Apex Outfitter and Board Company to open downtown Cary store in fall 2026

Apex Outfitter and Board Company is bringing its outdoor and action-sports mix into downtown Cary, where the Triangle retailer plans to open a second location in fall 2026. The move puts a hometown business into one of Wake County’s busiest pedestrian districts, near Downtown Cary Park and a growing row of restaurants and shops.

The company, which says it was born in Apex in 2012, already runs its flagship store at 225 N. Salem St. in downtown Apex. The Cary store will be much smaller than a big-box outdoor retailer, at about 1,800 square feet, but that size fits the kind of specialty shop downtowns are increasingly using to fill ground-floor space and draw steady foot traffic.

Owner Kyle Denis said Cary’s restaurant scene and proximity to Downtown Cary Park helped push the expansion. That matters in a district where shoppers are not just driving in for one errand, but lingering for dinner, events and walks through the park. For an independent retailer, that mix can be more valuable than sheer square footage.

The new shop will be at the Cedar Street parking garage, a location that ties retail directly to parking access and the daily rhythm of downtown. In practical terms, that can help a store like Apex Outfitter catch people already coming downtown for meals, events and park time, while also giving Cary another locally owned storefront in a district that has been steadily adding activity.

Apex Outfitter describes itself as a community-first business, and that approach will be part of the Cary opening as well. The store’s move adds another layer to downtown Cary’s retail mix, which has been tilting toward destinations that can benefit from walkability, nearby dining and the park’s built-in draw. For downtown Cary, the expansion is another sign that the area’s consumer demand is strong enough to support more specialized retail, not just restaurants and service businesses.