The first company to purchase land inside New Hanover County’s Blue Clay Business Park has temporarily paused its plans for the site.

Stone importer and distributor Francini Inc. has put its project on hold, the company’s location manager Sean Banester confirmed in an email to the Greater Wilmington Business Journal. But he said the company remains committed to building in the developing 120-acre business park. 

“Francini Inc. is determined and committed to constructing a building on our parcel of land in Blue Clay Business Park,” Banester wrote. “Due to the extremely poor condition of the soil on our landsite, we have had to put our project temporarily on hold.
 
“With the particular nature of our business and the scope of our original project, a significant amount of time has had to be taken to redesign and plan out our future facility,” he added.

In fall 2023, the Southern California-based company purchased just under 6 acres in the park, with plans to build a 100,000-square-foot warehouse, distribution facility and showroom. At the time, company officials said they expected to invest $10 million in the new facility and create dozens of jobs. 

Francini Inc. currently has a location in Wilmington at 406 Landmark Drive. Company officials have said the Blue Clay park’s proximity to Interstate 40, the Port of Wilmington and a partnership with the county all factored into its decision to locate there.

When asked about the Francini project, New Hanover County spokesperson Alex Riley said it was in the planning stages and that county officials “look forward to seeing their investments come to fruition.” 

Representatives from Wilmington Business Development, which is recruiting businesses to the park, did not respond to a request for comment.

Banester said the company will continue to push the project forward, despite the setback.

“There is not anybody more disappointed than us that we are not currently preparing to move into a new building,” he wrote, “however, like any truly successful business or person that is faced with adversity, we are facing it head-on and are poised to come out on top.”

The business park has attracted interest from other companies with a local presence, including sister companies Coastal Millwork Supply Co. and Risley Padula and FFT Cabinetry. 

According to McKinley Building Corp. officials, construction is underway on the Coastal Millwork Supply Co. building, with completion of the more than 62,000-square-foot facility on 5.5 acres slated for October.