RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Changes are coming to the North Carolina State Fairgrounds.
On Monday, NC Agricultural Commissioner Steve Troxler announced plans to add a year-round food venue to what’s called the Midway Event Center.
It would replace the 70-year-old lunch stand building on the property which was torn down earlier this month.
While plans are still in the development stage, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services say the two-tiered building will offer food options, indoor and patio seating and fair food options during the fair.
“People who live and work near the fairgrounds know there are very limited food options in this area,” Troxler said in a press conference Monday. “We believe that once the Midway Event Center is completed it will become a hub for lunch options, after-work gatherings, weekend brunch dates and quick business meetings.”
The project is a part of the Fairgrounds Master Plan developed in 2009.
It’s just one project the department is working on.
Monday they also announced plans for a three-to-four-year fairgrounds improvement project focused on upgrading infrastructure and refreshing the flower and garden area to integrate it with Heritage Circle.
“As you can see, there are so many buildings here. Some of them were built a long time ago. We’ve got infrastructure put in a long time ago, so this is gonna be a long-term project,” said Troxler.
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As for what will happen to the previous vendors in the old lunch stand building, Troxler says they’re working to find a place for them while improvements are being made.
Construction on the Midway Events Center is expected to take about two years. Once completed they hope to have nine year-round vendors plus four fair season vendors—but that number could increase.
The department said receipts from rentals and revenue from the State Fair and the Got to Be NC festival will fund the staffing, repairs, renovations, and infrastructure upgrades.