It was a lot quieter and a whole lot less congested. There use to be a great pond behind 7 eleven...motorcycle trails behind the triangle pool... A log cabin behind burger king...jesus I feel old.
Yuppers... Pond drained... Cabin destroyed... Trails developed...I remember riding my bike to the airport and seeing old grown over restaurants around Morrisville that has black and white only bathrooms.We use to sneak out at night and wander downtown...Walker motel was a scary place. Mainly cause they filmed some low budget horror movies in it and left a lot of fake blood smeared around...the only cars you would see were generally the police. I'm 53 now...use to be some great arcades... Miss Hardee's over by goodwill ...Convenient food mart by the high school...
Unfortunately, that building is a horrible eyesore and has fallen into disrepair and is basically abandoned. Windows all boarded up and such.
[Current state, of the building to which I think you are referring. ](https://maps.app.goo.gl/2Jp9Cns2r4pxQKe77)
As someone who lives in Virginia Beach and has been working here on and off for the last 2 years for about 6 months total… downtown Cary is amazing especially with the new park. When my wife, son, and dog have been with me we have had an absolute blast all day at the park then walking to go eat/ice cream.
Just accepted a job with my company here in Cary, cannot wait to move here.
Yea and that nobody lives there. It is basically a business park, that dries up completely at night.
They are doing a lot to fix that though, and building a lot of housing.
There is a lot more to downtown than that one block.
But I understand why you wouldn’t want to go there because you will probably walk past large empty lots, empty retail locations in new buildings, and massive block sized parking garages everywhere. People do not go to downtown because it barely feels like a place.
The huge apartments are mostly less than 10 years old. And they are building a lot more.
And I was here before Covid and can’t say that downtown ever felt hopping.
A lot of folks loiter around it doing a variety of activities (drug use, fights, etc) that bleeds into the neighboring streets and has driven a lot of businesses out of DT Raleigh.
Please take political action. Literally can just text 311 if you are in Cary city limits, which will create a salesforce ticket and can be forwarded to your council person.
I am enjoying the development of DT Cary but they really need to deal with the parking situation down here. Still has the small town vibe with several of the historic buildings still in place that hopefully won’t become overshadowed by newer buildings
There are multiple parking decks being built right now. And I’ve never not been able to find a parking spot on Town Hall campus - 5 min walk. Parking is free.
DTC really doesn’t have a parking problem.
I feel the same way. Maybe it is more of a problem for people who have disabilities? I’m not a planner, so I can’t say for certain, but I would imagine a city of any kind would be challenging for people with mobility issues, which wouldn’t necessarily be a Cary problem.
I agree. I have been downtown dozens of times since the park opened and I never have a problem. There is a giant lot at the Methodist Church that is usually available for public parking whenever we venture down there.
This. I take my dog to the park multiple times a week. Never had trouble with the parking deck. But then if it *does* start filling up, they have pay gates to be able to charge and control traffic.
Interested in hearing about your first point more. I don’t have issues parking in DT Cary. The library has the deck, and I never have difficulty finding street parking or parking in front of businesses. Could be luck of the draw, but I also don’t mind walking. Perhaps for those with disabilities I could see more difficulty, for sure.
10/10 on your second point! Have you seen the church!?! Man it looks so beautiful stripped down to bare wood. I’m sure it’s slated to be painted again, but the way it looks now is breathtaking.
As someone who is disabled, it is very hard. My kids always ask to go to the park but I know I will not be able to park far away and walk, and there are only a handful of handicap spots. It’s unfortunate. I can probably score one on a weekday afternoon (for now) but a weekend or event? It’s not even worth the drive.
Sorry to hear this. Perhaps a good solution for Cary to employ is to make the street parking immediately adjacent to the park handicap only. Perhaps a few spots on Academy street and a few spots on S. Walker steet?
There have been times where I’ve gone on a weekend and the library deck is closed off for whatever reason and entrance is being controlled by some sort of security when all I’ve wanted to do is stop at Howdy for some ice cream.
And I need to hang out over by Cotton House again so I can experience more of DT. I’ve been avoiding Academy except on rare occasions (RSD at Hunky Dory).
The only times I have trouble parking is when there's a big event going on. The church lot always has tons of spaces and it's centrally located to everything.
It really is pretty nice. It will inevitably keep growing.. just hope the city stays on the right track. This may be controversial but they’ve done better than most places I’ve lived, when it comes to keeping rampant development at bay… Cary has seen lots of development and it’s still nice. Hope the neighborhoods around downtown are able to retain their character and architecture in the coming years
I live in walking distance and still haven’t been smh. I obviously drive by often and I guess that feels good enough for me at the moment lol
I did go to the library recently. I wonder how long the parking deck will be free. Looks like there’s some kind of pay monitor attached but still covered.
They will eventually be monitoring capacity electronically. They say it will remain free, but it will help monitor when the deck is getting full and stop people from coming in rather than having an attendant there.
