WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – The City of Wilmington has opened a temporary park downtown to mark the country’s 250th anniversary.
The “pop-up” park, located at 305 Chestnut Street, was designed to encourage community, connection and civic pride, according to the city.
The park is located on the same lot where developer Cape Fear Holdings planned to build a grocery store before backing out of the purchase in December. Wilmington City Council approved a $1.7 million bid from Cape Fear Holdings for the grocery store development back in 2024.
The grocery store would have addressed downtown Wilmington’s food desert, a designation given to neighborhoods that lack access to full-service grocery stores. Leaders said the development would have likely been a Publix, following Cape Fear Holdings’ pattern of developing similar stores in the area.
No replacement grocery store plans have officially been announced for the site. However, the Northside Food Co-op, a nonprofit working to bring a grocery store to the area, said in an April newsletter that it has continued meeting with city officials and planning for a community-owned store.
Since January, the co-op board says it has met with Wilmington City Council to discuss the feasibility of a community-owned store and engaged county commissioners about the grocery gap. The group says it has also worked with architects on a multi-use building that includes a grocery store and space for local food entrepreneurs.
The co-op said it plans to continue identifying a location with local officials, securing funding and updating its business plan to reflect Wilmington’s current grocery landscape.
While no timeline has been given for when a grocery store might open in the area, the co-op says it remains determined, writing in its newsletter: “We deserve food and we will get it.”
Copyright 2026 WECT. All rights reserved.
Dining and Cooking