December 12, 2012By J. Elias O’Neal

The Darden Insurance Agency, Great Clips and Atlantic Wireless will join Lowes Food at the Hampstead Town Center after the center is finished in May 2013, leasing officials said Wednesday.

Preston Waldo, leasing agent with Retail Strategies who is responsible for onsite leasing at the Hampstead development, also said Wednesday that four other tenants plan to sign leases at the shopping center in the coming months, according to a news release.

Hampstead Town Center is a $14 million, 81,970-square-foot development that is currently under construction at the intersection of U.S. Highway 17 and Ravenswood Road on 14.12 acres in Hampstead.

The project is anchored by a 44,170-square-foot Lowes Food, and its remaining retail units and three outparcels are currently being marketed for future leases and development.

Officials are currently leasing 20,300 square feet of retail space in phase one. If the other unnamed leases currently under contract are completed, more than 16,000 square feet of retail space would be leased in phase one.

Rick Rowe, developer and president of Raleigh-based Wakefield Associates that’s building the Hampstead development, said leasing was progressing ahead of expectations.

“We are excited to be developing this center and feel that this will be a welcomed addition to the Hampstead community,” Rowe said in a news release. “As leases are executed, we will make further announcements.”