New businesses in Wilmington

Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. This is the first monthly roundup, covering Aug. 1 to Oct. 31, 2026. Openings come from the Greater Wilmington Chamber of Commerce events calendar, which lists ribbon cuttings, and filings from the City of Wilmington’s Planning Commission agenda. A ribbon cutting is the business’s own celebration; a filing is not an opening, and we say which is which. This roundup is rebuilt each month.

Wilmington’s new businesses show up first in two places: ribbon cuttings organized by the Greater Wilmington Chamber of Commerce, and zoning cases at the city’s Planning Commission when a site needs a different zoning to take a new use.

Who to call

• Greater Wilmington Chamber of Commerce: 910-762-2611, 1 Estell Lee Place
• Opening a business, zoning questions: City of Wilmington Zoning, 910-254-0900
• Building and upfit permits: New Hanover County, 910-798-7308
• Downtown business help: Wilmington Downtown Inc., starting a business

Ribbon cuttings, August to October 2026

Jason’s Deli at 5301 Market St. also held a Chamber ribbon cutting on Sept. 10 to mark the chain’s 50th anniversary; it is not a new opening.

The Chamber invites members and guests to both October events: Oak Grove’s runs 4 to 5 p.m., with the ribbon cut at 4:30 p.m.; StudioRes’s runs noon to 1 p.m., with the ribbon cut at 12:30 p.m. Oak Grove and StudioRes have Wilmington mailing addresses in ZIP code 28411, north of the city center.

In the pipeline: zoning cases

These requests are on the city Planning Commission’s list, according to its board page. They are applications, not approvals, and none names a business yet.

On the Wednesday, Nov. 4, agenda:

• Part of 2414 Wrightsville Ave., about 0.13 acres, from R-5 residential to Community Business.
• Part of 2758 Worth Drive, about 2.56 acres, from Industrial to R-5 residential.

Recommended by the commission and headed to City Council:

• 5000 Market St., about 6.33 acres, from Commercial Services to Regional Business.
• 428 Eastwood Road, about 1.26 acres, from R-15 residential to Office and Institutional.
• A conditional rezoning change at 1124 Gallery Park Blvd. and 2225 Stonecrop Drive, about 12.26 acres.
• Code changes allowing wall and projecting signs by right in the MD-17 district, and restoring group day facilities as a permitted use in several districts.

Case files, maps and staff reports are in the city’s Development and Permitting Services portal.

Opening a business in Wilmington

1. Check the zoning for your location with city zoning, 910-254-0900, or the zoning map.
2. Get building or upfit permits from New Hanover County through its COAST portal.
3. Signs need a city sign permit.
4. Food businesses also need a permit from county Environmental Health; see our restaurant inspections page.

More in our building permits and zoning guide.

Tell us about an opening

Opening a business in Wilmington? Send the name, address and opening date through our contact page. We list openings from public records and from the business itself, and never charge to be included.

Frequently asked questions

What new businesses are opening in Wilmington, NC? Recent and upcoming Chamber ribbon cuttings include StudioRes by Marriott, an extended-stay hotel on Cape Harbor Drive (Oct. 28), and Oak Grove at Blake Farm, apartments for active adults (Oct. 21). Banned Together Clothing, HARPO Properties and Salty Dawg Pet Salon and Bakery held ribbon cuttings in September.

How do I find out about ribbon cuttings in Wilmington? The Greater Wilmington Chamber of Commerce lists ribbon cuttings on its events calendar at wilmingtonchamber.org. Call the Chamber at 910-762-2611.

Do I need a business license in Wilmington, NC? Ask the city’s zoning office first: a new business needs the right zoning for its location, and building work needs a New Hanover County permit. Call city zoning at 910-254-0900.