Brunswick County in recent years has experienced exponential growth and residents are seeing the trend continue into 2027.
With growth occurring along main thoroughfares on both ends of the county, roads are beginning to fill with housing developments and shopping centers.
Ever wonder while driving what that new construction will become? From Texas Roadhouse to new grocery stores, here are some of the top construction projects being built throughout the county right now.
Leland Village
Branch Properties is building Leland Village shopping center, formerly called Savannah Branch Town Center off U.S. 17 in front of Brunswick Forest. Publix anticipated to open at the center in early 2027, according to a recent Branch Properties news release.
The retail center will
also house a Marshalls, Ulta Beauty, Chase Bank, Mattress Firm, Sport Clips, Domino's Pizza, First Watch, Wingstop, Qdoba, Handel's Ice Cream, Heartland Dental, EmergeOrtho, Glo MedSpa and a nail salon. Pet specialty retailer Hollywood Feed and boutique fitness studio FS8 Pilates will also be part of the shopping center.
Cumberland Woods
New Hanover County residents Peter Higgins and Steve Shuttleworth are working on an outdoor concert venue, named Cumberland Woods, just outside Bolivia. The venue will sit on a portion of the 212-acre Arnold Tract at 1011 Galloway Road NE, near Tobes Road.
Once completed, the venue will feature a nearly 1,500-square-foot stage, concession stand, green room and storage building, with lawn seating being the primary seat option.
The venue is at the tail end of construction, said Higgins, noting they expect to open its doors before the end of the year.
Texas Roadhouse in Leland
Texas Roadhouse received the green light from Leland staff to construct the chain's first Brunswick location in April 2026. The steakhouse will be the second in the Wilmington area, joining the existing Texas Roadhouse location at 230 Eastwood Road in Wilmington.
The steakhouse was slated to open at Leland Town Center in 2026, according to a January 2025 news release from C&S Commercial Properties. However, site work has only just begun on the 7,926-square-foot restaurant located near the roundabout at Gateway Boulevard and Tradeway Drive.
The Commons at Carolina Shores
Publix in April 2023 announced plans to build a new shopping center abutting the existing CVS store along U.S. 17. Publix will serve as the anchor store for The Commons at Carolina Shores.
Other businesses planning to set up new locations at The Commons at Carolina Shores include Cutty's Pizza, Dunkin', McDonald's, Chase Bank, Great Clips, 7-Eleven, Firehouse Subs, Eggs Up Grill and a dental office.
Mallory Creek Plantation
Mallory Creek Plantation continues to see new home construction 20 years after opening.
Walmart Supercenter in Carolina Shores
Walmart submitted plans for a fourth Brunswick Walmart Supercenter location and gas station on over 20 acres of property next to Publix in May 2024.
The new Walmart Supercenter will have a grand opening Oct. 7.
Brunswick County Emergency Operations Center facilities
Brunswick officials recently broke ground on the county's new emergency operating center site. The $100 million project involves building a four-story combined emergency operations, health and human services facility near the front of the Brunswick County Government Complex in Bolivia.
While space for future upfitting and department expansions are part of the plan, more than 300 employees will move into the building once completed. The county expects the building to be finished around February 2028.
Terrapin Master-Planned Community
Construction on the Terrapin master-planned community, owned by Malmo Ventures, LLC, started more than a year ago. The entire community will add a total of 1,906 single family homes and 1,492 multifamily units to the town of Leland between U.S. 74/76 and Malmo Loop Road. Plans include a hospital and commercial retail development area as well.
Corner of Nash and Howe streets in Southport
Barbee Enterprises of Southport is developing a three-story multi-use building at the busy corner of W. Nash and N. Howe streets in Southport. Once fully constructed, the 35-foot-tall, three-story multi-use building will house a restaurant, rooftop bar, seven retail shops, office space and four rental units with personal decks.
Construction began in May 2026 and is expected to take 18 to 24 months.
The Tides at Ocean Isle Beach
The Tides at Ocean Isle Beach is being constructed on nearly 240 acres at the corner of Old Georgetown Road and Ocean Isle Beach Road, abutting Ocean Ridge Plantation and a public park.
Stanley Martin Homes is building more than 600 housing units over the next several years, said Stanley Martin Homes Division President Katie Willis. The resort-style community amenities, like the clubhouse, pool and pickleball courts, will not be ready until summer 2027.
Boiling Spring Lakes dams
Boiling Spring Lakes' 275-acre Big Lake, also known as Patricia Lake, was drained after Hurricane Florence in 2018 caused dams around the city to burst and roads to wash away.
The city has seen several delays in the project since dam reconstruction efforts started in July 2023, resulting in the project completion deadline being pushed to early 2027. However, Mayor Jeff Winecoff believes everything could be completed by the end of the year.
Northwest Water Treatment Plant Expansion
As of August 2026, Brunswick County's expansion and low-pressure reverse osmosis water treatment upgrade project at the Northwest Water Treatment Plant is moving toward completion.
The plant’s expanded water treatment capacity was expected to be available in August 2026 and the low-pressure reverse osmosis system to be operational by the end of 2026.
Advanced Care - Leland
Project leaders in December 2025 broke ground on Advanced Care - Leland. The medical center is Columbus Regional Healthcare System's new advanced care facility at 1177 E. Cutlar Crossing in The Village at Brunswick Forest shopping center.
Southport Meadows
Southport Meadows is a residential development sandwiched between N.C. 211 and N.C. 87 near Southport. The project earned approval in September 2022. The first 69 units of the total 536-unit project are currently under construction.
Waterford Village
Site work has begun on a new strip mall building in Leland's Waterford Village shopping center between the Leland Station residential community and Custom Home Furniture Outlet. Town staff in June 2026 approved the commercial development site plan for Commercial Lot 17 in Waterford.
Site plans, drawn by Alfred Benesch & Company, show construction of an approximate 20,500-square-foot building to be used for furniture retail and general office space. Three 2,328-square-foot office units adjoining a 13,301-square-foot furniture retail space with a covered patio is also part of the design.
Bayline
The Bayline project, by Criteria Development, is bringing roughly 2,300 residential units and a new commercial area to the town of Calabash. The project has been in the works for several years, formerly named Stone Farm, is being constructed on a 2,000-acre property along Old Georgetown Road and Thomasboro Road, abutting Thistle Golf Club.
9020 Industrial Blvd. NE, Leland
A 142,000-square-foot light-industrial facility is being built at 9020 Industrial Blvd. NE inside Leland's Innovation District close to U.S. 74/76.
The entire project, built by Canvasback Capital and advertised by Cape Fear Commercial, consists of 175,200-square-feet spread among three buildings. The first building is anticipated to be completed in October 2026.
1203 Cedar Hill Road, Navassa
Also under Cape Fear Commercial's wing is a 158,760-square-foot warehouse/distribution space being built on 13.77 acres in Navassa, near the intersection of Cedar Hill Road and Interstate 140. The project is in its final phase of construction.
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Savanna Tenenoff covers Brunswick County for the StarNews. Reach her at stenenoff@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Brunswick is getting bigger with these 18 projects under construction
