New Businesses in the North Brunswick Area – Part 2

Pinnacle Storage

1. Why was 2018 the right time to open your business?
We felt like Leland was under-served with storage, and there is continued growth of housing in the area, so we felt this was a great time to serve our community and offer our product.

2. What made Leland the ideal location for you?
This side of Leland had limited storage, so it was a perfect fit.

3. What services/products do you offer?
We offer climate and non-climate storage, boat and RV storage, moving supplies and U-Haul rentals.

4. What separates you from the competition?
Our boat and RV storage is unique, plus we offer U-Haul rentals and we’re open on Sundays.

5. What has been your leading success so far?
Providing a pleasant rental experience at a reasonable rate with excellent customer service.

6. What has been the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome?
Staying on top of code changes and making sure that our building is as efficient as possible.

7. What can we anticipate from you in the future?
Continued growth in North and South Carolina.

Port City Outdoors

1. Why was 2018 the right time to open our business?
It just worked out with the right timing of things with our family and life things going on. We had started looking for a store location back in 2017, but the space we have now did not come available until 2018. We feel that there was a reason that the space came available when it did because it’s just the right location and size for our business starting out. Also, with all the rapid growth in the area, we opened our store just at the perfect timing as things are growing and changing here in Leland.

2. What made Leland the ideal location for you?
We are fairly new residents to Leland (moved here two and a half years ago) and saw that there was a need for an outdoor store. Brunswick County and Leland in particular are growing so fast, and we thought that Leland would be an ideal location for our store. We have heard many customers say that they are so happy we have opened because of all the great brands/products we carry but also because they don’t have to cross the bridge to shop.

3. What services/products do you offer?
We offer a wide variety of outdoor supplies, from camping and fishing to shooting. We also newly expanded our selection of public safety supplies for EMS, police and fire (gear bags, duty belts, work boots, work pants and much more). Some products that we offer are Salt Life shirts, work/duty boots, Under Armor apparel, cargo/EMS/ duty pants, hiking/day packs, fishing supplies, pepper spray, gear bags, tents, camping stoves and much more. We also have a small coffee bar (four different flavors of Pure Vida coffee) in the store for people to purchase and enjoy while shopping. There are so many products we can’t mention them all; you will need to stop by the store and see what we have in stock.

4. What separates you from the competition?
We have experience in the areas that we are selling products for. Joe has been a firefighter and police officer and currently is a flight medic, along with avid fisherman, camper and CPR instructor. I have worked as a police officer and security guard and I am an avid camper, hiker and runner. We enjoy the outdoors and using the products that we sell. We have lots of energy and excitement for the products that we sell and we offer them for a fair price. Additionally, we offer a 10% discount to all public safety personnel and all military and retired military personnel with ID.

5. What has been your leading success so far?
Carrying a variety of products. Not being too narrowly focused on any one area allow us to attract a broad variety of customers. We will continue to do this as we keep growing and building up our inventory. Also, we offer the chance for people to order products from us that we can have shipped to the store if it is something that we do not have in stock.

6. What has been the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome?
One of our biggest challenges was to convert the space from a bare-walled space to the store it is now. The previous business was a karate studio, and there was a lot of work and supplies needed for startup and cost. We basically changed the whole inside of the store space with painting, adding a raised stage area to place all the display cases, hanging slat board up on the walls, and adding counters for coffee station. We are happy with the end result and that we managed to get the store opened in April.

7. What can we anticipate from you in the future?
We will continue to add more products. Recently we added Thorogood boots and will be getting sandals/water shoes in the spring, along with hiking boots and trail running shoes. Also, we have added a larger supply of public safety apparel/gear (brands to include 5.11 Tactical, Tru-Spec, Under Armor, Propper, Browning and many more).

