Good people of Cary,

We have much to discuss.

If you’re reading The Cary Report, you probably care about local businesses.

These past couple of weeks have been hard for many local businesses. A pair of unusual North Carolina snow storms significantly decreased traffic two weekends in a row. For many businesses in the service industry, the weekend is where they make a majority of their income.

On top of that, there was a water main break at the Shoppes of Kildaire, and many restaurants needed to close in the plaza temporarily.

The owner of North Carolina’s V Pizza, Anthony Rapillo, made a request in a Facebook post.

“Yesterday, right in the middle of dinner rush, the Town of Cary let us know that there was a water main break in the shopping center of Trader Joe’s, and they had to shut off the water and therefore whenever any reserves were used up, all the restaurants needed to close,” Rapillo wrote. “The Hot Pot spot, Sassol, Chido Taco, Yuri, Wendy’s, us at V Pizza.”

Rapillo made a request: “Kill us today. Kill us this weekend. Kill us the next week. Not just our pizza shop. But any of your favorite spots in that Trader Joe’s parking lot. I promise, we’re all ready for it, and we all could use it.”

If you are looking for a place to dine this week, keep the restaurants located within that area in mind. V Pizza is consistently in the conversation for the best pizza joint in Cary, and I can personally attest to how excellent Chido Taco and Szechuan Mansion (the hot pot spot) are.

Check out the plaza on Google Maps and pick your next spot. The businesses would certainly appreciate it, and you won’t be disappointed.

Thanks for being here and for continuing to support local.

James

A devastating fire tore through Camden Westwood Apartments off Chapel Hill Road in Morrisville Monday night, displacing 70 residents and injuring six people.

Firefighters were called to the scene around 6:15 p.m., where crews from Cary and Apex fire departments were also brought in to assist. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Zek Silva, the general manager of Ruckus Pizza located in the plaza next to the apartment complex, Park West Village, had his restaurant donate food and supplies to displaced residents.

Later that same evening, right next to Ruckus, a fatal shooting occurred near the Crumbl Cookie location. The victim, Zachary David Horn, was taken to the hospital where he later died.

A suspect, John Willis Fraizer, 55, of Morrisville, was arrested at the scene and charged with murder and discharging a firearm in the city.

In between Fraizer’s alleged shooting and arrest, Silva told local news outlet WRAL that he saw the victim lying on the ground before observing the suspect attempting to enter Ruckus, where he and a bystander then tackled and disarmed the suspect.

Additional reading (Camden Westwood Apartments fire): ABC11, WRAL

Additional reading (shooting): WRAL, CBS17

When the Town of Cary spent $68.9 million to build a seven-acre park in the heart of downtown, some residents questioned whether it was worth it.

A new economic impact study from Incentis Group is starting to answer that question from a financial perspective.

The study, which analyzed activity within a half-mile radius of the park, found that Downtown Cary Park has driven $200–$300 million in increased property values nearby. Fifteen new businesses have opened in the area, creating 1,129 jobs. Food and beverage tax revenue is up 11%, hotel tax revenue is up 18%, and the park is projected to generate $16 million in annual economic impact.

In 2025, the park drew more than 100,000 visitors to festivals alone, while the dog park logged over 67,000 visits.

The park's playground, The Nest, also earned a major national honor last year. USA TODAY's 10Best Readers' Choice Awards named it the #1 Public Playground in America, beating out playgrounds in cities like New York, Los Angeles, and San Antonio.

Anecdotally, downtown Cary has certainly seemed more lively with the park running. No matter what time of day, you’ll see families playing together, professionals working on their laptops, dog parents enjoying a beer while watching their pup, teenagers playing table tennis, and more walks of life enjoying the park.

Cary is known for a lot of things, and the downtown park is definitely one of the major ones.

Additional reading: 2026 State of Cary Slides

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Yoga at Downtown Cary Park

What: Start your Saturday with an indoor morning yoga class led by Pura Vida Studio. All levels welcome. Bring your own mat. Registration required, no walk-ins.

Where: Downtown Cary Park, Academy Pavilion (327 S. Academy St)

When: Saturday, February 28 | 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM

Register

Stretch and Refresh at Downtown Cary Park

What: A free, seated stretch and flexibility class for all levels led by Dr. Carlie Huberman, DPT. Great way to kick off a Monday morning. Registration required.

Where: Downtown Cary Park, Academy Pavilion (327 S. Academy St)

When: Monday, March 2 | 10:00 AM

Register

Final Friday Art Crawl

What: Cary Art Loop's monthly art crawl through downtown galleries and businesses. Expect original art, live music, and a great excuse to explore downtown Cary on a Friday night.

Where: Downtown Cary and surrounding area

When: Friday, February 27 | 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

More Info

Each week, I highlight a spot in Cary that I think you should check out. This week, we’re taking a hike.

Looking to walk your dog, take a hike, or just escape in the shade? This nature preserve has you covered.

Located off of Kildaire Farm Rd, Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve is 140 acres of diverse ecology, trails, wildlife, and scenic overlooks. The area is named after the abundance of Eastern Hemlock trees that are typically found in cooler mountain climates. The cool bluffs provide a microclimate that enables the Eastern Hemlocks to thrive, which is what makes the area so unique. The trees’ origins can be traced back to over 10,000 years!

If we’re being technical, Hemlock Bluffs is not a park, but a State Nature Preserve that is managed by the town of Cary. The amenities found here are similar to what you may find at a more traditional park, with 3 miles of hiking trails, a nature center, bathrooms, water fountains, and many scenic overlooks to enjoy the views.

This isn’t a place to play yard games or ride your bike (only walking is allowed on the trails), but somewhere to enjoy a more passive experience.

There are three trails located at Hemlock Bluffs. One trail, the Swift Creek Loop Trail, is a .8 mile loop that you can enter by climbing down (and eventually back up) many stairs under the bluffs. The trail itself is flat, but the stairs that you will have to climb up after you’ve done the loop will leave even seasoned hikers sweating.

Note: Swift Creek Loop Trail is currently closed for maintenance.

There is the Chestnut Oak Loop Trail, which is a little more than a mile long which passes through the other two smaller trails, the Beech Tree Cove Trail and the West Hemlock Overlook. Expect to see birds, deer, and possibly snakes on your hike.

While the Swift Creek Loop Trail requires many stairs to access, the rest of the trails do not require any stairs (though they are available to access optional overlooks) and have gentle hills.

Location: 2616 Kildaire Farm Rd, Cary NC.
Website: https://www.carync.gov/recreation-enjoyment/parks-greenways-environment/parks/stevens-nature-center-at-hemlock-bluffs-nature-preserve/trails-at-hemlock-bluffs

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

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