The retail giant Costco Wholesale Corp. is interested in replacing southwest Cary's MacGregor Village shopping center with one of its warehouse-style stores.

Town of Cary staff have confirmed that Costco submitted a "pre-application" to the town in September.

The early documents include a conceptual plan that calls for the demolition of all the 1980s-era mall's buildings except for its bank, according to Cary's staff and mayor.

If Costco followed through on its plans, the membership-based store would build a 147,000-square-foot store and a gas station, Costco's second in Wake County, at the western corner of U.S. 64 and U.S. 1.

A Costco spokeswoman said the company does not comment on its plans in specific markets. A representative of Simon Property Group, the Indiana-based parent company of the shopping center, said the company wouldn't announce any changes until it has a fully executed lease.

Costco, not Simon Property Group, submitted the early planning documents. The meetings are not evidence of any deal between the retailer and the property owner, as Cary does not require property owner's participation in the pre-submittal review.

Costco is "negotiating with the current owner of the shopping center ... for the property," Mayor Harold Weinbrecht wrote in his blog, citing a Costco representative. "It appears that the site plan will not move forward until an agreement is reached."

The mall is home to 19 businesses, according to the Simon Property Group website.

Wake schools name principal

From staff reports

The Wake County school board appointed one permanent and five interim principals on Tuesday.

Lisa Whitaker was named principal of the Wake Early College of Health and Sciences in Raleigh with a salary of $85,659. She has been an assistant principal at Middle Creek High since 2008.

The board tapped retired principals to fill in at five schools until permanent hires are made: Gerald Pickett at Enloe High in Raleigh, Charles Langley at Heritage Middle in Wake Forest, Roy Teel at Martin Middle in Raleigh, Teresa Abron at Forest Pines Elementary in Raleigh, and Craig Matthews at Wake Forest Elementary.

Michael Chuong leaves Cary's An

From staff reports

Chef Michael Chuong confirmed last week that he has left An, the Cary restaurant he started with the backing of Ann Goodnight.

Goodnight's husband James founded and still runs SAS in Cary. Ann Goodnight met Chuong when he was the executive chef at Prestonwood Country Club in Cary.

Chuong declined to say what led to his departure.

Man charged in Target thefts

From staff reports

A man is accused of stealing more than $1,200 worth of merchandise Tuesday from the Apex Target, 1201 Beaver Creek Commons Drive, according to an Apex police report. Alexis Diez, 33, is charged in the thefts of a DVD player, bedroom blankets, clothing and other household items, the report says.