Sandalwood Shoppes

1. Why was 2018 the right time to open your business?
I had been looking for commercial space in Leland for about a year prior to hearing about Harrington Village. Since it was new construction, I knew it would take a while, but I was willing to wait since I strongly felt that Harrington Village was the right spot for Sandalwood Shoppes. After speaking with D Logan regarding the development and his description of what was to happen along Village Road, I knew this is where I needed to be. I am excited to be a part of the future new “downtown” revitalization. Do I wish construction was complete and we could have opened earlier? Of course — but good things happen to those who wait!

2. What made Leland the ideal location for you?
Prior to making the decision to open in Leland, I did my due diligence on researching the area to realize that an upscale gift shop was the answer to the equation I was seeking. The combination of the growth rate and lack of such a retail business made the decision to pick Leland the logical answer. Personally, I love the Leland area. From its adjacency to Wilmington and the downtown area to the economic development board and the tourist marketing department, I feel that Leland is the right place for Sandalwood Shoppes.

3. What services/products do you offer?
We will have more than 60 retail spaces with an array of merchandise. We will have a great assortment of artisans (paintings, jewelry, photography, etc.) and retailers. The Shoppe will have apparel, jewelry, handbags, monogramming, food, essential oils, candles and soaps, home decor and furniture and even some hickory-shafted putters for the golfers out there. Something for everyone!

4. What separates you from the competition?
Aside from a customer-oriented staff that will be there to assist our guests, the uniqueness is that customers will be able to find just about anything all under one roof. We plan on having fun, unique events that involve the community as well.

5. What has been your leading success so far?
The wonderful assortment of shop owners that will be showcasing their goods at Sandalwood Shoppes. I am thrilled with the variety and quality of merchandise that will be offered! We have about 10 shops left to rent, so I think once we open, the remaining shops will be leased in no time.

6. What has been the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome?
Hands down, the construction piece. We thought we would be open in the springtime, but as we all know, we cannot control construction and Mother Nature.

7. What can we anticipate from you in the future?
Once we get through the holiday season, be on the lookout for monthly events and special appearances from our artisans. Many of them want to host educational seminars as well.

Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar

1. Why was 2018 the right time to open your business?
Mike and I made the decision to open a Shuckin’ Shack in 2016. At that time I had been working at the original Shuckin’ Shack for nine years. When they made the move to franchise, I was their front of the house trainer and traveled with the corporate team to open nine of the new Shuckin’ Shacks. Mike was in the technology business for over 20 years and had lost his passion for it. We had decided to have a baby so I knew that traveling would not be conducive to having a baby. So we decided opening our own restaurant was the perfect fit. We checked out multiple locations in the Leland area and knew as soon as we drove into the Brunswick Forest community that this was the place for us. We went back to the leasing office and discussed plans for a brand-new building for us, as there was nothing open back here at that time. We knew we wanted a corner space with an outside patio area for an outdoor bar and dining area. It took almost two years to complete the project.

2. What made Leland the ideal location for you?
We chose Leland because it is the number one growing county in the state and of the top 10 in the nation. We knew there wasn’t a restaurant like the Shuckin’ Shack out here and we thought the Brunswick County residents would really enjoy our concept. We also have plans to relocate and raise our daughter in Brunswick County.

3. What services/products do you offer?
We are a full-service restaurant and bar specializing in fresh seafood. Oysters, clams, shrimp, scallops, mahi, tuna, cod, crab legs and lobsters. For the non-seafood patrons, we offer chicken sandwiches, burger sliders, fantastic salads and our famous whole, breaded and fried chicken wings. We have bottled beer and 12 draft beers to include local and seasonal brews. We offer a full bar with a specialty drink menu that includes our customer favorite, the fresh-squeezed Saltmarsh Margarita, award-winning Shack Attack Bloody Mary, our fresh muddled bourbon cocktail, the Lake Park Lemonade, mojitos and more. We also offer an impressive wine list, all at reasonable prices.

4. What separates you from the competition?
Our concept here at Shuckin’ Shack is much different than any of the neighboring restaurants. We pride ourselves on a welcoming environment with menu and drink offerings for all ages.

