Good people of Cary,

Last report, we talked a lot about businesses that were closing.

This week, we have a lot of new businesses opening or expanding! I'm excited to share some positive news with all of you for a change.

As you probably know, The Carolina Hurricanes have won the Stanley Cup for the first time in over 20 years. Downtown Cary Park had a watch event for the last two games, and people turned OUT!

Hundreds of fans showed up to watch these games. Even in the brutal heat, the lawn was completely full and the energy was palpable. The stage lights flashed red after goals, the sound system was crystal clear, and free water stations helped people stay hydrated.

This was truly a great use of the space at Downtown Cary Park. I hope we do more of this type of thing in the future. You could really feel the sense of community and excitement as the Canes made history.

We have lots of other exciting updates, so let's get right into it.

Thank you for continuing to support local,

James

Esteamed Coffee announced that they are expanding to a second café, and they are joining with another local nonprofit to make it happen.

For anyone somehow unfamiliar with Esteamed, it is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit coffee shop in downtown Cary. Their mission is to address the over 70 percent unemployment rate for people with disabilities by creating meaningful job opportunities. Most of their team has intellectual, developmental, communication, or visual impairments, and the café is structured to set them up for success in a real work environment.

The new location is going into the old High House Billiards space at the NeighborUp Cary Campus on High House Road, two doors down from the original Dorcas Thrift Shop. The new café will be paired with a brand new concept called Dorcas Vintage & Home, which will be a curated shop carrying vintage finds, elevated home goods, and one-of-a-kind donated pieces.

The expansion is expected to create up to 12 new jobs for adults with disabilities.

I’ve had some people ask me the difference between NeighborUp and Dorcas, so this is worth mentioning: Dorcas Ministries merged with Western Wake Crisis Ministry last year and rebranded as NeighborUp. The thrift store itself is still called Dorcas Thrift Shop.

The organization served over 11,000 neighbors in 2025 and provides about $5.7 million in assistance and feeds around 900 families monthly. The expansion of Esteamed onto the campus is a partnership that makes perfect sense.

The original downtown Esteamed location is not going anywhere, and neither is the original Dorcas Thrift Shop. This is just an expansion of the businesses. Opening is planned for late 2026.

Additional reading: Esteamed Coffee, NeighborUp

Apex Outfitter and Board Co., the beloved outdoor and lifestyle shop that has anchored Downtown Apex for 14 years, just announced they are opening a second location in Downtown Cary.

For anyone who hasn't been to the Apex location, this is a really well-curated store. They carry Patagonia, The North Face, Vuori, Birkenstock, Vans, and Chaco alongside skateboards, longboards, and camping gear. It is the kind of place where you can walk in for a pair of socks and walk out with a whole new vibe. Owned and operated by Kyle and Megan Denis, it has become one of Downtown Apex's most popular destinations over the last decade-plus.

They will be joining K38 Baja Grill on the ground level of the new Cedar Street parking deck. An opening date is to be determined. We will share more details as they come in!

Additional reading: Triangle Business Journal

If you have been to Downtown Apex recently, you have probably noticed that things look…a bit different.

The Town of Apex is in the middle of a major streetscape project on Salem Street that started back in January. The plan is to transform the segment from Chatham Street to Saunders Street into a curbless, pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use destination with widened paver sidewalks, urban street trees, decorative lighting, planter boxes, string lights, and a new Saunders Street Gathering Space with pergolas, seating, and outdoor games.

It is a $4.7 million investment and, when it is done, Downtown Apex is going to look incredible. The businesses are going to greatly benefit from downtown becoming more of a destination, similar to the increased foot traffic that the Downtown Cary Park brought to our side of the woods.

The problem is, it is taking longer than planned and currently looks really rough.

Construction was supposed to wrap up in October 2026, but the project got paused for several weeks in March and April due to electrical plan revisions that needed to be sorted out. The Town has now confirmed an approximate 60-day delay in completion. During construction, Salem Street has been restricted to one-way traffic (southbound only from Saunders to West Chatham), and while pedestrian access remains open on both sides, the foot traffic has taken a real hit, especially on the side currently under construction.

This means the entire project will take a full year.

To be completely candid: it doesn’t look pleasant. Not that construction is supposed to look nice, but it looks like a tornado came through and ripped up half of the street.

Anecdotally, I notice that even at peak times, the amount of people hanging out in downtown Apex is significantly less than last year.

If you were just driving through downtown, it would be easy to think that half of downtown is just closed off to the public due to the construction.

That said, I don’t know what could be done to help improve the appearance during the construction process. The construction workers are doing their job and there are signs/banners saying that downtown is open for business. It is a temporary unfortunate situation, but one with potential permanent consequences.

Alleyway Bookshop, a staple of Downtown Apex, just announced they are closing at the end of the summer. The owners cited a steep rise in rent (64%) on top of the reduced foot traffic from construction. It is a hard loss for the community.

Additionally, Anna's Pizzeria recently told WRAL that they're tracking 10 to 20 percent down in sales and have had to cut back staff hours. Other shops along the corridor have echoed similar concerns. The Town has tried to spread the message that Salem Street is "open for business," but a few months of disrupted access has been hard on the bottom line for businesses that operate on tight margins to begin with.

The Salem Streetscape project is a real long-term investment in Downtown Apex, and it will be worth it when it is done. But it doesn’t make it any easier right now.

If you live anywhere near Downtown Apex (less than 15 minutes from Downtown Cary, plus a free GoCary bus route) this is a really good time to make a point of going down and supporting the businesses that are sticking it out. Anna's Pizzeria, Alleyway Bookshop (while you still can), and the rest of the Salem Street merchants need the visits more than ever right now.

Additional reading: WRAL, Town of Apex

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

Cary Downtown Farmers Market Saturday, June 20 | 8 AM – 12 PM | 160 E. Park Street

Strawberries are still around but won't be for long. Tomatoes, peaches, and the start of corn season too.

Learn more

Juneteenth Celebration Saturday, June 20 | 4 – 9:30 PM | Downtown Cary Park | 327 S. Academy St.

The Town's annual Juneteenth Celebration returns to Downtown Cary Park with this year's theme of "Freedom Dance." Live spoken word, history presentations, jazz and R&B performances, food trucks at Park Street Courts, and a great community atmosphere. Free.

Learn more

NC Symphony: Mozart by Moonlight Saturday, June 20 | 8:00 PM | Koka Booth Amphitheatre | 8003 Regency Pkwy

The NC Symphony performs Mozart under the stars at Koka Booth. Lawn tickets usually a great value here.

Get tickets

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

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