Experience Commercial Real Estate Success in Kannapolis, NC
Unlock Exclusive Commercial Property Listings
Textiles and Research in Kannapolis, North Carolina
The history of Kannapolis includes deep roots in the textile industry. In the early 1900s, Cannon Manufacturing began a textile mill that employed much of the city and surrounding areas. Later, in 1982, Cannon Mills was purchased by David Murdock, chairman and owner of Dole Food Company. After the mill closed in the early 2000s, Murdock demolished the site and began the North Carolina Research Campus.
Since then, and with Murdock’s purchase of both land and buildings for offices and research-related work, Kannapolis has become well known for its scientific contributions in the areas of human health, agriculture, and nutrition. The North Carolina Research Campus in Kannapolis is still dedicated to “empowering human health through nutrition”.
In addition to scientific research projects and buildings, Kannapolis is also well known for other types of distribution space. Much of this is due to the benefit of its close proximity to I-85, making it easy to access for warehouse and distribution companies. There’s also a good bit of available land in Kannapolis, providing opportunities for industrial outdoor storage and other new industrial buildings and properties.
The Neighborhood of Kannapolis, NC
Much more than just its health research and industrial buildings, Kannapolis is a well-loved place to live by its 53,000+ residents. This thriving community is home to a growing economy, single family homes and other residential development, many parks and museums, and so much more.
Located not far north of Charlotte, the community of Kannapolis benefits from suburban living while also enjoying close proximity to the bigger city and quick access to the interstate. The main roads of Kannapolis, including North Cannon Blvd and Dale Earnhardt Blvd, also feature numerous neighborhood retail opportunities for the city’s residents. Other popular attractions throughout the city include the Dale Earnhardt Plaza, the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame, the Curb Museum for Music and Motorsports, and so much more. Village Park, Veterans Park (honoring the United States Military), and others provide opportunities for locals to get outside and enjoy the beautiful climate of this North Carolina city.
The rapidly growing market of Kannapolis boasts a low unemployment rate, good schools, a suburban feel, and easy access to surrounding NC cities.
What our clients are saying
Investment Opportunities in Kannapolis
Some of the most sizable investments in Kannapolis have included the Murdock investment in Cannon Mills and later the building of the North Carolina Research Campus. Many other health and research building investments abound throughout the city as well – including medical and research offices, laboratories, and more.
Current investment opportunities in the local market of Kannapolis span the gamut of the commercial property types. The easy interstate access, available land, and open buildings give investors a variety of opportunities to buy property in this Charlotte city.
Whether you’re looking for office, industrial, warehouse, flex, retail, or industrial outdoor storage (IOS), our team at Regent Commercial Real Estate specializes in helping our clients hone in on the right property for your business goals. We’re here to make the process easy as you develop your next great opportunity for commercial real estate in the metro Charlotte area.
Office Space in Kannapolis, NC
Most of the office space in Kannapolis tends to be either small, owner-occupied real estate office or larger spaces related to the health research industry. Outside of the research facilities, much of the available space is used as law firms, CPA practices, and medical office building spaces. You’ll find offices ranging throughout every property class in Kannapolis and its surrounding areas.
Available space for offices in Kannapolis generally costs around $360/sf. Rent opportunities usually fall into the $21/sf/yr range.
Industrial Space in Kannapolis, NC
The industrial buildings in this city tend to be larger and are often used for distribution purchases. However, there are some smaller flex properties along the I-85 corridor that are more small-business oriented.
Because of the close proximity to I-85, Kannapolis is one of the top markets for industrial space throughout Metrolina. I-85 runs all the way north into Washington, D.C. and south into Alabama, making it ideal for distance transportation along the east coast.
Kannapolis has a variety of properties available ranging in size and building class. The average cost to lease industrial space in this city is $12/sf/yr, while pricing on properties for sale generally falls at around $144/sf.
Warehouse Space in Kannapolis, NC
As a sub-type of industrial space, warehouse space is also a popular type of Kannapolis real estate due to the available buildings, property, and proximity to the interstate. A lot of the buildings here are older textile buildings that used to be used for warehouse manufacturing. In addition, there are a lot of warehouse distribution buildings along I-85.
Most of the properties in this area fall into Class B or Class C. The average cost of warehouses for lease in Kannapolis is $13/sf/yr, while the average price of properties for sale is $127/sf.
