Star-News, Wilmington, N.C., retail column.(Column)

Byline: Judy Royal

Oct. 31--HAMPSTEAD TO GET LOWES FOODS STORE ON U.S. 17: For years, Food Lion has been the only game in town for Hampstead grocery shoppers. But there's some competition in the works.

Lowes Foods is planning a 42,000-square-foot anchor store for Hampstead Towne Center, which will break ground on U.S. 17 in front of Olde Point early next year, developers say. Lowes Foods officials said the store will open in summer 2009.

Hampstead Commercial Properties LLC has been working on the planned shopping center for almost two years, said managing partner Mike Rokoski. In addition to Lowes Foods, it will include 39,000 square feet of retail space and two outparcels. Planned tenants include Two Guys Grille, Doctors Vision Center, Great Clips, Go Postal and Cooperative Bank, which plans to occupy one of the outparcels.

"If you just look around (the area), you have very few shopping opportunities," Rokoski said. "We really think we could make the nicest shopping experience in Hampstead on this site."

The developer is working with a Raleigh architect to build something attractive, "not your standard brick and metal boxes," he said. Details: www.hampstead townecenter.com.

--Beau Rivage Marketplace's Harris Teeter will soon have some company at its Carolina Beach Road site south of Monkey Junction. Firehouse Subs, Ultratan, Great Clips and a locally owned nail salon will open on either side, said Keith Austin, broker for Maus Warwick Matthews & Co. An adjacent 6,600-square-foot building will include a Pita Delite and P.T.'s Olde Fashioned Grille, he said, adding that shops should begin opening by January.