Surf City Promenade plans spring 2012 opening
The movies are coming to Surf City. Just think of the cleared lot behind the CVS as a preview of coming attractions.
The $10 million Promenade, which will feature movie theaters, a shopping center, bowling lanes and other attractions, was expected to open this spring on 17 acres at the corner N.C. 210 and N.C. 50 at the entrance to Surf City. That date has been pushed back to spring 2012, with construction expected to begin in July or August, according to developer Mo Afify.
“We’re plugging away at it,” Afify said. “Any project like this has its ups and downs. We’re doing better than most, I’d say.”
Afify said the project ran into a snag when a bank he was working with was taken over by another bank, costing the Promenade time.
“We’re now working with five or six other banks,” Afify said. “We won’t be making that mistake again. But everything has been put in place. Everything’s ready to go vertical.”
Afify said the Promenade likely will be brought up at the next Surf City town meeting when the plans for a shopping center there are discussed.
The property already contains a McDonald’s and a CVS Pharmacy. Two other tenants have signed on but, due to contractual agreements cannot be named, Afify said.
The 60,000 square foot entertainment complex is planned to have a central building, which will be leased by American Family Entertainment Centers. It is expected to house eight movie theaters, 16 bowling lanes, a space for interactive video games, a concession stand and a sports bar. It should employ nearly 250.
“We’re spending a lot of money on it. A lot,” Afify said without getting more specific. “The amount of money we’re already put in it – of course we’re pushing it forward.”
The theaters will be the first in Pender County, saving tourist and year-round residents a trip to Mayfaire for entertainment. Estimates are that the county loses as much as $12 million per year as people head to Jacksonville or Wilmington for non-beach related fun.
“We like to fill a need,” Afify said in an earlier interview. His company, which includes Access Realty, also developed the Gateway Plaza shopping center across the street from the new complex. “This isn’t just for the Chinese fire drill summertime traffic.”
In fact, he said, American Family agreed to lease and operate the property because of the year-round population as well as the high volume of traffic at that corner.
