“It’s been a rough couple of years,” she said.
First, it was Hurricane Florence. Then construction delays. The shop was only open about six months before the COVID-19 pandemic started.
“I feel like we struggled right out of the gate,” she said.
But, with pandemic restrictions easing, she said she was starting to feel hopeful again, and working on a marketing plan to capitalize on the summer tourist season. Then she learned another candy store, a national chain, was opening about a block away.
With dozens of locations, The Rocket Fizz Soda Pop and Candy Shop is the fastest growing candy franchise brand in America, according to the company.
Balanced Economic Investments Drive A Strong, Resilient Community by Natalie English wilmingtonbiz.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from wilmingtonbiz.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Downtown sidewalks and streets along two blocks of N. Front Street will be torn up beginning in early 2022 as part of a $3.5 million streetscape project. (Port City Daily photo/Johanna F. Still)
WILMINGTON Businesses spoke, the city listened. The North Front Street streetscape project initially slated to begin in October has been pushed back to the beginning of 2022.
The delayed timing is a response to dozens of concerned downtown businesses and advocacy organizations, including Wilmington Downtown Inc. and the Downtown Business Alliance, which asked the city to refrain from tearing up two blocks during the holiday season.
The $3.5 million streetscape project, financed by the city’s 2014 voter-approved transportation bond, plans for a complete street and sidewalk redesign on N. Front Street between Chestnut and Walnut streets. Cape Fear Public Utility is also partnering with the city on the project to replace ’40s-era utility lines.
A proposed bill would allow open containers in downtown areas, Wilmington businesses support the move
A bill is introduced to create social districts in downtowns By Michael Praats | May 10, 2021 at 1:55 PM EDT - Updated May 10 at 8:27 PM
WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - Taking a drink outside of a bar or restaurantâs property in North Carolina â for the most part â is not allowed; however, a new bill that is making its way through the state House of Representatives right now could change that.
House Bill 781 is actually titled Bring Business Back to Downtown â and thatâs what business owners and downtown advocates say it would do.
Project Grace will transform downtown Wilmington: Opinion starnewsonline.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from starnewsonline.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.