$60M shopping center rising in Beaufort. Here’s the latest list of tenants joining Aldi

Four new retail tenants have been signed — and negotiations are continuing with four major restaurants — at the $60 million Beaufort Station, the shopping center that will be the region’s largest when it opens next year at a busy Beaufort crossroads.

Situated at the prime intersection of Robert Smalls Parkway and Parris Island Gateway, the 200,000-square-foot center will offer retail, dining and grocery options in northern Beaufort County.

Zach Means, a senior vice president of Divaris Real Estate Inc., said Beaufort Station will be one of the largest shopping centers between Savannah and Charleston, and maybe the largest.

The shopping center is located at one of the busiest intersections in one of the state’s fastest growing counties and near two major military bases, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island and Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort.

“The growth story of the Lowcounty, Beaufort included, is a reason a lot of these retailers want to be here,” said Trey Morgan, president of The Morgan Companies, which is developing the project.

Between The Morgan Companies and the tenants, close to $60 million will be invested in the project, Morgan said.

The featured tenants are Aldi Grocery Stores, PetSmart, TJ Maxx, HomeGoods, Five Below, Rack Room Shoes, Hobby Lobby, Ross Dress for Less, Ulta Beauty and Old Navy. They were previously announced.

Means, of Divaris Real Estate, confirmed with The Beaufort Gazette and Island Packet on Wednesday that Mattress Firm, America’s Best Contacts and Eye Glasses, Le Nails and Parker’s Kitchen, the convenience store and gas station, are among the smaller shops that have agreed to locate at Beaufort Station.

But negotiations are still underway with four restaurants — two national and two franchises. The names, Means added, will not be announced until final deals are reached.

A national restaurant is corporate-owned while a franchise is typically owned by an individual or small company.

“We’re very excited about bringing these retailers and restaurants to Beaufort and feel they will be a wonderful compliment to the marketplace,” Means said.

For several months, construction preparation has been occurring at the property on the southwest corner of Parris Island Gateway and Robert Smalls Parkway, across from Walmart and Cross Creek Plaza.

The 31-acre site, Morgan said, was one of the largest parcels of land available in Beaufort.

“These retailers need a lot of land to operate,” Morgan said.

The City of Beaufort has issued building permits for the shell buildings. Morgan expects buildings to be “coming out of the ground” between April and June.

The shopping center, he said, should be finished in 14 or 15 months, in the second quarter of 2024. Originally, the targeted completion date was fall 2023.

“We’re not immune to many of the supply chain issues,” Morgan said. “It’s definitely gone a little bit slower than we all would have liked.”