As Mayfaire Town Center turns 20, more shops and restaurants are on the horizon
One of the most popular shopping destinations in Wilmington is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.
Mayfaire officially opened to the public back in 2004 and has seen steady success ever since. With this milestone anniversary, we're taking a look back at changes that have take place and looking ahead to what might be on the horizon.
Mayfaire’s history
Early on, plenty of development popped up along Eastwood and Military Cutoff roads, making the landscape around the center a prime retail spot for both Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach shoppers.
With residential spaces and shopping centers like Landfall Center, which opened in 1990; The Forum, which opened in 1988; the Landfall neighborhood, and so much more, Mayfaire opened on May 6, 2004.
“Mayfaire spans over 400 acres previously known as Hardy Parker Farm," said Paige Coniglio, Mayfaire’s marketing director. "The first phase of development in 2004 included 386,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space. Its first anchor tenant was Hecht’s department store, which later rebranded to Macy’s when the May Company and Federated Department Stores merged. In 2006, it was announced that Macy’s would transition to Belk, which opened in 2007.”
The shopping center continued to grow with big-name stores like Williams-Sonoma, Chico’s and World Market to match the overall vision for the shopping center.
The vision for Mayfaire was, and is, a dynamic lifestyle center, that offers retail, dining and entertainment in a walkable, town-like atmosphere. To further realize that vision, 84 apartment units over a portion of the retail space were developed, as well as The Reserve at Mayfaire, The Village at Mayfaire, and Parkside at Mayfaire.
Given that the area is in a tourist market, developers also saw an opportunity to add hotels to the campus, opening a Hilton Garden Inn and Homewood Suites in 2007 and 2010, respectively. Then, in 2011 construction began on the Offices at Mayfaire.
About 10 years after opening, in 2015, the developer of Mayfaire Towne Center, BrodyCo, Inc. sold the development to Tennessee-based CBL & Associates — a publicly traded real estate investment trust -- for $192 million.
It was in 2016 that the third phase of Mayfaire Town Center opened. The expansion added over 46,000 square feet of retail space, including H&M, Palmetto Moon, Torrid, Sola Salon Studios, School of Rock and Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa.
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Mayfaire today
According to Coniglio, Mayfaire has continued to evolve and grow in recent years with the market. Last year, CBL and Vision Hospitality announced the development of another hotel, Element by Westin.
Today, Mayfaire has 100 stores and sees over 6 million visitors annually, with 313, 871 square feet of trade area.
In total, the center reaches 610,000-square-foot and is anchored by Belk and a 16-screen Regal Cinema, with an IMAX theater, as well as junior anchors, including The Fresh Market, World Market, Pottery Barn, ULTA and Michael’s. Other major retailers have been added to the center like Lululemon, a CAVA restaurant, and very recently, an Anthropologie.
“We have only three parcels available," Coniglio said. "Our leasing team is working with new-to-market retailers and entertainment concepts, but it’s too early in the process to share concrete details. We’ll be excited to make announcements as plans are finalized."
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What’s to come
To celebrate its 20-year milestone, Mayfaire is hosting a variety of celebrations throughout the year, including special discounts, concerts, raffles and more.
“Mayfaire is more than just a shopping center," Coniglio said. "We are a destination for retail, dining and entertainment, and a place where memories are made. This year-long celebration is our way of saying thank you to our customers, partners, retailers, and the community that has supported us over the last two decades. We can't wait to share the excitement and create even more unforgettable moments together."
According to Coniglio, Mayfaire is expected to grow. New stores planning to open in the shopping center include Warby Parker, Vochos Urban Mexican Kitchen, Potbelly Sandwich Shop and a Harris Teeter Fuel Station.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Mayfaire Town Center in Wilmington, NC, celebrates anniversary
