At Mayfaire Town Center, crews have begun demolishing the former restaurant building in front of The Fresh Market grocery store.

The long-vacant building is being destroyed to make way for a new feature at the mixed-use center – an Element by Westin hotel.

CBL Properties (NYSE:CBL) and Vision Hospitality Group announced in January that they will build the 83,000-square-foot hotel at 1055 International Drive. The former restaurant building there previously held Main Street Brewing Co. and before that, Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill.

Paige Coniglio, marketing director for Mayfaire, said in an email Thursday that the demolition's timeline is hard to predict but it could be complete within a month.

The 139-room Element by Westin hotel will mark the brand’s entrance into the Wilmington market, a news release stated. Construction on the project is expected to begin soon with an anticipated opening in spring 2024, the release stated. The hotel is being developed in a 49-51 joint venture between CBL and Vision Hospitality. 

Five years ago, another restaurant building at Mayfaire was demolished to offer new space to potential tenants. A new building that took the former Macaroni Grill's place holds a First Watch restaurant and Buff City Soap.