Commercial Confidential: Mint Hill Commons

Listen to this article

With weeds taller than most children, a parcel of land in Mint Hill at the intersection of N.C. Highway 51 and Brighton Park Drive looks like much of the empty land in this mostly-rural suburb of Charlotte.

But this particular piece of land is poised for dramatic growth over the next couple of years, as two large out-of-state companies are planning to bring a shopping center close to the heart of Mint Hill.

After several months of conjecture, two Florida-based companies, Publix, out of Lakeland, and Stiles, out of Fort Lauderdale, this week revealed they were joining forces at the site and that Stiles would be developing the roughly 66,000-square-foot shopping center.

Publix, the grocer that since October has steadily been infiltrating the Charlotte market, will anchor the center and recently signed a lease for 49,000 square feet – complete with a drive-thru pharmacy – in the center.

Mint Hill Commons will be the third shopping center, and second grocery-anchored center, within spitting distance of Mint Hill’s main intersection, Lawyers Road and Highway 51. But Mint Hill Commons boasts the Publix, which seems intent on declaring full-scale grocery war on recently-sold Harris Teeter, which sits just across the highway from the center.

Along with the Publix will be 17,000 square feet of other retail and restaurant space, Stiles said this week, in addition to an outparcel, though it’s not clear what will eventually occupy that space.

Adrienne Zalkind, spokeswoman for Stiles, said that the company is actively seeking additional tenants but not leases have been signed yet. Stiles would like to add tenants like Starbucks, a dentist office and nail salons, she said.

Development on Mint Hill Commons is set to begin during the first quarter of 2014, with completion likely to be the second quarter of 2015.

Center name: Mint Hill Commons

Address: Intersection of Highway 51 and Brighton Park Drive

Square footage: Roughly 66,000

Owner: Stiles

Developer: Stiles

Leasing company: Yet to be determined

Vacancy rate: Soon to be under construction

Lease rates: Yet to be determined

Largest tenants and square feet occupied: Publix (49,000); The remaining tenants have yet to be determined.