Shopping

As the hyphened name suggests, Fuquay-Varina was once two separate communities. Still boasting two separate downtowns, the neighborhood presents a flavor you don’t find anywhere else. Both thriving districts are filled to the brim with specialty shops, boutiques, restaurants, offices and second-story residences. The downtown areas have the best of what Fuquay-Varina has to offer.

two downtown shopping districts

What was once Fuquay Springs is what lies on South Main Street, Spring Avenue and South Fuquay Avenue, while the area formerly known as Varina is focused north of there, around the intersection of Broad and Stewart streets. A simple three-minute drive or approximately 15-minute walk will get shoppers between both areas and in the midst of the full experience.

Services such as attorneys, financial consultants, insurance agents, builders, government and public service offices are in widely available. Several clothing and variety shops complement these facilities, including decorating stores, beauty product suppliers, furniture stores, florists, jewelry shops, sports outfitters and hardware stores. Both a bookstore and the public library are found downtown Fuquay-Varina. Jazzercise, a dance studio, craft shops and music stores are available for those interested in the arts.

Several coffee houses provide space for breaks, breakfasts and light fare, while restaurants, bakeries and bar and grills dish out meals. History lovers will be thrilled at the amount of fascinating venues around the area including a gorgeous bed and breakfast where they can stay during a visit. Fuquay Mineral Springs Park is the site of the spring that originally put Fuquay Springs on the map and is accessible nearby.

Such an uncommon layout provides customers with ample choices. The city is taking care to make sure the rustic atmosphere that the towns began with remains. Guided by the Fuquay-Varina Revitalization Association, a major streetscape program has taken place to revitalize the scene. The program has focused on reviving the original village character and has included extensive landscaping, benches and new street lighting, new sidewalks complemented with brick bands, and many completely renovated buildings.

A recent development, located north of Academy Street, provides some of the larger buildings and complexes that the downtown areas can’t contain. Wal-Mart and The Home Depot, as well as a new Kohl’s, the first department store in Fuquay-Varina, all take up residence in this area.

Additionally, a shopper can go to North Main Street to find groceries, beauty products, pet supplies, hardware, flowers and auto parts, or to stop at the bank, drug store, car wash or even art gallery. For even bigger purchases and added convenience, several car dealerships dot the thoroughfare.

For the complete mall experience, a shopper need only travel 20 minutes to the Cary Towne Center Mall. Similarly, Cary’s Crossroads Plaza is an outdoor pedestrian mall with 70 stores, services and restaurants. The Carolina Premium Outlets are about 40 minutes from Fuquay-Varina in Smithfield feature eighty outlet stores.

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