HOLLY RIDGE, NC – The Town of Holly Ridge is pleased to announce that it is officially under contract to purchase the former J&J Snack Foods property at 312 Sound Road. Known as Project Candy, the purchase follows approximately 8 months of negotiations with the company. In preparation for this opportunity, the Town engaged engineers several weeks ago to begin a feasibility study of the property and evaluate how the existing facility could be adapted to serve the community’s needs. That study remains ongoing as the Town continues to evaluate the property, potential uses, and next steps for the project.

The proposed facility would create a welcoming, accessible civic center and community space to serve residents in a variety of ways. Possible plans include recreational and wellness amenities such as basketball and pickleball courts, rock climbing, an indoor playground, a yoga studio, fitness space, and other opportunities for year-round activities.

The facility would also bring the Town’s departments together under one roof, including Administration, the Police Department, Community Development, Public Works, and Parks and Recreation. Additional features would include executive and community meeting spaces, Council Chambers, retail flex space, and the potential for a satellite location for Onslow County services.

A dedicated Emergency Operations Center is also being considered as part of the project. This would give Town officials and emergency personnel a centralized location to coordinate during hurricanes, severe weather, and other emergencies. If feasible, the facility could also include emergency shelter capabilities, giving the Town another resource to assist residents when it is needed most.

Redeveloping a former industrial property in the center of town would also improve the overall appearance and character of the area, replacing a large factory site with a more welcoming space that better reflects Holly Ridge’s growth and future. Retail and commercial space could bring additional activity downtown, support local businesses,

attract visitors, and complement the Town’s Future Downtown Main Street and revitalization efforts.

Project Candy also puts action behind Holly Ridge’s tagline, “The Crossroads of History, Industry and Coastal Living.” The property is part of the Town’s industrial story, and its redevelopment provides an opportunity to honor that history while adapting the site to meet the needs of a growing community. By transforming a former industrial facility into a place for government services, recreation, emergency preparedness, business, and community life, the Town is bringing together its past, present, and future in one location.

Project Candy is about more than purchasing a building. It is an opportunity to take a property that has played an important role in Holly Ridge’s past and turn it into a place that serves the community today and well into the future—a place where residents can access Town services, take part in local government, stay active, gather with neighbors, support local businesses, and connect with their community.