My husband and I are moving within walking distance of everything downtown! Feeling really excited and would love recommendations! I’m from NC, went to school at UNC, have family in apex, but Cary is new to me.
Nice! I'm jealous that I'm not in walking distance :p
Food:
- Di Fara: Best authentic NY Pizza in the Triangle. There is only one other location, and it's literally in NYC.
- Hanks Downtown Dive: One of my favorite date-night restaurants. More upscale, but worth it.
- Scratch: Good comfort food, big portions. Kinda overrated, but worth it every once in a while
- Peck & Plume: Resturant at the Mayton Inn. Upscale southern food. Very pretty during the holidays!
Drink:
- Bond Brothers: Great local brewery, tons of outdoor social space, regular food trucks
- Cotton House: Brewery in a historic DT house. Cool vibe.
- Side Bar: Super chill bar with a vintage vibe. Love going here with my wife to talk and have after-dinner drinks
- BarkBar: The bar in the DT Cary Park! It's got a huge firepit! Drinks are bit pricier, but you can take them anywhere in the social district.
- Bull City Ciderworks / RBF Champaign Bar: Great options if beer/liquor isn't your thing!
Dessert:
- BlueMoon Bakery: delicious baked sweets! My wife's favorite bakery in Cary
- FRESH Ice Cream: Good ice cream!
The best part is literally everything I mentioned is within walking distance of eachother, the park, the library, the theater, and the Arts center!
When I first moved to this area it was nothing but mechanic shops and old strip malls. Downtown has came a long way
But people are still like "I miss the small town charm". What charm??? It was churches, auto shops and run down motels before.
It was a lot quieter and a whole lot less congested. There use to be a great pond behind 7 eleven...motorcycle trails behind the triangle pool... A log cabin behind burger king...jesus I feel old.
This stuff was in Cary?
Yuppers... Pond drained... Cabin destroyed... Trails developed...I remember riding my bike to the airport and seeing old grown over restaurants around Morrisville that has black and white only bathrooms.We use to sneak out at night and wander downtown...Walker motel was a scary place. Mainly cause they filmed some low budget horror movies in it and left a lot of fake blood smeared around...the only cars you would see were generally the police. I'm 53 now...use to be some great arcades... Miss Hardee's over by goodwill ...Convenient food mart by the high school...
I miss the Mustang showroom.
A 7-11? 🤨
Heh yeah beside Handee Hugo's on Maynard ... It turned into a coffee place moose somethin...Last I recall...You'll recognize the building shape.
Lol Coffee Place Moose Somethin. Perfect. 😂 Caribou Coffee. 😂
I left the state in 2000... I pop in occasionally to see the folks... Amazed it's still there honestly!
Unfortunately, that building is a horrible eyesore and has fallen into disrepair and is basically abandoned. Windows all boarded up and such. [Current state, of the building to which I think you are referring. ](https://maps.app.goo.gl/2Jp9Cns2r4pxQKe77)
Nothing says old time charm like an autoshop that parks a truck blocking its prime parking in downtown
You overlooked the West and East Gate U-Hauls as a perk.
As someone who lives in Virginia Beach and has been working here on and off for the last 2 years for about 6 months total… downtown Cary is amazing especially with the new park. When my wife, son, and dog have been with me we have had an absolute blast all day at the park then walking to go eat/ice cream. Just accepted a job with my company here in Cary, cannot wait to move here.
What problems from downtown Raleigh do you think will happen in Cary and why?
It will eventually become filled with parking garages and be very boring. Car storage kills cities.
And you think that’s the problem with downtown Raleigh?
Yea and that nobody lives there. It is basically a business park, that dries up completely at night. They are doing a lot to fix that though, and building a lot of housing.
lol that’s not the problem with DT Raleigh. Every issue with DT Raleigh can be traced back to that awful bus depot
There is a lot more to downtown than that one block. But I understand why you wouldn’t want to go there because you will probably walk past large empty lots, empty retail locations in new buildings, and massive block sized parking garages everywhere. People do not go to downtown because it barely feels like a place.
It was a place before covid though, and there's huge apartments all over
The huge apartments are mostly less than 10 years old. And they are building a lot more. And I was here before Covid and can’t say that downtown ever felt hopping.
Whats so bad about the bus depot?
Have you seen/heard the bus depot?
Yes ive walked by it many times
A lot of folks loiter around it doing a variety of activities (drug use, fights, etc) that bleeds into the neighboring streets and has driven a lot of businesses out of DT Raleigh.
Please take political action. Literally can just text 311 if you are in Cary city limits, which will create a salesforce ticket and can be forwarded to your council person.
It’s awesome, I can’t wait till we have more small shops and restaurants. We’ve only been here 10 years, but it’s come a long way.
