WILMINGTON — Total Wine & More is making moves into the Cape Fear region.
The Maryland-based retailer is eyeing a new location at the old Earth Fare store, located at 943 Military Cutoff Rd. The 22,700-square-foot space is the anchor of Renaissance Market, across from the Mayfaire shopping center.
An Asheville-based grocer, Earth Fare announced it was closing all its specialty stores in early 2020. It had been just over a year since the Wilmington store opened its doors.
On behalf of Total Wine, ADA Architects is applying for demolition and building permits in New Hanover County to reconstruct the inside of the former Earth Fare as Total Wine. The renovations include tearing down existing walls and ceilings and improving the lighting, HVAC and more, plus adding walk-in coolers and a humidor for cigars and tobacco.
It also sought an exemption permit from North Carolina public health law to be able to host occasional alcohol tastings with single-use, disposable plastic cups.
The closest Total Wine location to Wilmington currently is in Myrtle Beach. It opened in April 2019 on Seaboard Street in the building of a former H. H. Gregg. A portion of sales from the grand opening benefitted Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum.
The retailer is known for selecting a charitable organization to raise money on its first day of operating.
Across the nation, Total Wine has 229 chains across 27 states. This would be the 13th store in North Carolina.
The superstore carries a large selection of beer and seltzer along with, of course, wine. It also sells mixers and accessories. Due to North Carolina laws, it does not sell spirits in the state, but it does elsewhere in the country.
Wilmington-based Trask Land Co. is listed as the property owner on the permit requests. Ohio’s ADA Architects is the applicant.
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