Good people of Cary,

Welcome to Issue No. 2 of The Cary Report. I appreciate all of the feedback so far, you guys are amazing!

This week’s issue is one I’ve been especially excited to put together. Downtown Cary just welcomed a brand new business, The Refreshery, and I had the chance to chat with the owner to talk about what they’re building, why Cary was the right place for it, and what they hope it becomes for the community.

As always (and yes, I know there have only technically been two issues so far), you’ll also find local news, upcoming events, and a spot around town worth checking out. Same general idea as last week, just slightly more… refreshed. (I’ll see myself out.)

Thanks for being here and for continuing to support local.

James

If one of your New Year’s resolutions involved making better choices, or at least not immediately defaulting to alcohol when you go out, Downtown Cary just made that a little easier.

The Refreshery officially opened on January 9, 2026, and it’s a new juice bar and wellness market in downtown Cary, located under the Meridian East Chatham apartments. It’s also very, very local. The owners live downtown, walk their kids to school nearby, and built this place because they felt like something was missing.

I’ll be honest. It has already become a staple for me. The juices are fantastic, the overnight oats are delicious, and the vibe is immaculate.

The Refreshery serves cold-pressed juices, coffee, matcha, tea, and healthy grab-and-go snacks. It’s quick, easy, and good, both for you and for our community.

I had a chance to chat with owner Stephen McNulty about how it all came together.

“We’re parents of three young kids who've lived in Cary for several years, including 5 years Downtown. We experienced the challenge of getting something other than alcohol or coffee while downtown, and decided to see if there was a way to fix it.”

Stephen joined the LaunchCary program with the Cary Chamber and WakeTech, where he spent three months fleshing out the idea and building confidence that it could work.

“Through that I gained the confidence it was a viable idea, and began to pursue a location.”

Choosing Downtown Cary was never really up for debate.

“Because Downtown Cary is our home. There was no other option for this concept to start.”

That connection to place runs deep.

“I love this town, this downtown particularly. I am so grateful to be able to raise our family here, and to be able to feel like I'm also contributing back and being a bigger part of it at the same time is really freakin’ cool.”

As Downtown Cary continues to grow, Stephen sees The Refreshery as filling a specific gap.

“I think we can fill the gap in the maturity of the live/work/play ability of Downtown Cary. Our focus is to be an amenity to our community.”

That idea shows up in how the business operates day to day.

“Our cold pressed juice is batch pressed in-house, bottled and ready to grab-and-go in the fridge, we have house made eats like dates, overnight oats and chia pudding ready to grab, plus local pastries in the case.”

Speed and accessibility were intentional choices.

“The coffee, matcha, and tea on draft give us the ability to deliver your drink much faster than a typical espresso-based program.”

When it comes to wellness, Stephen describes it as something much broader than ingredients alone.

“It's everything from the literal better for you food and drink, to the family-friendly space that isn't centered around alcohol.”

Opening week marks the end of a long road.

“The next chapter and being able to actually share what I've envisioned and worked on for the past two years has been pretty fun.”

And for anyone who hasn’t spent much time downtown lately, Stephen’s advice is refreshingly straightforward.

“There's stuff to do now! haha”

The Refreshery is located at 253 E Chatham St, Cary, NC 27511. You can check out their website here.

Go check them out!

Quick note before we start. New information about the town manager kept dropping every time I thought I was done writing. It’s Tuesday evening as I’m finishing this, so everything below reflects the latest information available. More updates are likely this week, so consider this a “to be continued.”

The biggest update this week is the State Auditor’s office saying its initial forensic work “indicates potential criminal activity” connected to former Cary Town Manager Sean Stegall. The Auditor’s team says they reviewed procurement card data and identified several transactions they believe could be “potentially indicative” of fraud.

The Wake County District Attorney’s Office has consulted with the State Auditor, and the State Bureau of Investigation has been asked to conduct a criminal investigation. Importantly, no charges have been filed, and the investigation is ongoing.

Publicly, the process has been described as a detailed review of financial transactions to determine which expenses had a legitimate town purpose and which may not have.

In a statement released Tuesday, Cary Mayor Harold Weinbrecht said, “We appreciate the willingness of the Wake County District Attorney’s Office and all those who will work to uncover, evaluate, and take necessary next steps regarding potential illegal conduct by former Cary Town Manager Sean Stegall.” He added, “Following the laws and ethics that govern us, both as a Town and individuals, is fundamental to everything we do, and we remain committed to transparency, accountability, and upholding the public’s trust.”

We will keep you posted as updates become available.

Additional reading: WRAL, N&O, INDY, Mayor’s statement

Cary also announced this year’s Cary Art Daze Grants, with 22 local organizations receiving funding for arts programming. This will help fund events like are festivals, concerts, choirs, gallery programming, and community arts nights.

Grant recipients include: Music at the Market (Cary Downtown Farmers Market), Asia Fest (Asian Focus Corporation), an arts program at Esteamed Coffee, and many more. Check out the whole list here.

The grants help enable some of Cary’s most beloved programs, and more than $1,000,000 has been awarded since the Cary Art Daze grant program began back in 1983.

Additional reading: Cary Art Daze grant recipient announcement, information about the program

Solve puzzles and then celebrate Dreamfest.

Speed Puzzle Night at Bond Brothers

What: A timed puzzle competition where teams race to finish the same puzzle first. Cash prizes.

Where: Bond Brothers Beer Company

When: Thursday, January 15 at 7:00 PM

Dreamfest Children’s Program

What: A family-friendly Dreamfest event with storytelling, crafts, and interactive activities for kids.

Where: Page-Walker Arts & History Center

When: Saturday, January 17 at 10:00 AM

2026 Dreamfest Cultural Arts Celebration

What: Cary’s annual MLK celebration featuring live performances, music, and community art. One of the marquee Dreamfest events of the weekend.

Where: Cary Arts Center

When: Saturday, January 17 at 6:30 PM

Each week, I’ll highlight a spot in Cary that I think you should go check out. This week’s pick is Cary’s very first greenway.

Annie Jones Greenway has a quieter feel compared to some of the newer greenways around town, but that is part of its charm.

It winds through wooded areas inside of a group of neighborhoods, crosses small bridges, and feels a little more removed from traffic and development, which makes it especially relaxing if you’re looking for a low-key walk or run.

The full greenway is just over a mile long, and you can make it a loop if you follow the sidewalk back to Annie Jones Park. It’s an easy, mostly flat route that works well for a casual stroll or a jog.

The story of the Annie Jones Greenway begins in the 70’s with Linda Setliff, a concerned citizen who noticed that the Cary High School track team was forced to run on a two-lane road with no shoulders. In an effort to provide a safe, off-road walkway or trail system for the track team and others to use, Setliff approached the Cary Town Council and made her case.

The town then created a greenway commission, created the beginning of what would become the Annie Jones Greenway, and began the incredibly large and comprehensive greenway system that we know and love today.

When you’re on Annie Jones, remember that without residents speaking up and voicing their concerns to the Town, we might not have one of the things that makes Cary so special.

You can park directly at Annie Jones Park, which is the easiest and most straightforward way to access the greenway. From there, the trail entrance is clearly marked and puts you right onto the path without needing to navigate neighborhood streets.

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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