The first businesses are open in the Cargo District’s food court, Cargo West, with others set to open their doors in April. 

Like much of the Cargo District, the restaurants in Cargo West, located at 615 S.15th St., operate out of 20-foot shipping containers with walk-up windows for ordering. Cargo District developer Leslie Smith said three restaurants are currently open, and he expects others to open next month.

The Cargo District is a growing restaurant and shopping area that includes parts of Queen, Castle, 15th, 16th and 17th streets, along with areas on Wrightsville Avenue.

Sinful Cupcakes was the first to open in Cargo West, said owner Alena Degon. She held a soft opening for the cupcake shop in mid-December. Degon said she hopes warm weather and the new restaurants will bring more foot traffic to the area, and she’s hopeful this summer will be the “best summer ever for Sinful Cupcakes.”

Having a brick-and-mortar location is a “big milestone” for her business, which she previously operated out of her home in Leland.

“It also allows for more consistent sales, potential collaborations with neighboring businesses, and a chance to become a staple in Wilmington’s growing food scene,” Degon wrote in an email to the Business Journal. (Sinful Cupcakes and Sunset Slush are shown in Cargo West below.)

Zeke’s has been open in Cargo West for just over a month. Owner Nick Cole said he’s looking forward to the other restaurant openings in the area to increase the area’s visibility.

“I think it’ll be really great when everyone’s open,” he said. “Right now, it’s kind of us just trying to make sure everybody knows we’re there.”

Cole said he’s excited to be part of the Cargo District community. So far, the new location has seen a mix of customers just finding out about Zeke’s and those who know the restaurant, which specializes in acai and poke bowls, from its Wrightsville Beach location.

Sunset Slush opened in Cargo West at the beginning of March, said Cassandra Kelley, who co-owns the business with her husband, Will. 

“We were excited to get in in March,” Cassandra Kelley said. “It’s always nice to open a little bit before it gets too busy to work out any kinks you have and get to know everybody.”

The Kelleys previously operated a Sunset Slush location on Castle Street before deciding to move to the Cargo West location. Cassandra Kelley said they were drawn to Cargo West because it’s a family-oriented “destination place” that's geared toward adults and kids alike.

Seoul Sushi has announced its plans to open in Cargo West on April 4, and other restaurants are gearing up to follow. Elizabeth Shepard and her husband, Brandon, plan to open Shepard Barbecue and Taco Papi in side-by-side shipping containers in Cargo West in April. 

The two currently operate a location of Shepard Barbecue in Emerald Isle, which was featured on Guy Fieri’s Food Network show Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. The two also previously ran a food truck that specialized in Oaxacan-style tacos. 

Elizabeth Shepard said they’re excited to get to Wilmington and to join the growing community of businesses inside the Cargo District.

“Everybody we've met has been super hospitable and willing to help each other, and it's just been a great experience,” she said. “So far, we're really looking forward to just helping to build up that part of the community.”

Other Cargo West restaurants set to open soon include I Love Empanadas, Mike’s Vegan Grill, Astro Dogs and Boom Food, Smith said. Two other restaurants slated for Cargo West have yet to be announced.

“None of the venues compete with one another. The idea was if you get 12 food trucks, you’ve got variety, and well, variety is the spice of life,” Smith said. “If we have that much variety here, we think that we will attract people from a number of different areas in Wilmington, young, old, in between.”

Once the restaurant spaces are filled, Smith said he’ll start work on bringing office space to Cargo West’s upper floors. He said the food hall brings another draw for the Cargo District and Wilmington.

“It’s one more thing that will attract people from all over Wilmington,” he said. “To me, the Cargo District has very much been a hub of the community for all walks of life and types of people just to come and enjoy.”