A Shark Tank Seafood Shop, a Southern Chain, and Two New Restaurants

CARY, N.C. — OCTOBER 28, 2026

Cary has quite a few business openings and announcements this week. Here’s what is going on:

Photo: Topsail Steamer

Topsail Steamer (coming soon)

The biggest name of the bunch is Topsail Steamer, and it is headed for 214 E. Chatham Street, the downtown storefront that has sat empty since Littles of Cary closed. Topsail sells seafood boil pots that you take home and steam yourself, with the seasoning and the sides already in the pot. Founder Danielle Mahon started the company on Topsail Island in 2017, and she took it to Shark Tank in Season 16, where she made a deal with Todd Graves and Lori Greiner. The Triangle Business Journal reports that the Cary shop expects to open in March. The local franchisees are familiar faces: they also own the Color Me Mine studio at Waverly Place.

Palmetto Moon (now open)

Palmetto Moon opened on Saturday at 213 Crossroads Boulevard. It is the sixth North Carolina store for the Charleston-based chain. Palmetto Moon sells apparel, gifts, drinkware, and collegiate gear with a Southern bent, and the Crossroads shop is its first in Cary.

Ala Rahi (now open)

Ala Rahi is open at 1080 Darrington Drive, in the space that Okja K-Pub had. The menu covers Turkish, Mediterranean, and Pakistani food, which is a combination that Cary did not have before. It is dinner only for now, and it is closed on Mondays.

The Balkan Table (now open)

The Balkan Table is open in Lochmere Pavilion, at 2425 Kildaire Farm Road, in the space that Bocci Trattoria & Pizzeria had. Owner Neli Dimitrov serves food from the Balkans and Eastern Europe, which is another first for this part of town.

And the run is not over. Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant opens November 9 at Parkside Town Commons, out in west Cary. If you try any of the new spots before I do, tell me what you thought.