Upfits are underway for four commercial tenants, including a bagel shop and a pilates studio, at Pier 33, an apartment complex on the north end of downtown Wilmington.
Zeke’s Beans & Bowls, Studio Pilates and The Cove, a community of luxury houseboat rentals, became the latest tenants to lease ground-floor commercial space in the building. Bagel shop Bagel Boss signed a lease last year and is in the process of upfitting its space, according to John Gavin, an associate broker with Cameron Management.
Currently under construction at 32 Harnett St., Zeke’s Beans & Bowls will take over a nearly 1,300-square-foot space that previously housed Nautical Bowls. Zeke’s serves açai and poke bowls and currently has locations in Wrightsville Beach and the Cargo District, as well as stores in Virginia.
Studio Pilates, also under construction, is leasing roughly 1,800 square feet at 933 Nutt St. The reformer Pilates chain, which has locations across the U.S. and worldwide, plans to open in the downtown space in April, according to the company's website.
The Cove will occupy just over 1,400 square feet at 9 Brunswick St. The Cove Riverwalk Villas is a community of more than 30 luxury houseboat rentals at Port City Marina, which is adjacent to Pier 33. The space will serve as a dedicated welcome and check-in area for guests, according to Marcia Bittner, The Cove's general manager.
"In addition to check-ins, the vision is to create a small, curated storefront featuring products from other local businesses," Bittner wrote in an email, "along with a space where guests can connect with our crew for personalized recommendations on things to do, places to eat and experiences around Wilmington."
Bagel Boss is leasing a nearly 2,900-square-foot space at 28 Harnett St. The shop plans to bring New York-style bagels to downtown Wilmington. With construction underway, the business plans to open this summer, according to its social media pages.
The recent leases reflect broader growth and investment momentum in the northern end of downtown Wilmington, according to a news release from Cameron Management. Completed in 2020, the 286-unit Pier 33 “occupies a strategic infill position between two of downtown’s highest-performing event generators” – the Wilmington Convention Center and Live Oak Bank Pavilion, the release stated.
“As the River District continues to mature, Pier 33 is uniquely positioned at the intersection of entertainment, hospitality and residential growth,” Bryan Greene, a broker with Cameron Management, stated in the release. “The limited remaining availability underscores the strength of demand for well-located commercial space in downtown Wilmington.”
According to the release, the tenant mix is designed to support daytime traffic from nearby offices and Cape Fear Community College, as well as evening and weekend demand from concerts and conventions. The project is also supported by approximately 130 parking spaces in its structured deck and nearly 1,300 apartments, including Pier 33’s units, within a one-mile radius.
Two commercial spaces remain vacant at Pier 33, according to Gavin, including a roughly 3,100-square-foot space at 34 Harnett St. and just over 3,400 square feet at 11 Brunswick St.
The brokers are currently targeting a full-service restaurant or brewery for the space at 34 Harnett St., which also has a large outdoor grass area, and Gavin said the other space at 11 Brunswick St. would be ideal for a full-service or quick-service restaurant or retail concept.
“With only two commercial suites remaining, ownership is focused on securing experiential food and beverage operators that can further activate the waterfront environment,” Gavin wrote in an email to the Business Journal. “One suite includes direct access to an adjacent outdoor lawn, presenting opportunities for programmed events and community-oriented uses.”
Other existing commercial tenants at Pier 33 include Bonita Latin Fusion & Cocktails, Port City Marina, Bluewater Yacht Sales and Megarounds.
