The cars were moved off of the collective lots of Performance Auto Mall in April, vacating approximately 15 acres along Fordham Boulevard in Chapel Hill.

While the dealership moved to a consolidated Hendrick Automotive facility near Southpoint mall in Durham, Chapel Hill Economic Development director Dwight Bassett said recently that demolition at the site is underway. The location is the future home of New York-based grocer Wegmans, which has announced plans for four stores across the Triangle.

Bassett said motorists will soon see increased activity on the site approaching I-40.

“They’ll be, probably, in full-blown construction in 45, 60 days,” Bassett said.

The Chapel Hill Town Council and Orange County Commissioners approved an incentive package to recruit Wegmans to Chapel Hill in late 2016. Just over one year later, the council approved development plans for the project.

Chapel Hill Mayor Pam Hemminger previously said the high-end grocer has the potential to be the largest sales tax generator in all of Orange County.

Estimates have varied since the plans were initially brought forward whether the Wegmans would be completed and open in 2019 or 2020. Bassett said the current schedule projects to the fall of next year.

“We’re probably about 14 months away, maybe, from Wegmans opening,” Bassett said. “So, it’s going to be exciting to see that happen.”

Wegmans lists the Chapel Hill and two Cary locations under the “Future Sites” section of its website, while the Raleigh location is listed as “Opening in 2019.”

The construction is part of a string of developments throughout Chapel Hill, including a focus in the Blue Hill District stretching along Fordham Boulevard from Elliot Road to near the future Wegmans location.

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