North Brunswick’s New Businesses 2015

Meet the dreamers and do-ers behind some of the new businesses in Brunswick County.

When we rounded up the vibrant and diverse group of new businesses that found their way to Leland in 2015, one thing was clear: They all felt that Leland was growing fast and they wanted to be a part.

The business owners we talked to all felt that something is different in Leland these days. Their business acumen couldn’t keep them away from the town over the bridge. But after meeting this eclectic group of entrepreneurs, we wonder if we have suddenly entered a “chicken or egg” debate?

From the guys who saved for two years to open a tattoo shop in Leland to the burger joint owners who recovered from a rocky opening with the support from a community that believes in them to the New York transplants who followed their retirement dream right into Brunswick County — are they here because we’re growing, or is our growth because they are here?

As these businesses become the foundations of our memories in a booming Leland, they aren’t stopping either. They plan to do even more for the community love in 2016. Read on to discover how these dreamers and do-ers plan to contribute to North Brunswick.

ATMC

1201 Dickinson Drive, Leland
(910) 754-4311
atmc.com
Facebook: facebook.com/ATMCconnect/ | LinkedIn: ATMC

Owners: ATMC is a member-owned cooperative

When did you open and how many employees do you have?

ATMC has been serving the area for years, but we keep expanding what we offer. Right now we have more than 200.

Why did you choose 2015 to start your business?

While ATMC has served Brunswick County for 60 years, it has only been the last 10 of those that we have had a successful retail presence in Leland selling AT&T wireless service, eventually expanding to cable TV, telephone and high-speed Internet delivered via fiber optics. This area has seen an explosion in new home growth. Our new location at Dickinson Drive is our commitment to customers in the Leland area.

What made Brunswick County the ideal location for you?

ATMC had humble beginnings right here in Brunswick County. In the early 1950s, the large telephone companies were not interested in providing service to most of Brunswick County as they thought it was too rural here. In response, a determined group of local people from all walks of life banded together and worked to build their own telephone company. In 1955 Atlantic Telephone Membership Corporation (ATMC) was chartered, not by executives working at a big corporate address somewhere far away, but by local people going door to door right here in Brunswick County.

Why was Leland the right spot?

ATMC began serving Brunswick County in 1957, but we opened the ATMC Wireless Location in Leland in November 2005. At that time, wireless was our focus in that part of the county, as our traditional service territory for landline telephone and cable service did not extend beyond the Winnabow/Town Creek area. With the introduction of fiber-to-the-home service in the Compass Pointe community in early 2014 and Brunswick Forest in mid-2015, ATMC continues to establish a strong presence in the Leland area.

What products or services do you offer?

Phone, digital cable, Internet, security and home automation and business solutions as well as an AT&T Authorized Retailer for wireless phones, tablets and accessories

What separates you from the competition?

ATMC is the only Fiber-To-The-Home provider in Brunswick County. Via our fiber optic network, we are able to deliver nearly limitless technology that is equipped for the communications and entertainment technologies of tomorrow.

What has been your biggest success?

We are proud of our award-winning customer service throughout the years. ATMC has been voted “Best of Brunswick” for eight years. We are a local company with local priorities. Our employees are neighbors and friends, and providing the best customer service to Brunswick County residents means more to us than it does national companies.

What has been your biggest challenge?

Our biggest challenge has been, and continues to be, competing against national providers who look to grow their businesses through mergers and acquisitions. This element of competition, coupled with rapidly changing trends in technology, has forced ATMC to find success through product expansion into nontraditional services, cost reduction through new technologies, and subscriber growth into new areas like Brunswick Forest.

What does 2016 hold for you?

We plan to explore ways to bring faster broadband speeds to residential and business customers in the areas we serve. We also want to focus on providing businesses with IP-based voice solutions that are scalable and can provide more capabilities at a greater value.

Bessie Burger

1120 East Cutlar Crossing, Suite 212, Leland
(910) 399-4487
bessieburger.com
Facebook: facebook.com/bessieburgerleland | Twitter: @bessieburger
Owner: Frank Brinkley

When did you open and how many employees do you have?
January 10, 2015. We have 10 employees.

Why did you choose 2015 to start your business?
When you open a new business, you have to ensure you have enough capital to stay open through the tough months. I wanted to open in 2014, but certain decisions I made kept us from opening then. But in 2014 I sold several Subway Restaurants and was able to use my proceeds to open this second Bessie location.

What made Brunswick County the ideal location for you?
The relationship that I have with my landlord is very important to me. I wanted to be part of a community that cares about their tenants and I found that in Brunswick Forest. I wanted to be in a community that was growing but still had a lot left to shape.

Why was Leland the right spot?
Leland and Brunswick County are both growing very fast. I felt that if I got in early enough and established myself then I could grow with the community.

What products or services do you offer?
We offer fresh Angus ground beef burgers, fresh chicken, hamburger buns made fresh daily in store, hand-cut fries and fresh, made-to-order onion rings. Our shakes are made with real ice cream. We also have freshly squeezed lemonade and Pepsi products.

