With new retailers and proposed development, shopping centers across the Cape Fear region are slated to see changes this year. The retail evolution comes as both new and longtime shopping centers aim to serve the needs of the region's growing population. Here is a roundup of recent additions and projects in the pipeline.
 

Independence Mall — 3500 Oleander Drive

Owner: 4th Dimension Properties | Square Footage: More than 800,000 square feet

Description: Independence Mall opened in 1979 as Wilmington's first fully enclosed shopping mall. The mall's footprint has evolved over the years with the addition of a new wing in the early 2000s. More recently, former mall owner Rouse Properties added grocery store tenant Lidl to the mall and worked to bring new dining and retail concepts into outparcels near the mall.

What's new: Independence Mall has a new owner. In August, Florida-based 4th Dimension Properties acquired much of the mall in a more than $50 million deal. The purchase did not include anchor tenants Belk and Dillard's, which own their buildings. Felix Reznick, principal with 4th Dimension Properties, said his firm aims to fill any vacant retail spaces and bring in new uses that could appeal to a range of customers. So far, a handful of new leases have been signed, including a new Build-A-Bear kiosk and Jeff's Bagel Run. The N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher also has plans to establish an 8,000-square-foot mini aquarium inside the mall while the aquarium is closed for a $75 million renovation and expansion project this year.
 

The Pointe at Barclay — 1450 Barclay Pointe Blvd.

Owners: Cameron Management and Collett Capital | Square Footage: 150,000 square feet

Description: The Pointe at Barclay, a 150-acre master-planned development at the intersection of Independence Boulevard and South 17th Street, broke ground in 2016. Anchored by The Pointe 14 movie theater, the project includes seven additional buildings occupied by a mix of retail and restaurant tenants. Beyond its retail space, a Home2 Suites by Hilton hotel opened in 2024, while residential construction continues to boom nearby. The Pointe owner Cameron Management and Charlotte-headquartered firm Childress Klein, for example, partnered to develop the 405-unit Element Barclay and 286-unit Element Barclay Station in 2018 and 2023, respectively.

What's new: More residential units are coming to The Pointe. Cameron Management and Childress Klein submitted plans late last year for Element at Barclay Flats, an apartment complex with 290 units. Eventually, the developers have said they expect to build another complex with roughly 300 units. Plans have also been submitted for a 72-unit townhome project in the area. The Children's Museum of Wilmington acquired the last vacant parcel at The Pointe at Barclay in October. Museum officials have said they're still planning for potential uses for the property.
 

Leland Shopping Centers

As residential growth continues to boom in Leland, retail and commercial growth have followed. Along U.S. 17, shopping centers of various sizes have developed and grown in recent years. They include Leland Town Center, Waterford Village, Westgate Marketplace and The Villages at Brunswick Forest.

What's new: A new shopping center, called Leland Village, is taking shape near Brunswick Forest. The more-than-130,000-square-foot shopping center will be anchored by a 50,000-square-foot Publix grocery store, along with junior anchors Marshalls and Ulta Beauty. New tenants have also landed at Leland Town Center, including an O2 Fitness and a Texas Roadhouse. Nearby in Waterford Village, a Tru by Hilton hotel opened in 2023, while planning is underway for a new Hampton Inn, among other commercial projects. Jackey's Creek, a more-than-1,440-acre master-planned community, was annexed into the town of Leland last fall. The project is slated to include 6,000 residential units, an elementary school and multiple commercial buildings.
 

The Village at Myrtle Grove — 5521 Carolina Beach Road

Owner: Big V Property Group | Square Footage: More than 74,000 square feet

Description: The Village at Myrtle Grove is a retail hub for a growing Carolina Beach Road corridor. Big V Property Group purchased the Home Depot-anchored shopping center, located at the corner of Carolina Beach Road and Piner Road, in 2016. The center is home to several retail buildings, with tenants that range from national chains to local restaurants and retailers. A handful of vacant outparcels are also primed for new development within the retail hub.

What's new: The shopping center is slated to get its second anchor later this year, with a new 128,000-square-foot Target that's currently under construction. Alongside the Target store, Big V Property officials have converted the footprint of a former Staples store, which closed in 2023, into three retail spaces. Rack Room Shoes plans to lease about half of that space, according to officials with Big V Property Group. The shopping center has also seen several new leases in the last year, including fitness training gym F45, hair salon Supercuts, UPS Store and restaurant chains such as Playa Bowls and Chipotle.
 

Hanover Center — 3501 Oleander Drive

Owners: Harbour Retail Partners and Perform Properties | Square Footage: More than 300,000 square feet

Description: One of Wilmington's oldest suburban malls, Hanover Center opened in 1956 at the corner of Independence Boulevard and Oleander Drive. The retail center, anchored by Harris Teeter, was developed by Hugh MacRae II. The MacRae family owned it for more than 60 years. In 2019, Harbour Retail Partners acquired the shopping center in a $51 million deal. Hanover Center's major retail tenants include O2 Fitness, Drift Coffee & Kitchen, Great Outdoor Provision Co., Hobby Lobby, Books-A-Million and Office Depot.

What's new: Construction is ongoing on an approximately 14,000-square-foot space that's being leased by national retailer Boot Barn. The Boot Barn space will occupy a portion of the 37,000-square-foot footprint previously occupied by SteinMart, with Homesense, which opened in 2023, taking up the rest. Other recent leases include Family Dollar and Qdoba Mexican Eats. The Helmsman, a 262-unit apartment complex located behind Hanover Center, began leasing its first units in late 2023. The multifamily project is located on 7 acres originally slated for Hanover Center. Last year, the complex changed hands in a nearly $72 million deal.
 

Mayfaire Town Center — 6835 Conservation Way

Owner: CBL Properties | Square Footage: 610,000 square feet

Description: More than 20 years ago, the first stores in Mayfaire Town Center opened their doors off Military Cutoff Road. The shopping center has evolved over the years with the addition of thousands of square feet of retail space, along with nearby office, hotel and residential development. In recent years, a series of nationally recognized retailers have also signed onto the center's tenant mix.

What's new: Last year, Dave & Buster's became one of Mayfaire Town Center's newest tenants. The adult arcade and restaurant chain has a footprint of approximately 22,000 square feet. The center has also added a series of upscale retailers that aim to elevate the tenant mix, according to Mayfaire officials. Such brands include Madewell, which opened last year, along with Free People, Aerie and J. Crew Factory. A store location of national ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's opened in February this year. The hotel Element Wilmington at the town center opened its doors in 2025. The six-story hotel has 139 rooms. It was built through a partnership between Mayfaire Town Center's owner, CBL Properties, and Chattanooga-based Vision Hospitality Group.