You mean besides the Target store?  We know, we know…  we are obviously excited…  but there’s more to tell, so read on! 

Ok, so Target

While many of us were sad to see the Kmart in Kill Devil Hills close down in 2020, after almost 30 years in the 80,000-square-foot space, it was the announcement of what would take over the space that quickly turned those tears into cheers! 

For many months there was hope that maybe, just maybe, the space would be purchased by Target, and in February of 2021, it happened!  Now 14 months later, it is set to open its doors on April 2nd, 2023.  For the many Target lovers around, this means fewer special trips to Virginia for those school supplies, clothes, accessories, and household goods that one can only find in a Target store. Sure, the Walmart in Kitty Hawk is great, and now that it’s got some competition on the beach, it’s been making some upgrades! 

The new Target store will also have a designated grocery pick-up area unlike any we’ve seen when visiting sister stores out of town.   The exterior signage shows that it will also feature a CVS and Starbucks. 

Two New Starbucks Locations in Kill Devil Hills

This now makes five Starbucks on the beach.  One just past the foot of the Wright Memorial Bridge in Southern Shores. If you are heading north towards Corolla, you can find one inside the Harris Teeter.  Heading south, in Kill Devil Hills, you will now find three locations.  One inside the Harris Teeter and the new standalone that opened in the Summer of 2022, with a drive-thru a mile to its north.  And now, of course, the one inside Target.  We are getting fancy!

But, despite the fact that so many of us have longed for some of the creature comforts that were given up when making the Outer Banks our home, such as a Target, a Starbucks on every corner, and a sporting goods store close by, chain restaurants, …   yes I hear it, and yes I agree.  WE DON’T WANT TO BE LIKE EVERYWHERE ELSE!  We love the vibe here that you can’t get anywhere else.  So we support the many locally owned establishments that grace the towns that give us one-of-a-kind dining, shopping, and, yes, coffee like Ashley's Espresso Bar and Front Porch Café.  You will find them featured in our other blog posts and in our recommended Things to Do pages. 

More Shopping

Year-round residents appreciate affordable options for clothing and home goods, and now there will be another option, Marshalls, opening soon in The Marketplace shopping center in Southern Shores, just south of the Wright Memorial Bridge and across from the Walmart.   

Gas Stations and a New Car Wash

Driving from the North?  You will now have a brand-new Royal Farms in Grandy, the first in North Carolina!  Based out of Baltimore and well known for its fried chicken, fresh ground and brewed coffee, and f’real milkshakes… as well as surcharge-free ATM’s, entire meal options to take home to the family, and their community involvement starting with free coffee for first responders in uniform.   

Also, opening in the Spring of 2023, directly across from the new Target, will be a WAWA.  Open 24 hours and, of course, offering its famous built-to-order food menu of sandwiches, a large selection of coffee drinks, healthy grab-and-go snacks, and clean bathrooms!

Further South in Kill Devil Hills, a new Caliber Car Wash will make many car owners south of Kitty Hawk very happy!

More Beach to Love

Oh the loved and sometimes not as appreciated beach nourishment project that graced our shoreline in 2022 has been completed, with the exception of a small strip in Duck, NC which is expected to be completed Spring 2023. For those that enjoyed watching the process of moving thousands of cubic yards of sand from necessary inlets that required dredging to the shrinking shorelines that millions come to enjoy during the Spring and Summer seasons, you will now have less action to observe this year and for years to come.  If visiting beaches in Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, and Nags Head and soon Duck, you will notice remarkably wider beaches thanks to the efforts of the project.  Now the cycle restarts, and hopefully, Mother Nature will play nicely and allow several years of our newly widened beaches as wind and surges from storms slowly take their toll.

Restaurants

Blue Moon Beach Grill in Nags Head will finish construction of it’s new stand-alone and much larger establishment just south of the original location in the Surfside Plaza shopping center just down from Jockey’s Ridge.   

Buffalo City Distillery located just before the Wright Memorial bridge opened in 2022. Buffalo City Distillery is a Farm-to-Glass craft producer of fine grain spirits, including Whiskeys, Vodkas and Gin, with a  state-of-the-art distillery offering distillery tours, tastings, bottle purchases, gift shopping and seasonally curated craft cocktails in our Dare Forest lounge. Their backyard play area is great for kids and dogs, and you will want to regularly check their online calendar for upcoming special events.

Also, in Nags Head, the Pier House Café located on the Nags Head Fishing Pier will finally reopen after closing down due to staffing issues caused by the pandemic in 2020.  We almost don’t want to let this beloved little secret out of the bag, but it’s too good not to share!

Our New Website 

In January of 2023, a newly redesigned website was launched for beachrealtync.com. What's New? In addition to a cleaner and more user-friendly design, new interactive features make trip planning even easier!

Now not only can you save your favorites for quick reference, but you can also share "trips," including availability and rates to your family and friends. A great tool for planning a vacation with multiple families!

When searching our site, you will also find the "Flex Dates" option to broaden your results.  Within your results, use the interactive map to explore different areas, and your filtered list will update.  Choose to view more properties at a time with the new "Grid" feature, and when clicking to view a specific home, enjoy larger photos, faster access to the home's location/map, guest reviews, and listed amenities displayed in a cleaner, easier-to-read format.    

Even More Rental Vacation Homes

We have added dozens of new homes to our vacation rental program.  Many of these homes are pet friendly, allowing 3 -4 dogs, a rare find with other rental companies.

New Beach Realty Team Members

We are happy to announce that we are fully staffed and ready to serve our guests and homeowners; looking forward to a successful 2023 rental season!