You could call it an oasis.
In low-income neighborhoods, there can be a “retail desert.” Meaning, because area residents don’t have a lot of disposable income, retailers don’t feel it’s a good move to invest in a new location.
Local commercial realtor Wayne Malone said the naysayers were out strong when he and Vanguard Property Group looked into putting a Dollar General on East King Street.
“We started this project a year and a half ago, and I was told that it’d never work,” Malone said.
The location, a block from public housing and near the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard roundabout, had been stigmatized as a crime-prone area. But, Malone said, the store passed Dollar General’s neighborhood crime survey without any problem.
“This will be open in 30 days,” Malone said.
Another obstacle at the site was soil contamination from industrial activity in that part of Kinston. But, the money needed for clean-up wasn’t a deterrent.
“I am pleased we were able to find a practical solution to the environmental challenges, so that we could continue on with our work,” said George T. Barnes of Vanguard Property Group in a statement. “Kinston is special — I have family and friends there, so I am especially gratified we were able to move forward.”
Mark Pope, head of economic development for Lenoir County, said work continues to attract investment to the MLK corridor.
“We’re looking at a couple things there around the roundabout,” Pope said. “The city owns some property as it turns onto (N.C.) 11, Martin Luther King (Jr. Boulevard), off King Street. We’ve actually advertised that site, and I think we did have an interested party at one time that was looking at putting up a small, convenience-type store complex there.
“We’re still looking at that site.”
Malone said that if the Dollar General is successful — and he believes it will be — a couple of other companies may expand into East Kinston, as well.
“But I’ve got a couple other national companies — if this gets built and opens up, then they’re willing to go take a look in that area,” Malone said, later adding, “We think that store is going to be one of the better stores anywhere.”
Wes Wolfe can be reached at 252-559-1075 or wes.wolfe@kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter @WolfeReports.