Entertainment Complex to Anchor Morganton Project

A conceptual master plan for a major retail development south of Morganton Road in Southern Pines COURTESY OF VARDON ADVISORS

As of Friday, January 4, 2013

BY TED M. NATT JR. and JOHN CHAPPELL

Pilot Staff Writers

The Van Camp family has unveiled its conceptual master plan for a major retail development south of Morganton Road in Southern Pines that would be anchored by a large grocery store and the proposed IMAX theater entertainment complex.

The project, which would be constructed in two phases, was presented Wednesday to the Southern Pines Town Council at its monthly agenda meeting.

"The first phase is the grocer-anchored center and the second phase is the existing theater expansion," said Dave Crisafulli, principal at Vardon Advisors in Southern Pines. "We are currently in negotiations with representatives for the grocer and theater, but they are mutually exclusive opportunities and neither has been signed yet."

Bruce Frank, president and CEO of Frank Theatres, said the company plans to rename Sandhills Cinema 10 to Frank Theatres, add three more movie screens, and build a new 300-seat IMAX theater.

"We're starting this spring with an exterior renovation (to the current complex)," Frank said Thursday. "Then an interior renovation will include a new lobby, new concession counters, and a food and wine cafe in which wine and beer and finger foods are available - a 21-and-over lounge."

Frank said the IMAX theater and new screens will be part of a large entertainment complex coming under the family's Revolutions brand.

"Revolutions is a 24-lane bowling center, a sports stadium dining room called 'Red Brick Grille,' and about a 50- or 60-game arcade with billiards," Frank said. "We'll also have a Vegas-style showroom called 'Live' used for comedy acts, tribute bands and legitimate theater."

Frank said the multi-million-dollar expansion includes $1 million just for the IMAX theater.

"IMAX has the most loyal customers in the industry. They see 80 percent of the IMAX films released," he said. "They are the most loyal moviegoers in the industry and provide as much as 30 percent of the domestic box office, even though there are only 400 IMAX screens in the country."

Frank said licensing agreements guarantee IMAX theaters a restricted area.

"They wouldn't give one to Fayetteville," he said. "I got there first."

The new construction and additional parking spaces will come on land currently owned by the Van Camps.

Crisafulli is working with that family and Charlotte-based Lincoln Harris to develop the project, which is part of the Morganton Park concept that encompasses land owned by the family on both sides of Morganton Road.

"There's roughly 200 acres," Crisafulli said.

Caviness & Cates, a Fayetteville-based developer, unveiled plans last July for a $20 million apartment complex on the north side of Morganton Road. The Legends at Morganton Road would feature 288 luxury apartments and a clubhouse with hotel-like amenities.

"That project is moving forward," Crisafulli said. "Basically, Caviness & Cates is waiting for final state approvals for water and sewer. We're hoping to close this quarter and start moving dirt. That's the goal."

The apartment complex is located on 18 acres of the 115-acre tract, directly across Morganton from Brucewood Road.

Mayor David McNeill said the Town Council has evaluated "a number" of proposals for the south side of Morganton Road in recent years.

"This version, in my opinion, is the best I've seen so far because of the linkage that it provides to Henley Street and with Southern Pines Village on Brucewood Road," McNeill said. "It also provides for future development opportunities in the back part of the property."

McNeill said he was also excited about the IMAX project.

"Developing a new entertainment area that complements and enhances Sandhills Cinemas would be an asset to the town and provide better traffic flow and parking for the existing building and any future expansion," he said.

David Connor, a senior vice president for Lincoln Harris in Raleigh, said signing the anchors will be crucial.

"Landing the IMAX theater could be a great catalyst for us," Connor said. "But if these guys don't happen, the deal doesn't happen. They don't call them anchors for nothing."

Frank said renovating the current theater complex will come first, with the expansion to follow. Expansion means local audiences won't miss Academy Award-nominated pictures, and there will be room for art audiences and foreign films.

"We will dedicate one auditorium to art, to foreign and Academy films," he said. "With 14 screens, we can do that."

Contact Ted M. Natt Jr. at (910) 693-2474 or tnatt@the

pilot.com.

Contact John Chappell at (910) 783-5841 or jfchappell @gmail.com.

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JD 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Neat, too bad for Sandhills Cinema 10 though.

Kanobi 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Please, dear God, let there be a Target included in that!

dustyrhoades 4 months, 2 weeks ago

JD, I believe they're owned by the same company.

herecomesthescience 4 months, 2 weeks ago

PILOT: Please, please, please learn to include links to LARGER versions of the photos you post. Web design 101, folks. Drives people crazy when you click on the tiny photo in the story and all it does is take you to another page with the same exact photo size. I would like to see the detail in the new shopping center document you have here, but no such luck. UGH.

TooHot 4 months, 2 weeks ago

And they could build a golf course in there.......................

