EDENTON — Town leaders recently considered a controversial proposal that would land a second grocery store in Edenton and help revitalize the Edenton Village Shopping Center, which has languished for lack of an anchor retail outlet.
The Edenton Town Council discussed that project, as well as other economic development and planning items on Tuesday, June 9.
Council also heard updates on the Hotel Hinton renovation and the town’s fiscal year 2026-27 budget deliberations. The budget process has grabbed residents’ attention after high real estate property valuations opened the possibility of steep increases in town tax bills.
The meeting was led by Mayor Pro Tem Elton Bond and included public comment on the budget, traffic safety and waterfront preservation.
SECOND GROCERY STOREAfter years of seemingly fruitless searching, the Edenton-Chowan Partnership has proposed a second grocery store chain for the Edenton Village Shopping Center on North Broad Street. A new store could bring new jobs to town by also helping to lure more tenants to the shopping center.
Food Lion moved to its current Virginia Road location in April 2016 after vacating the North Broad Street location. The chain continued leasing its former location until late 2020, a situation local residents and officials argued was hindering efforts to attract another grocery chain to that site.
Town Manager Corey Gooden explained the potential deal to open a second grocery store, saying the council needs to decide on a proposed letter of intent that would offer financial incentives to the new chain. He said the council also needs to consider a letter of intent regarding the plan, which he said was not an agreement, but an expression of interest and support while Chowan County considers the matter.
Gooden said any final economic development agreement would come back later for consideration and would be performance-based, with milestones determining eligibility for any incentives.
The plan would involve five $100,000 annual incentives to the new chain from both the town and county for a total incentive package of $1 million.
HINTON HOTEL PROGRESSCouncil also heard an update on the Hotel Hinton project by Dawson Tyler, who said the project has reached a major planning milestone. Tyler told council that 100% of construction drawings had been submitted to Chowan County inspections.
The plans include electrical, mechanical, plumbing, HVAC and life-safety systems, along with restoration of the lobby, plans for a tavern, an art gallery/meeting space and hotel rooms. Tyler said the project team is also working through details for an exterior courtyard that could serve as an event and music space near the Edenton Green.
Exterior plans include restoring the building’s colonnade, railing, balcony and window features. Tyler said the bottom two floors are expected to open as hotel space, with the upper floors initially allowing short-term rental use, with the intent of eventually operating the entire building as a 59-key hotel.
Gooden said the town remains on the timeline originally agreed for the project, while Tyler said that reviewing the permit package could take a couple of months because of the building’s complexity.
OTHER BUSINESSIn other business, the council approved an inducement resolution for 201 and 213 Tyler Lane. According to the agenda packet, the action indicates the town’s willingness to serve as the issuer of bonds for the project to renovate rental housing there, but the town would have no legal responsibility for principal or interest payments.
Council also heard an overview of GIS and mapping. The system is intended to help centralize information about streets, sidewalks, stormwater, water and sewer, electric assets and other infrastructure. Officials said the mapping will support planning, ADA accessibility work, emergency preparedness, grant applications and long-term infrastructure decisions.
Council also approved several appointments and reappointments to town boards, including the Edenton Preservation Commission, Planning Board and the Tree Committee.
PUBLIC COMMENTBudget concerns also surfaced during public comment. Resident Hal Murray questioned a proposed $250,000 contribution to Main Street Edenton, saying the amount was $50,000 higher than last year. He asked why the item appeared in the electric fund portion of the proposed budget. Murray said residents deserve more transparency about the use of taxpayer dollars.
Other speakers defended the town’s budget priorities. One resident praised the council for supporting town employees, including police, fire and public works staff, and for maintaining employee benefits despite rising costs.
Gooden said an updated second version of the proposed budget had been posted online following a June 2 finance committee workshop. Council is expected to consider the final budget ordinance on June 22, before the budget takes effect July 1.
Gooden also addressed Project Teapot, saying the town cannot yet forecast future sales tax or utility revenue from the project but continues to view it as a long-term economic development investment. Council members defended the project as part of a broader effort to strengthen downtown and create future jobs.
Project Teapot is described as an information technology outsourcing firm focused on creating long-term technology careers in rural America. According to the Edenton-Chowan Partnership, the project is expected to hire 61 full-time employees by the end of its third year and 155 full-time employees by the end of its fifth year.
Dining and Cooking