CAROLINA BEACH — The Federal Point Shopping Center’s fate has been in question for months thanks to a drawn-out court proceeding, but it now appears things are starting to move.
Stores in the shopping center have received notices to vacate, a move that came without prior warning. After announcing its intentions to redevelop the shopping center, GHK Development promised to bring a new nationally-known grocery store to the center, and provide outparcel spaces.
Related story: Harris Teeter appeals judge’s decision to allow competing grocery store in Carolina Beach
But resistance came in the form of a legal battle brought on by Harris Teeter, which owns property adjacent to the shopping plaza, and asked whatever new grocery store is put in to provide interconnectivity — in essence, connecting the parking lot of the two stores. That did not sit well with GHK or its representatives and Carolina Beach Town Council approved the development without the requirements of interconnectivity.
This prompted Harris Teeter to file a motion in court to block the ruling from Town Council, a request that was denied by the courts.
Though tenants knew their days were numbered in the Federal Point Shopping Center, tenants were not given a timeline of when they would have to start looking for a new location, and some of them still have existing leases.
But on Wednesday, remaining stores were given notice to vacate within 30 days.
“I knew this day was going to come and in talking with the developer, it sounded like he would be getting in touch to go over options. Instead, we have had no word from Wilmington Holding Co. or GHK CapeFear development on the process,” Tip Top Frames owner Skip Sprague said.
Other stores in the area have shared similar stories and will have to find a new location soon. The Maxway department store has announced a going out of business sale, presumably because it was also ordered to vacate.
GHK Development did not respond to a request for comment by the time of publication. It is not yet know how the appeal from Harris Teeter is proceeding or when GHK will begin construction.
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