Plans up in the air for business destroyed by fire in Wrightsville Beach

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) —   The Wrightsville Beach planning board held a meeting tonight to discuss future changes to part of the town’s commercial district.

The board did not discuss plans for the property where King’s Beach Shop stood before it was destroyed by a fire last week.

Tonight the board discussed plans for more commercial parking as well as a new restaurant to go next to the King’s location, which board chairman Ken Dull said is an area that needs help.

“The Salisbury Street area of the beach, which is where Johnny Mercer’s Pier is and where the fire was this week, has turned out to be an area that’s under-served,” Dull said.

Developers want to renovate what used to be Buddy’s Oyster Bar into what they referred to as a family-friendly restaurant. While some concern was expressed about noise in the area, a handful of residence spoke in favor of proposed restaurant. The planning board gave their approval for the restaurant and parking plans discussed during the meeting, and now the Board of Alderman must approve the plans.

Owners said they hope to have the restaurant open by Memorial Day if plans are approved.