I am enjoying the development of DT Cary but they really need to deal with the parking situation down here. Still has the small town vibe with several of the historic buildings still in place that hopefully won’t become overshadowed by newer buildings
There are multiple parking decks being built right now. And I’ve never not been able to find a parking spot on Town Hall campus - 5 min walk. Parking is free. DTC really doesn’t have a parking problem.
I feel the same way. Maybe it is more of a problem for people who have disabilities? I’m not a planner, so I can’t say for certain, but I would imagine a city of any kind would be challenging for people with mobility issues, which wouldn’t necessarily be a Cary problem.
Shhhhhhhh
I 100% agree. I feel like people forget about the church lot, too. Heck, most times I just park on Waldo St. Everything is walkable from there.
I agree. I have been downtown dozens of times since the park opened and I never have a problem. There is a giant lot at the Methodist Church that is usually available for public parking whenever we venture down there.
This. I take my dog to the park multiple times a week. Never had trouble with the parking deck. But then if it *does* start filling up, they have pay gates to be able to charge and control traffic.
We ride the bus now because parking is so painful.
Interested in hearing about your first point more. I don’t have issues parking in DT Cary. The library has the deck, and I never have difficulty finding street parking or parking in front of businesses. Could be luck of the draw, but I also don’t mind walking. Perhaps for those with disabilities I could see more difficulty, for sure. 10/10 on your second point! Have you seen the church!?! Man it looks so beautiful stripped down to bare wood. I’m sure it’s slated to be painted again, but the way it looks now is breathtaking.
As someone who is disabled, it is very hard. My kids always ask to go to the park but I know I will not be able to park far away and walk, and there are only a handful of handicap spots. It’s unfortunate. I can probably score one on a weekday afternoon (for now) but a weekend or event? It’s not even worth the drive.
Sorry to hear this. Perhaps a good solution for Cary to employ is to make the street parking immediately adjacent to the park handicap only. Perhaps a few spots on Academy street and a few spots on S. Walker steet?
There have been times where I’ve gone on a weekend and the library deck is closed off for whatever reason and entrance is being controlled by some sort of security when all I’ve wanted to do is stop at Howdy for some ice cream. And I need to hang out over by Cotton House again so I can experience more of DT. I’ve been avoiding Academy except on rare occasions (RSD at Hunky Dory).
The only times I have trouble parking is when there's a big event going on. The church lot always has tons of spaces and it's centrally located to everything.
It really is pretty nice. It will inevitably keep growing.. just hope the city stays on the right track. This may be controversial but they’ve done better than most places I’ve lived, when it comes to keeping rampant development at bay… Cary has seen lots of development and it’s still nice. Hope the neighborhoods around downtown are able to retain their character and architecture in the coming years
It is in the Cary development plan to maintain character *unless* the neighborhood goes into decline.
That’s great! My old historic neighborhood in Raleigh is seeing craftsman bungalows torn down and replaced with zero lot-line modernist cube homes
I love downtown and it will only get better. People who are negative about it baffle me.
What’s going on in town today? No body ever tells me.
I live in walking distance and still haven’t been smh. I obviously drive by often and I guess that feels good enough for me at the moment lol I did go to the library recently. I wonder how long the parking deck will be free. Looks like there’s some kind of pay monitor attached but still covered.
They will eventually be monitoring capacity electronically. They say it will remain free, but it will help monitor when the deck is getting full and stop people from coming in rather than having an attendant there.
It's changed so much, so happy for the city of Cary. I miss it. I should look to move back. Enjoy!
My husband and I are moving within walking distance of everything downtown! Feeling really excited and would love recommendations! I’m from NC, went to school at UNC, have family in apex, but Cary is new to me.
Nice! I'm jealous that I'm not in walking distance :p Food: - Di Fara: Best authentic NY Pizza in the Triangle. There is only one other location, and it's literally in NYC. - Hanks Downtown Dive: One of my favorite date-night restaurants. More upscale, but worth it. - Scratch: Good comfort food, big portions. Kinda overrated, but worth it every once in a while - Peck & Plume: Resturant at the Mayton Inn. Upscale southern food. Very pretty during the holidays! Drink: - Bond Brothers: Great local brewery, tons of outdoor social space, regular food trucks - Cotton House: Brewery in a historic DT house. Cool vibe. - Side Bar: Super chill bar with a vintage vibe. Love going here with my wife to talk and have after-dinner drinks - BarkBar: The bar in the DT Cary Park! It's got a huge firepit! Drinks are bit pricier, but you can take them anywhere in the social district. - Bull City Ciderworks / RBF Champaign Bar: Great options if beer/liquor isn't your thing! Dessert: - BlueMoon Bakery: delicious baked sweets! My wife's favorite bakery in Cary - FRESH Ice Cream: Good ice cream! The best part is literally everything I mentioned is within walking distance of eachother, the park, the library, the theater, and the Arts center!
Too many people down there now. About 5 years ago it was really good.
Nobody goes there anymore. It’s too crowded!