Big mixed-use project tops out in Research Triangle
Fenton, the 69-acre mixed-use district set to open next year in Cary, N.C., reached its maximum height and celebrated with a topping-out ceremony.
“Topping out at Fenton represents the culmination of over six years of hard work by project partners and stakeholders, the Town of Cary and the community to bring this project to life,” said Paul Zarian, director at Hines, which co-developed the project with Columbia Development.
The development will add 2.5 million square feet of retail, office, restaurant, hotel and multifamily to North Carolina’s Research Triangle. The initial phase will consist of 345,000 sq. ft. of specialty and experiential retail. Set to open in April 2022, initial tenants at Fenton will include Williams Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Paragon Theaters, Arhaus Furniture, Sephora, Free People, Bailey’s Fine Jewelry, LunchboxWax and Zen Nail Bar.
Its restaurant lineup is chef-driven and expansive, led by chef Scott Crawford’s Crawford Brothers Steakhouse, Steve Palmer’s Italian restaurant Colletta, chef Michael Lee’s M Sushi, and chef Ford Fry’s Tex-Mex restaurant Superica.
“This is an exciting and important milestone for Fenton, Cary’s Eastern Gateway, and the entire central North Carolina region,” said Cary Mayor Harold Weinbrecht at the ceremony. “We’re proud to have been chosen for Fenton, and we appreciate the successful partnership we enjoy with Fenton’s team as we work together to create the next great thing for our community and beyond.”
Just last week, Hines announced that Sports & Social will bring an upscale gaming parlor and social lounge to the project next year--the entertainment and restaurant concept’s first expansion into North Carolina.
[Read more: 69-Acre mixed-use project breaks ground outside Raleigh]
Located along I-40 and Cary Towne Boulevard, Fenton is one of the largest retail-driven mixed-use projects currently underway in the country. When the first phase is finished it will contain 200,000 sq. ft. of office space, a 175-room boutique hotel and a 357-unit luxury apartment community.
“Fenton has continued to attract best-in-class retail brands and new-to-market concepts despite the challenges brought on by the pandemic,” said Dotan Zuckerman, director of leasing for Columbia Development.