Some locally owned convenience stores in Wilmington have morphed into food and beverage destinations, including Bevvy Mart and Front Street Market & Produce. 

Founded in 2024 in Wrightsville Beach, Bevvy Mart is more than a traditional convenience store of yesteryear. It offers a coffee bar, a smoothie bar, convenience grocery items and grab-and-go food.

“Bevvy is a one-stop shop for all your everyday needs and wants,” said Chris Batten, co-founder at Bevvy Mart. “(It’s) Southern hospitality at its finest. In a way, that’s what this space has always provided. From a welcome center in the 1960s, to a gas station and convenience store, then a corner store, the space has always provided everyday needs and wants for those on the island.” 

He said that adding grab-and-go food just made sense and that it was “something easy and healthy people could pick up quickly and enjoy.” 

“Once we were able to secure chef James Bain, possibilities became endless,” he added. “We keep it simple; we keep it clean; we keep it easy. We are here for the early risers, the late-night snackers and everything in between.” 

In addition to its coffee, smoothies, convenience grocery items and food offerings, Bevvy Mart also sells merchandise. This includes hoodies, mugs, traveler tumblers, koozies, beanies, tote bags, sweatpants and hats. 

“Shopping culture is changing. Consumers want quick and easy grab-and-go options but also look for quality local places to spend their money. With an ongoing pressure to make health-conscious choices, Bevvy helps curb shoppers’ cravings for convenient shopping options while providing the ‘better for you’ options,” Batten said. 

He said that in the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) industry, many new brands are emerging and bringing new life to the grocery market. And what makes Bevvy unique, he explained, is its team. 

Batten, along with the other owners, Michaela Batten and Mason Barnes, all grew up on Wrightsville Beach and have been “shaped by the beach culture,” Chris Batten said. 

“Mason, a pro big-wave surfer, will use his traveling lifestyle to not only promote Bevvy on the road, but to discover and scout new ideas and opportunities for Bevvy,” he said. “Michaela brings her knowledge of the CPG market, retail buying experience and eye for merchandising to curate a top-notch in-store experience.” 

He also said that Bain is a vital part of the business and that together as a team, they will all bring the vision of Bevvy to life. 

As for the store’s future, Batten said Bevvy Mart looks forward to expanding into the collegiate market with University of North Carolina Wilmington in the fall. He added that the opportunity to bring the Bevvy experience to college students is a perfect crossover for the store. 

“We plan to keep finding these crossover opportunities for Bevvy,” he added. “Healthy convenience can work anywhere and everywhere. We are excited to take our business model and move it into local infrastructures, revitalizing and bringing them back to life. We just launched our online ordering for pickup and delivery.” 

Chris Batten also expressed appreciation for the store’s presence in the Wrightsville Beach community and said the area really embodies who they are as a brand.  

“We have built a sense of community that drives our business all year long,” he said. “Just like the beach, Bevvy is a ‘feel good’ experience. Our goal is to make things quick and easy, from sunup to sundown. We are able to utilize the active lifestyle of Wrightsville Beach, with lots of walkers and bikers and attractions like the loop.” 

He said that the area also allows Bevvy Mart to take advantage of the tourist crowd and lock in with rental businesses through its new delivery service. 

Front Street Market & Produce, another local business, also expanded its offerings to include food and beverage services after one of its owners, Atiba Johnson, listened to customer feedback. 

Located in downtown Wilmington, the store has been in business since 2020, and its revenue from food and beverage items, compared to traditional convenience store items, is split down the middle, according to Johnson. 

“It’s actually about 50/50,” he said. “During the fall and winter months, we sell more groceries. Summertime brings more of the convenience or quick buys.” 

And something else to note about Front Street Market & Produce is the space it provides for the community. 

“We are more than just a corner store,” Johnson added. “We are a community hub. We host pool tournaments, events and even a social space for the surrounding community. We are also a local U-Haul dealer.”

Johnson also explained that the store frequently adds new products in response to customer suggestions. In fact, one of its recent additions is live bait for local fishermen. 

But overall, with the expansion of offerings at both Front Street Market & Produce and Bevvy Mart, it’s clear that both stores are aiming to attract a wider range of customers through a one-stop-shop business model.