When I first saw them breaking ground on the Fenton development in Cary back in late 2020, I without a doubt cussed.
One of the reasons we love Raleigh and the surrounding Wake County is because of the “living in a forest feel” you get, which is why I withdrew from Fenton for so long.
Four years later and after visiting Fenton many times, I realize my initial reservations were unfair, and they’ve actually done an excellent job at creating a vibrant, modern, and bustling community space – I’m a fan!
Over the years, Fenton has expanded and grown, and with it comes new restaurants, attractions, activities, and experiences.
In this guide, we share everything you need to know about Fenton, Cary, so you can make the most of your visit there.
What is Fenton in Cary?
- Address: 201 Fenton Gateway Drive, Cary NC 27511
- Website: fentonnc.com
Fenton is a 92-acre regional mixed-use development located in the northwest quadrant of the I-40/Cary Towne Boulevard interchange.
It’s a community where you can dine, shop, play, and live, similar to Raleigh’s North Hills District in many aspects.
It feels more like a created village instead of a shopping mall with a main street, a village square, residential apartments, office space, shopping, salons, fitness services, dining, and a movie theater.
This $850 million multi-use development project was created in partnership with Hines, a real estate investing company and South Carolina’s Columbia Development.
They say this project is one of the biggest in the country. And if you’re familiar with Avalon in Atlanta, it’s what Fenton is mostly modeled on (you’ll find a few Atlanta brand names in Fenton.)
The development now features over 250,000 square feet of retailers, housing units, a high-end hotel and other amenities, with more still to come over the next few years.
As the population is expected to double in Cary in the next 20-30 years, I’m sure Fenton will become a destination hub for residents to “work, live, play”.
Things to Do at Fenton
There are open spaces for community events such as concerts and ice-skating rinks during the Christmas holiday period
1. Skate the Square (Seasonal)
One of our favorite Christmas holiday activities is to go ice skating at Fenton called “Skate the Square”.
We go each year and it’s such a fun way to get in the spirit of the holidays. It’s typically held from November – February!
The large Christmas tree overlooks the rink, there are string lights and music playing and a great community atmosphere. Watch our video.
Speaking of Christmas, Santa always makes an appearance and if you’re looking for a place to get your family Santa photos, why not here!
2. Shop at Makers Market
Triangle Pop Up returns in March for Fenton’s monthly Maker’s Market.
It’s held from March through December, every 3rd Saturday of the month, from 11am to 4pm in Fenton Square.
You can shop local from artists as you browse the vendors and find a new favorite handmade item. And enjoy live music!
3. Go Shopping at Fenton
I personally don’t like indoor malls – except I guess on a rainy day. I find them too stiff, artificial, and corporate, and those food courts are more than welcome to move to the permanent past.
I love how Fenton has turned the mall inside out. It’s like the days of old when you can pop in and out of stores, interacting with blue skies and sunshine, and life moving about you in the streets. It feels more neighborly.
There’s over 20 retail stores now open with more coming soon. Some of our personal favorite stores for shopping at Fenton include Vestique which was started by two North Carolina State grads who offer unique and trendy fashion options.
Alter’d State is a women’s fashion brand offering the latest fashion finds plus sought-after accessories and charming home decor and gifts, and if you’re looking for our teens you can find them in Sephora.
Other clothing stores include Athleta, Arula, Nike, Lulumon, Southern Tide, Madewell, Johnny Was, Faherty, Free People, and The Gatorbug.
Plus, other beauty, retail, fashion and home decor stores such as Williams Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Warby Parker, Arhaus Furniture, FACE FOUNDRIÉ, Bluemercury, Rejuvenation, and Bailey’s Fine Jewelry.
And there’s services such as Nail Kitchen, the Boardroom Styling Lounge, Club Pilates, Radiant Waxing, AVEDA Von Kekel Salon, Truss Vet, and One Medical.
The only other thing I didn’t like was the lack of local retail stores and restaurants. The only two local(ish) retail stores are Bailey’s Fine Jewelry, which was founded in Rocky Mount, and The Gatorbug boutique store, which first opened in Atlantic Beach.
It’s important to note that the stores are also geared more towards higher end shoppers, which is another reason it’s like North Hills. It’s definitely not the place to shop if you’re on a budget.
4. Watch a Movie at Paragon Theaters
Movie lovers, like our kids, are in luck with an on-site Paragon Theaters who offer an elevated viewing experience with premium leather seats and electric recliners, extended legroom, reserved seating, expansive food menus, a bar lounge, and digital projection.