Flex Space in Kannapolis, NC
Kannapolis also has a fair amount of flex space. Service-oriented businesses enjoy the easy access that Kannapolis has to offer to a wide customer base.
Most of the flex space properties in Kannapolis and its surrounding cities fall into the 1,000-3,000 square foot range. Pricing for flex averages at around $13/sf/yr in this area.
Retail Space in Kannapolis, NC
The retail users in Kannapolis are mostly neighborhood-based shopping centers. There are a number of inline retail strip center options here and multi-tenant shopping center availability. These retail strip centers and grocery-anchored retail centers offer much of the most well-positioned retail with ample parking, and they draw a variety of customers from around the city.
While Kannapolis has numerous options for retail strip centers with superior visibility along the main roads and even department stores, most of it services the residents of the town rather than attracting out-of-town shoppers. The closest destination retail shopping center would be the Concord Mills Mall – a 1-million plus sf shopping center with over 200 stores and restaurants.
Retail space for lease in Kannapolis averages around $20/sf/yr, while properties for sale are generally around $590/sf. Whether you’re looking for a small retail shop or a department store building, let Regent CRE help you find your next great fit in the prime location of Kannapolis.
Industrial Outdoor Storage (IOS) Space in Kannapolis, NC
Industrial outdoor storage continues to become more and more popular across the country. Generally, IOS is recognized as a 1+ acre site with a small building on it. It’s ideal for building supply houses, trash storage or landfills, container storage, and other businesses who don’t need indoor square footage for storing all of their products or vehicles.
While IOS is highly sought-after, it’s not available everywhere due to the amount of space it takes. Fortunately, Kannapolis has the available land and vacant space needed to complete more IOS developments. It’s close proximity to I-85 also makes it perfect for industrial property use and transporting products.
Your Neighbors in Kannapolis, North Carolina
Kannapolis is home to neighborhood retail, research centers, distribution companies, and small businesses. Who will be your new neighbors in your Kannapolis home? Here are some of the companies you’ll find around this North Carolina city.
- Hobby Lobby
- Armed Forces Recruiting (Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, and U.S. Navy)
- Walmart Supercenter
- Lowe’s Home Improvement
- North Carolina Research Campus
FAQs About the Kannapolis, NC Neighborhood Near Charlotte
What types of commercial real estate are available in Kannapolis, NC?
Kannapolis has commercial real estate in every sphere, including office, industrial, warehouse, flex, retail, and industrial outdoor storage (IOS). It’s especially popular for scientific research buildings, distribution and warehouse space, and available land. The city’s close access to I-85 makes it a prime location for distribution companies.
How much does commercial real estate cost in Kannapolis, NC?
On average, commercial real estate in Kannapolis leases for $16/sq/yr and sells for $305/sf. The cost of commercial real estate can vary significantly based on the age, features, location, and type of building (office, flex, industrial, warehouse, IOS, or retail).
How long does it take to get from Kannapolis to Charlotte?
It can take 30-60 minutes to drive from Kannapolis to Charlotte Center City, depending on traffic. Kannapolis is located less than 30 miles northeast of Uptown, Charlotte.
What’s the average household income in Kannapolis, NC?
In 2024, Kannapolis had an average annual household income of $88,766. This suburban area has a growing economy and a low unemployment rate, which contribute to its successful investment opportunities and thriving small businesses.
Find Your Next Commercial Real Estate Home in Metro Charlotte With Regent CRE
At Regent Commercial Real Estate, we’re dedicated to helping you find a commercial space that fits your business needs. Every business is different, and in the ever-changing real estate market, it can feel overwhelming and incredibly time-consuming to hone in on a space that will truly advance your business goals. Before we even start the process of looking at properties, we take the time to sit down with you to discuss your short- and long-term goals so that we can make a list of possible properties that could be your next ideal space, saving you time in the long run. With over 10 years of experience in the metro Charlotte area, we understand the pros and cons of each of the individual submarkets around Metrolina.
With top-tier real estate designations, including SIOR and CCIM, our service marks include honesty, integrity, and superior knowledge in negotiation, financial analysis, understanding market trends, and real estate investment advising.
Whether you’re looking for a broker to aid you in buying, selling, or leasing, property management services, or investment expertise, you can trust our experienced team at Regent CRE to provide sound advice as we make the process simple. Contact us today to get started.