What separates you from the competition?
The burger starts with the bun, so we bake our bread fresh every day. We cook everything to order. We don’t have a microwave or bins that hold precooked products. We even cut our fries fresh every morning along with our fresh onion rings.

What has been your biggest success?
Listening to our customers. We want to know what they want, and we care what they think. For example, we heard them and added a bigger patty.

What has been your biggest challenge?
We overcame a bad opening. We didn’t place people in the right positions when we opened, and our food didn’t go out like it should have. We’ve managed to place our employees in the right spots now.

What does 2016 hold for you?
I would like to open a store in the Porters Neck area in 2016. I am actively looking for investors to enable this growth.
Home Design Outlet of Leland

147 Old Fayetteville Road, Leland
(910) 399-1423
homedesignleland.com
Owners: Robert Rossi and Julia Vosler

When did you open and how many employees do you have?
Our official grand opening was October 15, 2015, and (with a huge thank you to the North Brunswick Chamber of Commerce) we had a very well-attended opening event. We have six employees at the moment but customers are actually inquiring about becoming a part of our team, which is the biggest compliment. I guess our love really shows!

Why did you choose 2015 to open your business?
We had thought about moving to N.C. from New York for several years and finally decided to make the move in 2015 to escape the escalating taxes of the NY/Metropolitan area. We always dreamed of starting a small retirement business to kindle our love of collecting all things beautiful. However, “small” very quickly turned into 10,000 square feet!

What made Brunswick County the ideal location for you?
Many of our friends and relatives had already moved here to enjoy the gorgeous weather, beaches and affordability.

Why was Leland the right spot?
We’ve always considered ourselves “typical consumers” and, as a consumer, I found it frustrating to have to go over the bridge to find what we wanted for our home. With the enormous growth slated for Leland we quickly realized that, like Dorothy of the Wizard of Oz, we were already home!

What products or services do you offer?
Our breadth of services is enormous: carpeting, both in stock and by order; area rugs, also in stock and by order, as well as custom designs; Graber Window Blinds and Drapery Treatments; hand-painted furniture; new and consigned furniture; collectibles; home accessories including one-of-a-kind lamps; Farmhouse Chalk Paint and paint workshops; award-winning interior design services; decorative painting and more.

What separates you from the competition?
Heartfelt customer service and incredibly fabulous pricing.

What has been your biggest success?
Hugs with comments like, “I’m so thrilled that we found you,” from our customers. It doesn’t get much better than that!

What has been your biggest challenge?
Creating a new business a bit off the beaten path has been a challenge, but through the word of mouth from thrilled customers, it is getting out that we are truly a source of quality and value. And, even more importantly, that we are worth the very short ride!

What does 2016 hold for you?
We plan to expand our inventory of antiques, collectibles and unique consigned pieces, but we also want to carry several lines of quality new upholstered furniture at realistic price points. Probably the biggest expansion plan we have is to incorporate the very best of every type of home design service into our vignettes so that a homeowner can walk through our door and be able to build, repair or remodel any part of their home … all under our one large roof!

Intracoastal Realty

497 Olde Waterford Way, Suite 107, Leland
(910) 201-2200
intracoastalrealty.com
facebook.com/IntracoastalRealty | Twitter: @intracoastalrc | Instagram: @intracoastalrealty | Pinterest:  | LinkedIn: Intracoastal Realty

Owner: Jim Wallace (founder and CEO)

When did you open and how many employees do you have?
We opened the Leland office in September 2015, but have been in business since 1976. There are 317 agents and 61 employees in the company.

Why did you choose 2015 to open your business?
Market conditions in the Leland area were great, and then the right office space/location opened up for us.

What made Brunswick County the ideal location for you?
We’ve been in business since 1976, and our agents have done a lot of business in the Leland area over the years. The growth of our company, along with the increased activity in the Leland area, prompted the opening of our new office.

Why was Leland the right spot?
We have offices in other areas of Brunswick and New Hanover counties that have served the Leland area, but it was time for us to open a brick and mortar office here due to the growth of our business.

What products or services do you offer?
Residential real estate sales, commercial real estate and property management.

What separates you from the competition?
We are a locally founded and owned company that is affiliated with a global network (Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®) that produced more home sales in 2014 than any other national franchise. Intracoastal Realty is the #1 company in sold volume in the Greater Wilmington area consisting of Leland and New Hanover County.

What has been your biggest success?
Being the market leader in real estate sales and being on the cutting edge of real estate marketing technology. The launch of our app less than a year ago has been incredible. It’s a game-changer, especially with the “homespotter” GPS technology. It’s the best home search app around, bar none.

What has been your biggest challenge?
Technology, in general, changes rapidly. It’s no different in real estate. We are always on the cutting edge to provide the best home search products for our buying clients, marketing services for our selling clients, and support services and training for our agents.