It’s our go-to cinema when we want to go to the movies now. Tuesday is the best day to visit for their cheaper tickets!
5. Ride the Mechanical Bull at PBR Cowboy Bar
The fun doesn’t stop at Sports & Social, connected you’ll find the 4,300-square-foot PBR Cowboy Bar that lives up to its Professional Bull Riders namesake, featuring a mechanical riding bull, multiple signature bars, private VIP booths and plenty of outdoor patio space for a buckin’ good time.
Best Restaurants and Bars in Fenton
If you’re looking for somewhere to eat or enjoy a cocktail on a Friday night, then don’t miss these restaurants and bars in Fenton Cary!
M Sushi
Sushi lovers take note. M Sushi, by renowned local chef Michael Lee and his popular restaurant from Durham opened its second location at Fenton in Cary to high fanfare.
Dedicated to high-quality seafood, the Cary location features a menu full of traditional Japanese and Korean cuisine and uses only seasonal seafood received directly from Japan, Korea and the US.
They specialize in traditional nigiri and sashimi courses in addition to a once-in-a-lifetime Grand Omakase.
Featuring dim lighting and minimalist decor, the food is beautifully presented with flavors to match.
I’m not a huge sushi fan (and far from an expert), but I can tell the quality here is really good and what you would expect at a more upmarket sushi restaurant, like City Market Sushi featured in our top Asian restaurants in Raleigh.
Dram & Draught
One of my top three bars in Raleigh is Dram & Draught, so I was excited by the announcement that they’d be opening up in Fenton.
Excellent locally owned whiskey bar and craft cocktail lounge with a range of 300 whiskeys from around the world, plus seasonal cocktails, wines, and draught beer from Raleigh (and beyond).
Grab a seat at the bar, outside on the patio, or upstairs on the rooftop deck and enjoy a drink, or two. Foodwise, they have shareables, flatbreads, salads, sandwiches and desserts- the beet hummus is killer!
Superica
Five-time James Beard Award semifinalist chef Ford Fry’s boutique Tex-Mex chain, Superica, has opened overlooking the square in Fenton.
Originally based out of Atlanta, GA, Superica is all about Tex-Mex cuisine with a casual and lively atmosphere.
The menu features tacos, enchiladas, fajitas and the restaurant’s hallmark wood-fired steaks, paired with margaritas, tequilas and Mexican beers.
There’s not a lot of Tex-Mex restaurants in the Raleigh area, and if you’re not familiar with this style of cuisine (I’m not), it was born in the 1940s when traditional Northern Mexican cuisine collided with the robust flavors of Texas ranchers’ kitchens.
I didn’t grow up eating Tex-Mex and are no expert, but one thing I can say is the tacos are big and filling, and the mezcal cocktail was tasty and refreshing. We have friends from Austin, Texas who said Superica is pretty good.
There’s an outdoor patio area, indoor sunroom type space, and of course a more traditional dining area.
I particularly liked the impressive bar and can see myself sitting there on a return visit to try more menu items!
Sports & Social
The two-story, 20,000-square-foot Sports & Social has been a big hit with the Cary locals since opening and is a top spot to watch a game on the HUGE 42-foot LED display where guests can watch multiple games and sporting events at once.
This is a fun place overall and perfect for a group of friends or families with arcade games including skee-ball, table tennis, shuffle puck, air hockey and a golf simulator.
As for food, you can expect elevated food including made-from-scratch game-day favorites like wings, loaded nachos, and burgers – I took on the BEASTMODE burger challenge, a classic cheeseburger smothered in nacho cheese sauce.
They do brunch, and there’s a curated cocktail list and beer selection that includes local favorites.
They typically host parties for special events such as the Super Bowl, and keep in mind they get busy on NFL Sunday’s. Open till 2am, Thursday – Saturday!
AVA Rooftop Bar
Located on the rooftop of Sports & Social, Ava Rooftop Bar is a fun outdoor rooftop oasis to enjoy craft cocktails, wine and Mediterranean-inspired small plates – especially when the weather is nice out!
Perfect for those looking for more of a party vibe, with lively entertainment from local DJs. Small bites menu only, offering mezze platters and skewers, so this is more of a place to get a drink before or after dinner elsewhere!
Honeysuckle Gelato
After spending 10 days in Italy last summer indulging in plenty of gelato, a visit to Honeysuckle Gelato helps bring back those fond memories.
