Improving Business in the Wilmington Region

Beverage Distributor Plans To Grow Footprint In Pender Commerce Park

Credit: Wilmington Biz

By Emma Dill

Coastal Beverage Company plans to expand its Pender Commerce Park facility, with more than 100,000 square feet of new warehouse space.

The proposed 104,000-square-foot expansion is scheduled to go before Pender County’s Technical Review Committee on Wednesday. In addition to growing the building to nearly 258,000 square feet – the size of nearly 4.5 football fields – the project would also add several loading docks and service road access, according to site plans.

Representatives from Coastal Beverage Company did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday.

The company is located on a 27-acre site at 461 N. Corporate Drive in Pender Commerce Park. Coastal Beverage Company opened the existing facility, which serves as the company’s headquarters and distribution center, in 2019.

According to the company’s application for a major site development plan, the additional square footage would be used for “warehouse storage.” The project would also add an access service road around the expansion and more parking for delivery trucks, the application states.

The beverage distributor was founded in 1960 and has grown its regional footprint over the years.

Today, it operates distribution service centers in Wilmington, Farmville and Elizabeth City and distributes beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverages for various national brands, including Miller Lite, Seagrams, Austin East Ciders and Nestle Pure Life, according to its website. In 2019, it acquired local company Atlantic Shores Distributors.

Since its first tenant, Acme Smoked Fish, moved into Pender Commerce Park in early 2015, the industrial park has grown into a business hub, becoming home to tenants such as Empire Distributors, FedEx Freight and Polyhose, among others.

The latest major investments have come from Amazon, with the construction of a 142,000-square-foot delivery center and a massive 3.2 million-square-foot robotics fulfillment center, which is slated to open later this year.