WILMINGTON, NC - (WECT) - In Wilmington, some new additions to Front Street could compliment the work of local leaders. The city continues with the 3rd Street Improvement Project and now some business owners invest in the area as well.
The Boardwalk on Front picked 15 S. Front Street to be their new home. The building had been empty for about two years and served multiple purposes. New owner Jack McCann said it used to be several retail shops, and was even the set for the movie, Empire Records.
Before the new owners moved in, McCann says the building was in bad shape.
"It was definitely an eye-sore it smelled pretty bad," said McCann. The building was built in 1939, and is almost 8,000 square feet. Despite the shape it was in, McCann and co-owner Todd King decided to try to rescue it.
"We didn't want to take something that was already existing, we wanted to find something that's been rundown and empty and make it work," said McCann. It isn't just the walls they saved, the bar is made out of wood from Coney Island and Atlantic City.
The new owners said it was important for them to preserve the old, to help Wilmington grow.
"In order for it to grow the buildings can't be vacant," said McCann. "If everything fills up more tourism will come and everyone will profit."
The restaurant will serve boardwalk food, including corn dogs, cotton candy, and fried snickers. It will be a restaurant by day, and then a bar at night. There are arcade games and things for people of all ages to do.
They hope to open it in the next couple months.
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