At Thanksgiving this year, the staff of Apple Annie’s Bake Shop will have an extra something to be grateful for.   That’s when construction to expand the bakery’s Kerr Avenue location should be nearing completion, giving the company a bigger, more streamlined base from which to operate its growing e-commerce business, said owner Rob Cooley.   ...

This year the treats arrived before Halloween in Burgaw. On Oct. 9, Marty and Eve Anne Schechter opened Scoops Ice Cream Parlor at 795 U.S. 117 S. The new shop features a whimsical monster decorative theme, but those monsters aren't playing tricks. Business has been steady ever since the shop opened its doors, Marty Schechter said.   “We offer hand-dipp ...

Over the years, Wilmington’s Brooklyn Arts District has been like a flower renewing its bloom whether it was springtime or not. This year, the neighborhood is once again blossoming with two new restaurants set to open in the fall.   They will join a myriad of other establishments aiming to lend to the district’s status as one of the city’s up-and-c ...

Brunswick Beer & Cider Company is now under construction in Brunswick Forest. Jud Watkins, owner of Wrightsville Beach Brewery, announced plans for the Leland brewery and cidery last year. “There’s been a lot of interest already just in announcing that we were planning to expand in the area over a year ago. A lot of folks have come into Wrightsvi ...

There is good news for fans of Cape Fear Community College’s Our Place restaurant – sort of.   After remaining closed for some months because of the COVID-19 virus, the showcase for CFCC’s hospitality management and culinary arts programs has reopened to the public for its regular fall semester Wednesday dinner service. The catch? Our Place is full ...

A fast-growing franchise, Dave’s Hot Chicken, is expected to open a restaurant at Independence Mall early next year.   The fast-casual restaurant chain will mark its first location in North Carolina – and on the East Coast – when it opens in Wilmington. Soon after Dave’s plants its flag at Independence Mall, it will open a restaurant in Ralei ...

Veggie Wagon owners Max and April Sussman are using their 12 years of business experience to not only expand their business model but allow others to become entrepreneurs. When Garrett Shaver, the couple’s beer rep from Day 1 of opening the first Veggie Wagon, was ready to embark on a new adventure, the Sussmans knew they had a recipe for success. The couple is pr ...

In October 2020, Sweet N Savory Café launched a new business model, jettisoning a tips-based system in favor of providing a $15 hourly wage for everyone on the staff.   One year on, how is the model working?   “It works really well in terms of teamwork,” owner Rob Shapiro said Tuesday. “It removes the ‘hustle’ – serv ...

When the husband-and-wife team of Matthew Walker and Jennifer Concklin open three10 this month, the pair hopes to bring something new and fresh with a modern Southern menu to Wilmington.   The pair first started making plans for a restaurant back in 2018, and now three years later, it’s finally becoming a reality.   “I wanted a more traditional sp ...

In 1999, the state of North Carolina and the Eastern European country Moldova entered into a partnership that has endured the years. Local Wilmington advocates, who have seen firsthand the beauty – as well as the poverty – in this country, want to bring a taste of its culture to this area while improving quality of life abroad.   Retired medical libraria ...