Nearly a year after a popular national steakhouse chain announced plans to open its first Brunswick County location, construction has yet to begin.
Texas Roadhouse is slated for Leland Town Center, according to a January 2025 announcement from C&S Commercial Properties. The project was originally projected for a 2026 opening, but concerns raised during the town’s review process have slowed progress.
The restaurant is planned for a site near the roundabout at Gateway Boulevard and Tradeway Drive, in a shopping center that already includes Al’s Burger Shack, Eggs Up Grill and Lowe’s Home Improvement. Residents are also awaiting the long‑anticipated opening of an O2 Fitness in the same development.
Developers submitted a site plan for the 7,926‑square‑foot restaurant in December 2025. The proposal included sidewalks, 152 parking spaces and two access points. However, on Jan. 2, town staff issued a letter denying the plans—the second denial for the project.
According to the letter, the submission failed to meet several requirements, including correcting crosswalk alignments, updating the landscape plan to match the site plan, providing a lighting plan and conducting a parking study for certain spaces.
Under Leland’s planning procedures, projects like Texas Roadhouse are reviewed solely by the Technical Review Committee. Developers have up to three attempts to secure approval before they must file a new application and pay a new fee.
Despite the setback, the timeline for the restaurant has not changed publicly. The January 2025 news release still lists 2026 as the expected opening year. The Leland location would be the second Texas Roadhouse in the Wilmington area, joining the Eastwood Road restaurant.
C&S Commercial Properties is now awaiting civil and building permits. Once those are approved, site work can begin. Texas Roadhouse will handle construction of the building itself.
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