Restaurant giants Whataburger and Olive Garden and retail chains BJ’s Wholesale Club and Ulta Beauty are eyeing the Adams Village project along N.C. 87 (just south of Walmart), according to a report published today by the Triangle Business Journal.

The article, written by TBJ’s regional growth reporter Ben Tobin, sources people “with knowledge of the project” and did not receive confirmation from the national chains named. It credits Sanford’s growth and Target’s announcement last year that it was building a new store at Riverbirch Corner in west Sanford.

Adams Village has been associated with news surrounding Sanford’s residential and business growth since it was first announced in March 2022. Not to be confused with Ashby Village (near Lowes Home Improvement), Adams Village will feature 250 single family lots and 231 townhome lots in its residential area. The commercial portion (highway facing) will sit on 30-plus acres of land.

Original 2022 plans for the commercial portion of Adams Village in south Sanford.
Original 2022 plans for the residential portion of Adams Village in South Sanford.

Olive Garden, known for its “never ending pasta bowl” and its breadsticks, is coming off a solid 2025 that saw increases in traffic and sales, according to Restaurant Dive. There are approximately 956 Olive Gardens in the United States, and the restaurant has announced plans for 60 new locations in 2026 and even more in 2027.

Texas-based Whataburger has more than 1,100 locations across 17 states, and North Carolina is part of the chain’s recent expansion along the East Coast. Following successful openings in Gastonia and Charlotte, Whataburger is expanding in High Point and Winston-Salem, and new locations are opening soon in the Triangle and in Rock Hill, South Carolina. According to Texas Monthly, the chain added a new location roughly every four days in 2024.

BJ’s Wholesale Club experienced a strong fourth quarter in 2025 with record-high membership renewal rates and a 31-percent surge in digital sales. With its main competitors being Costco and Sam’s Club, BJ’s plans to open 25 to 30 new stores over the next two years.

Ulta Beauty is the largest specialty beauty retailer in the United States, offering a wide range of cosmetics, skincare, fragrances and haircare products. The company has more than 1,500 locations and saw a nearly 12-percent increase in sales in the fourth quarter in 2025.