AFCHIEF 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Any moment now Toda will be posting dribble on how this is bad for SP and the area

babiehop 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Let's just hope they don't want to use red awnings, it could blow the whole thing out of the water. Heaven forbid getting a Target here, their logo is red !

TF121 4 months, 2 weeks ago

If growth is to happen in this area, at least this project fits the entertainment mold, and not compete with existing business. As for the market component, hopefully, it'll be a Trader Joe's, as this type of retail grocer is needed here.

teufelhunden 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Kanobi-that would be great...tired of Wally World.

chipaa39 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Trader Joe's or Whole Foods, but that won't happen. I look for Harris Teeter to move, in regards to the anchor Grocery store

mleach 4 months, 2 weeks ago

harris teeter extremely unlikely - would potentially be their 4th location in moore county. they have the original store next to dick's, the newer store in whispering pines, and they recently purchased property near lowes foods in pinehurst adjacent to the entrance to taylortown. they could of course go with this development and sell the pinehurst property - but that wouldn't make a lot of sense from a geography standpoint - 2 stores would be too close together. trader joes/whole foods would be a big hit. target - wow.

JD 4 months, 2 weeks ago

dustyrhoades 8 hours, 10 minutes ago JD, I believe they're owned by the same company.

Wouldn't that be corporate cannibalism at it's finest since most new blockbusters are shot in IMAX? But after looking IMAX is not owned by Frank Theatres, but Frank does have IMAX in their theatres. Mostly a licensing thing.

mleach 4 months, 2 weeks ago

chipaa - just re-read your post - figure you might have meant the original teeter would re-locate - which would make sense.

JohnChappell 4 months, 2 weeks ago

There is no Lowe's Foods store anywhere in Pinehurst. Taylortown does have one however. It is in its Olmsted Village shopping center. The Taylortown Lowe's is just across NC 211 from the edge of Pinehurst.

Bigguy 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Sam's, BJ's or Costco, any of them would help out alot.

debsalomon 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Nobody's mentioned the proximity to Fresh Market -- they have a major expansion underway. They serve some of the Trader Joe's/Whole Foods clientele. Trading area's not nearly big enough for Costco. If Fayetteville doesn't qualify neither would we.

mleach 4 months, 2 weeks ago

John - I understand that the Olmsted Village shopping/commercial area is technically not Pinehurst. Due to the fact that all of the businesses in Olmsted Village have a Pinehurst physical address and advertise themselves that way - Lowes Foods of Pinehurst for example - I think the general public considers Olmsted Village as Pinehurst. Not sure why that was important to point out - but thanks.

TF121 4 months, 2 weeks ago

debsalomon: with its recent rush of rezoning and project approvals, the So Pines Town Council is not apparently concerned with new retailers entering the local market and competing with and ultimately displacing existing retailers. The current council is pro-growth, to say the least. "Partners in Progress" has also made it known that it wants Moore County to be the region's retail hub. Of course, all this is at the expense of the very charm and character of the town and area. It is a curious dynamic. These gentlemen are killing the goose that laid the golden egg. And they are "OK" with it.

debsalomon 4 months, 2 weeks ago

I doubt any supermarket will cut very deeply into Fresh Market's niche which is more gourmet/specialty/service than organic or price-conscious. They still preach and practice "The customer is always right." At a price, of course. But their customers seem not to mind.

buddysmith 4 months, 2 weeks ago

any plans on the increase in traffic for the area? it is almost impossible, some days, now to get out of pinecrest plaza, onto morganton road, without getting run into!

Millie 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Cinemaplex fine ..Big box stores not fine! Say it isn't so!! No Target or Costco please! Why turn this location into a common "strip" mall? Is this what attracts so many to relocate in the area? It isn't what attracted me. Why destroy the charm and character of the area? I'm very against this kind of growth.and the consumerism it breeds with inferior "made in China" junk!

njc17 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Load up that impervious soils issue won't you. When is enough enough?

donj 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Can't wait for the expanded police blotter section of The Pilot when this luxury apartment complex opens. It isn't the nicest area of Southern Pines...

Crash11 4 months, 2 weeks ago

I've always felt like Pinehurst and Whispering Pines should be protected for their charm and make Southern Pines and Aberdeen into the retail/restaurant and entertainment giants. I wouldn't worry about downtown Southern Pines because of it's unique niche of shopping, nightlife, and park.

Donj where are the luxury new apartments going...are they off on US-1?

donj 4 months, 2 weeks ago

@Crash11 - I think the article said the "north side of Morganton Rd.". That is walking distance from the Armory area = disaster!

LisaS 4 months, 2 weeks ago

An IMAX, and entertainment complex great for families and some civilized night life around here. Sign me up. I would love to see fresh market in a larger location or whole foods would also be great. Good luck to the developers. Make it happen. Also some good police and security coverage of course will be needed and I am sure will be provided.

Entertainment Complex to Anchor Morganton Project

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