Our kids, especially, are big fans and like trying new flavors each time.
Honeysuckle started out as an Atlanta-based food truck that turned-gelato shop offering seasonal baked goods, gelato scoops and sorbet, and at time of opening the Fenton development location was its fifth.
Coffee at Fenton
I don’t have a photo of a coffee shop at Fenton, because sadly one doesn’t exist. The major negative of this development is the non-existence of a coffee shop. If it was up to me, and I’ve heard this from many others in the community, the first thing I would have opened is a local coffee shop as an anchor!
As Australians, you’ll know we love our local coffee shops and there’s been so many times we’ve thought of going to Fenton but haven’t because we love to incorporate a coffee moment into our experience, so we’ve gone elsewhere!
Americans also obviously love their coffee, too, and yes there is a coffee truck, Carriage Coffee House, but in our opinion the coffee is not great (and expensive for a regular latte and being to-go from a truck in paper cups). You can’t beat the experience of sitting in a coffee shop or cafe – especially if the weather is bad outside!
Who would we love to see there? FOUNT Coffee out of Morrisville would be our first choice, I would make them an offer they couldn’t refuse, or another of our favorite local coffee shops in Raleigh is Jubala. C’mon Fenton!
Communal Spaces and Interactive Art
The visual arts have played an important role in the Fenton experience. Discover artworks by world-renowned artists, rotating exhibitions, digital scavenger hunts, and more.
The entire design of Fenton is bold and colorful. It feels like every wall in Fenton is plastered with interactive colorful murals. It’s truly a development of our modern era of making everything Instagrammable.
Art helps to tell a story and bring vibrancy to a community. Interactive art helps you create fun memories with those you love.
Craig and I had fun striking poses in front of the many murals. While we do this for business, I encourage all of you to do it for fun.
Dress up in bright colorful clothing, twirl a little, fly off with some balloons and flap your butterfly and angel wings. Let the art help you create your own fun.
I can’t wait to see what else arrives on the walls as it continues to grow.
If you have been to Nashville, you may recognize the angel wings of Kelsey Montague and the “What Lifts You” Fame. She helped start a massive angel wing mural craze across the globe after her wings were featured by Taylor Swift.
I was excited to see she has painted a beautiful version of the wings on a wall in Fenton. I loved how there are birds flying out of the wings.
Throughout Fenton in Cary there are murals and mosaic tiles with positive reminders like, “Good Days Start Here”, “Smile,” and “Kindness is contagious.” I’d love to see future walls showcase local artists!
I love outdoor spaces designed with community gathering in mind to enjoy fun days and nights gathering with friends and neighbors enjoying markets, concerts, and celebratory events.
Different seating areas have been created around the center square and fountain giving a homely feel.
They feature comfortable sofas with bright, colorful cushions, umbrellas, beach chairs, fire pits and gigantic games of Jenga and corn hole.
Fenton has a high vibe because of this focus on being outdoors and gathering as a community – for those visiting or those living in the aprtments.
Parking at Fenton
The parking decks are a street back from the main street, and traffic is only one lane in each direction through the middle of the development, which hopefully should keep car traffic at a minimum.
Why not make it pedestrian only? It’s only a small area and so no real reason to drive through it.
However, I do think that one lane road through the middle of the development should be left to accommodate for those who may find it challenging to walk in from the parking deck. This will save blocking the road for them.
There is also parking on the back northern and northwest sections, and on the eastern side behind Bailey’s Fine Jewelry.
In Summary
Fenton truly has only just begun, y’all. I’m excited to see how it evolves and feel positive about it. Growth is inevitable and with that comes growth challenges.
As much as we love our forest feel, we also love the vibrant lifestyle of Wake County (and beyond). A lot of that comes from the many incredible things we can do, and the restaurants, the bars, the cafes and festivals.
Fenton, thankfully, has added to that vibrant lifestyle mix in a truly modern way that replaces the boring indoor mall of old, to create a more fluid and energetic gathering space.
I’m excited about how our family will create many memories here – especially our Teens girls as they move through the teenage years.
The town of Cary needed something like this – while downtown Cary is innovating and outgrowing its once-ghost-town state, it’s still quite small and this development will help disperse the 185,000 people spread out over the large Cary area with more spaces to play.
Let’s make the most of Fenton so the green sacrifice was worth the benefit it brings to the community. I really hope it grows into the space I envision in my mind – because it’s a cool, fun place to be.
