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Sip, shop and play just outside Oak City.
The Station | Clayton
Full steam ahead! Once home to a fire department, police station, town court, jail and library—all simultaneously (!)—the century-old landmark is accustomed to wearing many hats, now supporting multiple local businesses. Where food hall meets strip mall, the three-story spot recently transformed into a multitenant space—and it’s definitely on the right track. Start the day with breakfast at Rock & Roll Cafe, browse record stores and beauty shops, take an art class, then head to Crescendo for dinner. The building’s new act is its liveliest yet—with the cinnamon rolls alone worth climbing aboard for. Next stop: East Second Street.
Full Bloom Coffee Roasters | Garner
Wake up and smell the coffee. Brews and community are in full bloom at this local microroastery in the heart of historic downtown. With beans from coffee-growing regions across Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala and beyond, the shop is committed to sourcing products that are both organic and Fair Trade and Rainforest Alliance Certified—all in support of the environment and farmers who make our quiet mornings possible. A vibrant, full-scale exterior mural bursting with birds and florals turns heads before you step through the door, while matcha, specialty lattes and robust pours keep you lingering. Whether you’re dropping in for quick coffee and convo or staying for local baked goods and seasonal sips, locals and visitors alike have plenty of ~grounds~ for gathering.
Andretti Indoor Karting & Games | Durham
Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines. Bull City’s new entertainment hub is bringing 90K square feet of high-speed fun to the Triangle. The indoor megaplex is packed with climate-controlled electric Superkart courses, a two-story laser tag arena, and Hyperdeck and Hologate virtual reality experiences built for friendly competition—plus a mix of over 150 retro and current arcade games. When it comes time to refuel, Andretti ditches regular concession fare for habanero bacon jam burgers, loaded nachos and chorizo avocado flatbreads—with a full-service bar to boot. Even better? Every lap supports colorectal cancer prevention through the CheckIt4Andretti Foundation, giving playtime a purpose. In it to win it, indeed.
Geluna Gelato | Cary
Here’s the scoop: The best gelato outside Italy is hiding right in Raleigh’s backyard—and it’s about time you sampled. Husband-and-wife duo Warwick Sheehan and Diana Diaz launched the creamery in 2022 after researching gelato across the country and honing their craft at the famed Carpigiani Gelato University in Bologna. The result? National acclaim for a commitment to Italian tradition and use of local flavors, from Homeland Creamery dairy to seasonal fruit from the State Farmers Market. Mainstay flavors like stracciatella and sweet cream are go-tos, while rotating weekly specials such as matcha coconut and labneh Meyer lemon up the wow factor—and for those who are dairy-free, a refreshing lineup of sorbets scratch the itch. The cherry on top? A signature waffle wafer for that extra crunch. Buonissimo!
Juliet Books & Beautiful Things | Cary
Bookworms—start digging. After more than a decade of dreaming, former SAS leader Marcie Montague has begun a new chapter downtown—one that brings, well, beautiful things to the city. Named after one of Shakespeare’s greatest—yes, that Juliet—the independent bookstore’s shelves are stocked with bestsellers, staff picks, children’s classics and thoughtful knickknacks showcasing local creatives. And the literary therapy doesn’t stop there. Among Montague’s hopes for the book nook’s future are book clubs, author events, beer and wine service, story times with her dog Maisy—and ultimately giving Cary the happy ending it deserves.
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