Good people of Cary,

Happy April!

It’s hard to believe we are entering the 2nd quarter of the year already. I hope that you are enjoying the warmer weather as we dive into Spring.

There’s much to discuss: a new restaurant is coming to one of downtown's most iconic corners later this year, an upscale Indian restaurant is scheduled to open this month, and Vino & Tap (the space replacing Cotton House) will be opening extremely soon (like, potentially tomorrow soon).

Anyway, let’s get to it.
James

I anticipate that this place is going to become a big deal for downtown Cary.

107 E. Chatham Street has been home to Gurkan's Downtown Auto Repair for years. Before that, it was K.M. Lloyd's filling station, which opened in 1951. The building has been a landmark at that corner for over 70 years.

Now, Early Bird Night Owl is turning it into a restaurant called Lloyd's Full Service. They're the hotel group behind The Mayton.

Construction has been really heating up in the past few weeks. You may have noticed that part of the road is being blocked off while they work on the building.

No opening date has been announced yet, but their website states that it will open at some point this year.

Additional reading: Official website, Midtown Magazine

That didn’t take long.

Vino & Tap is scheduled to open this Thursday (check their socials for updated information) inside the historic Pasmore House on the edge of Downtown Cary Park.

Cotton House, the former tenant of the space, shut its doors ~5 months ago.

Vino & Tap is a new concept, but you may be familiar with the co-owner’s other ventures: RallyPoint Sports Grill and Dram & Draught. Dram & Draught has 7 locations around North Carolina, including one in Fenton.

They will have wine (obviously), champagne cocktails, and a rotating craft beer selection.

If they are opened as scheduled, make sure you check them out this weekend!

Additional reading: Official website, Facebook

Spring has fully arrived, and Cary is about to get busy.

The big event this month: The Pimento Cheese Festival on April 11. Downtown Cary Park hosts this one every year and it consistently delivers. Over 50 vendors, a sculpting contest, live music, and some genuinely creative applications of pimento cheese. Free admission. Get there early to find parking - this is a big event for Cary.

On the restaurant front, April is shaping up to be an active month for new openings. Lloyd's Full Service is in development. Reserve is targeting an April debut. Vino & Tap is opening in days. Stay tuned for more announcements.

The Children's Day Festival of Cary is April 18 at Downtown Cary Park. It's organized by the American Turkish Association of NC and features stage performances, international crafts, and arts activities for kids. Free, and a genuinely good community event.

The Josh Cellars Jazz Series runs every Wednesday through April 22 at Koka Booth. Lawn tickets are $7.

Interested in partnering with us? Reach out at [email protected] and let's find something that works for you.

Surprise! No events this week again. I am working on revamping this section to be more useful.

If you’re looking for stuff to do in the area, I recommend checking the following:

Triangle on the Cheap

Downtown Cary Park’s Calender

Town of Cary’s Calendar

Hopefully by next week, I will have the new and improved events section up. Stay tuned!

Each week, I highlight a spot in Cary that I think you should check out. This week, we're heading to my favorite lunch spot in downtown Cary.

This one has been sitting on my list for a while and I keep telling people about it, so it's about time I put it in the newsletter.

Faulisi started as Pizzeria Faulisi, a wood-fired pizza spot on E. Chatham Street. Good pizza, unbelievable gnocchi, and a loyal following.

Last year, they pivoted and relaunched as Faulisi Caffe and Enoteca, a morning and afternoon cafe concept. Now it's espresso, sandwiches, wine, and a focused Italian menu built around quality ingredients. And every single thing on the menu is a hit.

The sandwiches are what you need to know about. It’s my favorite lunch spot in the entire United States thanks to these sandwiches. You are doing yourself a major disservice if you haven’t tried them yet.

Now, the hours are a little strange. They're open Wednesday through Friday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Closed Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. So you have to be intentional about getting there. But if you plan around it, it's 100% worth it.

It's located at 215 E. Chatham Street. If you're already going to be downtown on a weekday morning or a Saturday, make it part of the plan.

Location: 215 E. Chatham St, Suite 101, Cary

Hours: Wed-Fri 9 a.m.-3 p.m. | Sat 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. | Closed Sun-Tue

Visit their website.

Thanks for reading! If you liked or disliked this issue, feel free to reply and let me know! I love hearing from you.

P.S.

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