A graduate of Metropolitan State University with a music degree, Norm Giblin used to teach piano lessons when he lived in Denver, Colorado. “But my wife [Kara Giblin] and I moved out here a few years ago and we were looking for business opportunities in Wilmington and found out that there was not a School of Rock here,” Norm Giblin said. School of Rock, a ...

It's a place where, for $5, a shopper can get a Spalding basketball or a T-shirt that says, "I know, I know I'm awesome. Let's not make a big deal about it." Five Below is a trendy discount retailer that offers much of its merchandise for $1 to $5 to $10, and it's one of the first stores to open in the exterior-facing, redeveloped portion of In ...

The opening of a third Habitat for Humanity ReStore location in New Hanover County came about from a classic case of supply and demand. “We are constantly doing research and hearing from customers at our existing stores as to where they would like to see another store,” said Steve Spain, executive director of Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity. “The Monkey ...

Wilmington Downtown Inc. (WDI) and the Longleaf Foundation announced Monday the final grants to small businesses through the Re-3 program. The latest recipients are Wilmington Wine, Bottega Art & Wine and Warehouse 1856, each receiving $1,000 grants, Dane Scalise, chair of the WDI board, said in an email. The $3,000 total in the latest and fin ...

Shopping centers in the Wilmington area are undergoing changes with or without the coronavirus pandemic, although not all of those changes are evident just by looking at them.   Mayfaire Town Center Day-to-day operations aren’t expected to be affected by a process announced last week by which Mayfaire Town Center owner and Mayfaire Community Center manager ...

Hanover Center in Wilmington is losing another large tenant with the closing of Stein Mart, where store closing signs hang in the window at the Oleander Drive shopping center. Announcing the clothing retailer's Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing last week, a Stein Mart news release stated, "The [Jacksonville, Florida-based] company expects to close a significant port ...

Hendrick Automotive Group has acquired Neuwirth Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram FIAT in Wilmington from Neuwirth Motors owner John Gillilan, according to a news release Tuesday. Located at 219 S. College Road, across the street from Jeff Gordon Chevrolet, the rebranded dealership has reopened as Hendrick Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM FIAT Wilmington.   Including an off-site fa ...

At least two more national chains, hampered by ongoing retail woes and the effects of the coronavirus, are the latest to announce they are closing their stores at Mayfaire Town Center on Military Cutoff Road. At the same time, Mayfaire Town Center owner CBL & Associates Properties Inc. is preparing to file for bankruptcy, according to a report recently published by& ...

A new store on Oleander Drive is expected to open next week. Practical Magic, which offers gemstones, crystals, handmade candles, essential oils, jewelry and more, is scheduled to begin welcoming customers at 10 a.m. Monday, said one of the owners, Carly McDonah. Customers will be socially distancing and using masks at the store at 5740 Oleander Drive, which wil ...

Oak Island was one of two places Wednesday where new Publix stores opened after the grocery chain halted such openings because of the coronavirus pandemic. "We had previously made the decision to pause on new store openings during COVID," said Kimberly Reynolds, community relations manager for the Charlotte division of Publix Super Markets, in an email Wednesd ...