A new gas station and convenience store chain is set to break ground on its first Wilmington location later this year.

South Carolina-based Refuel plans to start construction by the end of 2023 on a gas station and convenience store in 7Bridge, a developing mixed-use hub near the southern edge of the Riverlights community. Although Refuel opened another store in Leland earlier this year, the Riverlights location will be the first inside Wilmington’s city limits.

The store is also slated to be the first business to open in 7Bridge. Plans include eight fuel pumps along with a “neighborhood store, deli and quick-serve restaurant,” according to a news release issued by Riverlights on Monday.

Site plans submitted to the city of Wilmington earlier this year show a proposed store with just over 6,500 square feet. About 5,000 square feet will be set aside for retail while the other 1,500 square feet will become a restaurant, according to site plans. The project is slated for a 1.8-acre tract near the intersection of River and Arnold roads.

The plans were submitted to city leaders in March, and the latest plan revisions were made this summer. Developers expect to open the gas station and convenience store in late 2024, the release stated.

Once open, Refuel will become part of what Riverlights developers envision as an “upscale retail village and commercial center,” according to the release. 7Bridge is a 120-acre mixed-use village that’s set to include a range of residential and commercial components.

That includes Argento, a luxury apartment community, The Cottages, a single-family, for-rent neighborhood, and Luminance at Riverlights, a combined independent living and assisted living campus for seniors.

Developers of 7Bridge also aim to bring in businesses that can accommodate daily errands and other service needs of the up to 14,000 residents who live in a 3-mile radius of the mixed-use hub. Those businesses could include fitness facilities, small medical practices, professional services, a veterinarian, a pet daycare, coffee shops and restaurants, according to the release. 

Refuel fits with that vision, said Nick Cassala, vice president of operations for Riverlights. 

“Refuel complements our plans for 7Bridge which we are developing as a pedestrian-friendly mixed-use commercial neighborhood that elevates the every day for our Riverlights community and the surrounding area,” he wrote in the news release. (A rendering is shown below.)

In addition to its fuel, the chain is also known for its fried chicken, pulled pork sandwiches and pizza, according to the release. Refuel operates 222 stores in states across the Southeastern U.S., including Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Arkansas and North Carolina. 

“We’re excited to bring Refuel’s unique blend of convenience, quality fuel, and delicious food offerings to the Riverlights community,” Colleen Barrett, Refuel’s senior director of design and construction, wrote in the release. “Our commitment to providing a top-notch experience for our customers aligns perfectly with the vision for 7Bridge.”

This is just the latest development for Riverlights, a 1,400-acre master-planned Wilmington community that’s situated along River Road near the Cape Fear River. In September, developers submitted plans for a new 24-building mixed-use project that aims to expand Marina Village – a residential and commercial hub that anchors the community’s northern end.