The boat ramp at Brunswick River Park could someday be part of a Belville Riverwalk development. StarNews file photo.

Q. I was surprised to read Belville has 2 liquor stores! I only know the one on River Road. Where is the other one? Where is downtown Belville anyway? I’ve tried to find it! Did find the Riverwalk but it was closed.

A. In addition to the ABC store at 44 River Road SE, a second Belville ABC store is located in the Shops of Waterford Complex at 477 Olde Waterford Way. Most assume this is a “Leland” store. However, it is located on a small oasis of Belville land in the middle of Leland. The current Belville Town Hall is located on the same street.

Downtown Belville lies within a small triangle of land nestled at the intersection of N.C. 17, N.C. 133 and U.S. 74/76. Currently, Main Street is mostly a wasteland of empty lots, a tiny auto repair shop, a store front church and a Scotchman on the corner.

In 2007, the town and developer Urban Smart Growth, agreed to create an ultra-modern riverfront downtown that would include retail shops, restaurants, condos and commercial businesses. After demolition work was nearly completed, the project was abandoned as the Great Recession took hold. Lawsuits ensued in 2011. Recently the town and developer began working on a settlement that may pave the way for downtown development to begin.

The Brunswick Riverwalk at Belville currently consists of the facilities in the park by the Brunswick River across from Brunswick Elementary School. The town has applied for several grants to build a riverwalk complex consisting of shops, a boardwalk and a fishing pier. Decisions on funding are expected within the next month.

RELATED LINKS:

What is Belville’s connection to liquor?

What was the “USS Belville”?

Date posted: July 7, 2014

User-contributed question by:
Thomas Behm