5. What has been your leading success so far?
Our leading success is the wonderful regular customer base that we have established thus far and continue to grow. The community has been so welcoming, and our customers care about us as we care about them. The support that we received around Hurricane Flo was a true testament of this. Our customers came to the rescue to help us prepare and recover from Flo. We hosted a benefit after Flo for the Stoney Creek residents who lost everything from the hurricane, and it was our best day to date, so I would also say this was a huge success for us not only financially for that community but for our Shuckin’ Shack family of employees who were so honored and humbled to be a part of such a wonderful cause.

6. What has been the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome?
The hurricane was our biggest challenge thus far. We are still recovering from lost revenue from being unable to operate for multiple days. We lost three employees who left for the hurricane and had no place to come back to and therefore made other arrangements.

7. What can we anticipate from you in the future?
We look forward to continuing to provide fresh seafood, high-quality spirits and exceptional service. We look forward to continuing to support the community as we already have by supporting local youth baseball teams, Brunswick County school events, local chapters of the Vietnam Veterans, Sheriff’s Association, Special Olympics, Alzheimer’s Foundation, Brunswick Senior Resources, Literacy Council and more. We would like to do more catering and oyster roast events as well as business luncheons. We have ideas for a classic car show called Oysters and Octane. We are always brainstorming on more fun events to the bring the community together for great food, drinks and “A Good Shuckin’ Time.”

Tropical Smoothie Café

1. Why was 2018 the right time to open your business?
We opened our first store in Wilmington in July 2014. We saw that people immediately took to our unique brand of a cafe that inspires a healthy lifestyle by serving amazing food and smoothies with a tropical twist. We then opened our second store in Porters Neck. We continued to hone in on our community minded way of thinking and found that it resonated there as well. With people enjoying going out to eat in a great atmosphere, we felt 2018 was the perfect time to open store number 3.

2. What made Leland the ideal location for you?
Leland is an amazing town. We came here for the first time from Long Island 10 years ago and from that point on fell in love with the people and the place. It is a different way of life. People genuinely care about one another. I was originally born in Brooklyn, then moved to Oceanside (Long Island), then Queens, then Old Bethpage in Long Island and finally here. It was the best decision that I have ever made. Plus, everyone has followed from the tri-state area, so I can still speak with folks who have had similar experiences to me. It’s wonderful to see.

3. What products and services do you offer?
We offer breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, wraps, sandwiches, salads, bowls, flatbreads, quesadillas and smoothies. We also offer catering, delivery (third party with Surfside Express Delivery), mobile/online loyalty rewards and ordering, plus fundraising opportunities.

4. What separates you from the competition?
We offer so much more than smoothies. We have a chef, Lake Dawson, who spends a lot of time creating taste-driven, ingredient-forward menu options. We make our own tropical chicken salad that has been called “the best” by many. We make house-made sides like our Kale n Apple Slaw. Essentially, we are an amazing cafe that also happens to have the best smoothies in town. We also cater for groups of 10 to 350 and have actually done a smoothie bar for several events.

5. What has been your leading success so far?
Getting out into the town. Meeting with my customers as well as other businesses. Listening to others’ suggestions. It’s always helpful if it comes from a place of being constructive. I would like to think that we care about our employees, our customers and ourselves. You can see me in there helping my staff while I’m tending to the needs of our TROPistars (what I call our customers). I always make sure to keep perspective and have a positive attitude. It’s essential that people feel that they are appreciated, needed and happy to be seen.

6. What has been the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome?
We need people to understand that we are a food/culinary driven cafe. Smoothies are only 40 to 50 percent of our menu, and we have so much more to offer in the way of food.

7. What can we anticipate from you in the future?
I think we can potentially see more cafes in the future. I am also part of the North Brunswick Chamber of Commerce, Wilmington Public Policy Team and Help the Boy Scouts of America. I like to help the community and will continue to do so. Just come up to me and let me know how I can be of service.