Even as Black Friday has expanded into the week before Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday deals are teased ahead of the holiday, Small Business Saturday has grown in prominence, thanks to advocates of shopping locally and to the Small Business Administration.   “As our economy continues to stabilize, it’s more important than ever that consumers shop  ...

Family-run jewelry store REEDS has reopened in an expanded and renovated space in Independence Mall.  During the renovation, the retailer moved into an adjacent shop and increased its overall space by about a third, store manager Robert Claybrook estimates.  “We have more diamonds than we've ever had,” he said. “It’s a beautiful ...

Wilmington’s lone open-air cycling studio is steering into a new space in Autumn Hall, not far from its recent location in Mayfaire.  Recess provides “indoor cycling, outdoors” by inviting stationary cyclists into a 30-by-40-foot tent. Founded by former One Tree Hill actress Bevin Prince and her late husband, William Friend, Recess will open in it ...

A massive Harris Teeter grocery store and another location of athletic footwear and apparel store Fleet Feet are the first stores opening in a new Wilmington shopping center. While Fleet Feet is currently open at its new location, 3852 Carolina Beach Road, the 78,000-square-foot Harris Teeter is expected to open Oct. 26, according to a sign at The Crossroads at Ind ...

A new store is coming to the commercial portion of Wilmington master-planned development Riverlights, according to a news release Monday. Kasa Mercantile, which offers "modern and sophisticated" home decor, clothing and gifts, will open Oct. 15 in Marina Village at Riverlights, a 1,400-acre community along the Cape Fear River on River Road in Wilmington. &q ...

Lara O'Brien said she considered other shopping centers as locations for her ballet school, but a space at Mayfaire Town Center danced into her heart. Tutu School, a franchise that caters to children ages 18 months to 8 years, opened at 925 Town Center Drive in September. A downtown location of Tutu School that had a separate owner closed in January last year. ...

Club Champion has expanded to Wilmington with a new fitting studio now open on Market Street.  The custom golf club fitter will open its fourth location in North Carolina with its Wilmington studio, according to a release Wednesday.  The brand sells and builds custom-fitted golf clubs using golf’s top brands. Club Champion has more than 100 locations ...

A Wilmington business that started in 1977 is under new ownership. Holden Quinn and his father, Kim Quinn, bought Wilmington Awning, Shutter & Shade in a deal finalized in June, according to a news release from MidStreet Mergers and Acquisitions, which advised the previous owner in the deal. The transaction's financial details were not disclosed. Founded by J ...

A national women's clothing retailer is shuttering one of its Wilmington stores. An email to Talbots customers Tuesday said the store at 3607 Oleander Drive will close Saturday but also stated, "This isn't goodbye," encouraging shoppers to visit the Talbots at Mayfaire. In an email Wednesday, a Talbots spokesperson said, "Our lease expired at t ...

Last week, doors to the much-anticipated Total Wine & More quietly opened, as the Wilmington location readies for an official grand opening Thursday. Taking over the short-lived Earth Fare on Eastwood Road, Total Wine & More delivers what its name suggests: international and local wine and beer from a wide range of price points, drinking-related accessories and ...