Fortnite takes over proposed mixed-use center site

Two years ago, Turnbridge Equities and Denali Partners purchased Cary Towne Center in Cary, N.C., for $31 million with plans to tear down the mall that had lost its Sears, Macy’s, and J.C. Penney’s and replace it with a mixed-use town center. 

Instead, the owners have sold the 87-acre property to Cary-based Epic Games for $95 million. The producer of the popular Fortnite online video game will erect a modern corporate campus on the site that will mix offices with green space and recreational facilities. No retail component has yet been announced. 

“After years of shifting development plans for the Center, we are thrilled the space will be utilized to its full potential and turned into something the town and community of Cary can be proud of,” said Turnbridge managing director Jason Davis.

Turnbridge acquired Cary Towne Center in a distressed-property sale and got it re-zoned for mixed-use construction based on its location near Interstate 40 and I-440 in North Carolina’s Research Triangle. It began re-assembling the mall and drew up plans to replace it with a 4.5 million-sq.-ft. project called Carolina Yards that would blend residential, office, retail, and hotels. A 380,000-sq.-ft. Ikea store was expected to replace the vacant Sears and Macy’s spaces, joined by 360,000 sq. ft. of additional retail including Belk and Dave & Buster’s.

Epic Games plans to move into its new headquarters in 2024.