A Hampstead grocery store could be on the move to a new location -- and closing for a while as a result.
A new Food Lion location has been proposed in Hampstead Station, a shopping center located near the intersection of U.S. 17 and N.C. 210, one of Hampstead’s busiest areas.
If you’ve been through that area, that proposal might give you pause, given there is already a Food Lion operating in Hampstead Station.
But developers aren't looking at renovations to the existing Food Lion, Instead, they're aiming to build a brand-new store. The new location would be just south of the current one on Station Way.
Is Food Lion getting bigger?
An application has been submitted to Pender County to revise the master plan for the Hampstead Station shopping center.
Plans show that the Food Lion
would be getting bigger if the revision is approved.
According to Pender County property records, the current Food Lion location is a little over 31,000 square feet. Plans show the proposed store would come in at nearly 37,000 square feet.
The developers are proposing to fill in a stormwater pond and replace it with the new Food Lion, Pender County Communications Director Brandi Cobb confirmed. The stormwater pond would be moved elsewhere on the property.
What’s next for Hampstead Station?
Hampstead Station is anchored by Food Lion but the shopping center also includes restaurants, a Family Dollar, and more.
Hampstead Station has been around since 1991, but it recently began an expansion south from the core commercial hub, with new additions such as Eggs Up Grill, a breakfast chain.
Plans for the new Food Lion constitute the latest update to the shopping center. If the revision is approved, the grocery store and its related parking would take up much of the remaining space.
The proposal was submitted by The JayTees Properties IV, a developer located out of Wrightsville Beach.
The Pender County Technical Review Committee meets to discuss the project on Oct. 1, 2026.
Charlie Kingree is the Pender County and trending topics reporter for the StarNews. He can be reached at ckingree@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: This Hampstead grocery store could be expanding