What does 2016 hold for you?
Adding more top-quality agents and continual growth in the Leland area. A real estate transaction involves the largest financial decision of most people’s lives. Our goal is to help our clients have an exceptional experience throughout the transaction.

Iron Anchor Tattoo
1725 Reed Road #7, Leland
(910) 399-5672
facebook.com/ironanchortattoo | Instagram @ironanchortattoo1
Owners: Brian and Emily Gore and Steven Stepp Jr.

When did you open and how many employees do you have?
February 2015, and we have four employees.

Why did you choose 2015 open your business?

Steve and I began planning to bring a tattoo studio to Leland in late 2013. We had to get our finances in order and had the goal of opening without third party financial backing. In 2014 we started looking for locations. The Town of Leland was very supportive. After finding a location that was perfect, we designed and built the inside of the shop from scratch. We wanted to bring a tattoo studio to Leland that breaks the taboo that some other tattoo shops have set. First, we wanted it to be super clean and sterile; second, we wanted it to be very welcoming and family friendly. We want Iron Anchor to be a place where parents will feel comfortable bringing their children.

What made Brunswick County the ideal location for you?

The county is growing so quickly while also being so large, but it was an underserved area. When we opened, there were only four tattoo shops in Brunswick County, compared to 25-plus in New Hanover County.

Why was Leland the right spot?

I grew up in Leland, my parents moved here in 1988. I’ve seen Leland go from being very small with only a few businesses to what it is today, and we want to be a part of that.

What products or services do you offer?

We offer several types of tattoos: custom, cover-ups, portraits, traditional, realism, cosmetic make-up. We also offer body piercing, dermal implants and children’s ear piercing, and we have a wide selection of body jewelry.

What separates you from the competition?

We strive to be a family-friendly studio with the best customer service possible. We want our clients to love the work that they get from us, and we treat them like they are a member of the family. We have friendly staff and we offer award-winning work for about 20 percent less than most shops around.

What has been your biggest success?

Taking this dream from an idea to a reality. There are a lot of challenges that come with starting a small business, but the satisfaction we get from bringing great art to our clients makes it worth it.

What has been your biggest challenge?

Advertising and letting people know we are here. We use social media, radio, road signs, flyers in local businesses, etc. Truthfully, we still haven’t overcome it. I think it’s an ongoing battle to get exposure.

What does 2016 hold for you?

We plan to keep growing our business and doing what we love. We may add additional artists. We are open to charity events and sponsoring community events and sports teams, anything to give back to the community that we love.

Bonus Question: What’s been the coolest tattoo you’ve done at Iron Anchor?

There have been several, but I love the cover-up work that we do, and we do a lot of it. About 50 percent of our work is cover-ups. I love when someone comes in with a tattoo they’re unhappy with and allows us to make it into something they will love for the rest of their life.

Novant Health Oceanside Family Medicine

509 Olde Waterford Way, Suite 200, Leland
(910) 408-1130
nhoceansidefamilymedicine.org

Facebook: facebook.com/Novant-Health-Oceanside-Family-Medicine-Leland-771480439648787

Owners: Novant Health with providers Drs. Tori and Justin Asbury

When did you open and how many employees do you have?

July 2015, and as of right now we have eight employees.

Why did you choose 2015 to start your business?

We moved to the area after years of talking about it. Our timing aligned with Novant Health’s vision to expand services soon after in 2015.

What made Brunswick County the ideal location for you?

Novant Health has shown their commitment to Brunswick County for a while, including the building the new hospital. Novant Health, with our help, has invested in all of Brunswick County, with the goal of improving and expanding healthcare services.

Why was Leland the right spot?

Personally, it is the place we call “home.” We love the idea of being able to serve in our own local community as it continues to grow.

What products or services do you offer?
We offer full spectrum primary care for all ages, newborn through adults. This includes pediatric and adult acute and preventive care, immunizations and chronic disease management. We have a lab on site and offer ultrasound imaging in the office as well. Dr. Tori Asbury is recently certified as a Diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine. This certification signifies specialized knowledge in the practice of obesity medicine and distinguishes a physician as having achieved competency in obesity care.  We both tend to focus a lot on wellness, prevention and long-term lifestyle changes to promote good health.

What separates you from the competition?

Our personal touch. Our family is taking care of your family. As family medicine providers, we have a unique opportunity to care for your entire family. In addition, we have a wonderful staff. Our nurses and clerical team work very hard to ensure every patient is taken care of.

What has been your biggest success?

We have had such great support from the community and from Novant Health. We are excited to offer an option for quality healthcare for people in Leland and Brunswick County.

What has been your biggest challenge?

There are always challenges in healthcare with insurance coverage and the cost of healthcare overall!

What does 2016 hold for you?

We are excited to increase access and expand our hours and services. We currently offer early morning and lunchtime appointments and are planning to add evening hours later this year as we expand our team.