One of the best aspects of our downtown is its fully walkable experience. The easy “park-and-walk” streets allow downtown businesses to work together to create a unique tapestry of experiences that defines the culture of Downtown Cary.
“The community rallies around all the businesses down here,” says Tyler Watt, owner of Pharmacy Bottle + Beverage. “All the local owner-operators know each other, and we work together to bring more people downtown.”
Their collaboration has brought a fun, eclectic vibe to Downtown Cary. “People are starting to discover that there is momentum here in Cary,” says Watt. “That innate hipness so many downtown scenes have — Cary is really growing into that.”
The comfortably walkable size of Downtown Cary means once you park, every option is available–from cuisine, to entertainment, to beer, to coffee, to shopping.
We’ve put together a sample of an average weekend day wandering through Downtown.
Caffeine Jolt at BREW
122 E. Chatham St., Cary – brewcary.com
I like starting my walking journey at BREW Coffee Bar to get a quick jolt for the road.
With beautiful outdoor seating and a full selection of hot or iced espresso drinks, BREW is a local hangout for many regulars. You’ll often catch entrepreneurs sipping coffee and working on their latest project.
BREW carries local coffee and craft beer, and they also team up with local bakeries to offer fresh, Cary-made sweets and treats. Their seasonal Autumn espresso drinks are a honey cinnamon latte, spiced cider, and a brown sugar maple cortado.
While I’m there, I usually peak inside The Cary Theater to see if they have any interesting upcoming events, and then I make my way to Ashworth Village.
Art Walk Through Ashworth Village
Antiquing at Vintage Vogue
115-E W Chatham St – Website
With iced latte in hand, there’s nothing like whittling away a lazy Saturday in the charming shops in Ashworth Village. I always head straight for Vintage Vogue, which reminds me of my Grandmother’s elegant Southern living room — rustic shelves overflowing with decades of timeworn trappings, velvet trimmings, glimmering genie bottles, vintage figurines and statues, and classic hats and scarves.
My secret pleasure is admiring their intricately designed tea sets.
It’s a lovely place to buy an heirloom, or to simply wander and reminisce of bygone days.
A Live Art Studio at Cary Gallery of Artists
200 S. Academy Street – Website
Next, I love walking to the Cary Gallery of Artists, where in-house artists can often be found painting their next masterpiece. Aspiring artists might gain some professional insights watching these live paintings. I, however, simply enjoy watching the slow brushstrokes and chatting with the friendly local artists while sipping my caffeine.
Offering everything from large, bold, vibrant mantlepieces, to soft watercolor landscapes, it’s like having an art museum with live shows.
Lunch at Big Dom’s Bagel Shop
203 E Chatham St – Website
Downtown Cary’s food options have expanded immensely in the past several years. Classic soda-fountain faire and hotdogs, an authentic Italian market, a locally-owned pub, fanciful Southern-inspired cuisine, authentic Chinese cuisine, German baked goods, a classic bistro, and a gourmet deli are just a few of the options all within walking distance.
Since I’m usually on the move, I grab something simple and easy to carry, like a bagel from Big Dom’s Bagel Shop. Their eclectic menu serves up everything from standard sesame bagels with scallion cream cheese, to the more eccentric Banana Jamma, with cream cheese, banana, strawberry jam, and peanut butter.
Seriously, check out their sweet and savory menu–with items like salted honey or spicy pickle flavored cream cheese, for the more excitable pallet–and classic BLT or Italian deli style bagels.
Then, I head to my final stop: Downtown Park.
Downtown Park
Cary’s Downtown Park always has something going on. In October they had a pumpkin patch and carving event. This month, the main attraction is Santa’s Mailbox. I definitely want to make sure I get my Christmas List to Santa!
This adorable attraction will stay up until December 9. Many kids and families have already made visiting the oversized, colorful mailbox part of their holiday tradition. I compose a letter to Santa, telling him how good I’ve been all year, and asking for one of those antique tea sets from Vintage Vogue.
Then I walk back to my car.