Cary Considers Expansion of Downtown Social District With Mixed Drinks and More Streets Included

UPDATE 9:03 PM: The vote will no longer be happening on November 20th. We will provide updates once we have them.

Original story below:

Cary leaders are preparing to vote on possible changes to the Downtown Cary Social District. The discussion centers on two major updates. The first is a plan to expand the current district to cover more of Academy Street, Park Street, Walker Street, Chatham Street and Harrison Avenue. The second is a proposal to allow mixed drinks in addition to beer and wine. Council members already reached agreement to keep the current daily operating hours of 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. A final vote is scheduled for November 20 and if approved the changes would take effect in spring of 2026.

The social district began as a way to give people the ability to buy a drink from a participating business and enjoy it while walking through certain areas of downtown. The program requires special cups and clear markings at the boundary so that residents and visitors know where drinks are allowed. Under current rules only beer and wine qualify for social district cups.

What Would Change

Maps shared by the town show that the proposed expansion would stretch farther along several commercial corridors that sit just outside the current footprint. This would bring a larger group of storefronts into the eligible zone. It would also give visitors more space to walk, explore and enjoy downtown without needing to finish drinks before heading toward another destination.

The second proposed change is the addition of mixed drinks. If approved, drinks such as cocktails that meet town requirements would also be allowed in the official cups. This would open the program to a wider mix of restaurants and bars that center their business model around cocktails rather than beer and wine only.

The council also discussed the idea of selecting a new name for the district although no official options have been announced.

More establishments may join the fun

Many more businesses can choose to opt-into the social district if the new boundary is approved. Some places that would fall under it would be:
• Di Fara
• Bond Brothers
• Graffiti
• Pharmacy Bottle and Beverage
• Sidebar
• RBF
• The Williams House
• Tiki Brewing

These businesses are already known destinations in the downtown core. If new rules are approved, many would be positioned to take part in the program or to benefit from increased walking traffic and longer visitor stays.

It’s important to note that these businesses are not required to participate even though they would be within the new boundary. We will get a better idea on who is going to opt-in closer to the Spring 2026 effective date if approved.

Why The Expansion Matters

The proposed change signals that Cary intends to continue growing a walkable and active downtown district. Allowing mixed drinks would broaden participation and bring the program in line with many other social districts in North Carolina. The expansion of the boundary would also distribute foot traffic more evenly across multiple streets which could support smaller storefronts that rely heavily on in person visibility.

On the visitor side the larger footprint would give groups more freedom to move around. Families, couples and groups of friends could explore downtown without being tied to a small set of streets. Events and festivals could also see more flexible crowd flow with more space to move throughout the district.

What Happens Next

The official vote is scheduled for November 20. If the proposal is approved the town will finalize new maps, publish a new official name, redesign signage and update printed materials. Businesses will receive guidance on how to participate and what type of drinks qualify. Town officials expect all changes to be active in spring of 2026 which provides time for preparation, marketing and training.

The Cary Report will cover the vote results along with the confirmed map once released by the town.