outboards, Atlantic Marine has been family-owned and operated in southeastern North Carolina since 1976 and offers a marina, service facility and storage facility.