A new, all-day cafe is open in downtown Cary. What’s on the menu
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- The Refreshery opened in downtown Cary, offering juices, coffee and baked goods.
- Owner Stephen McNulty used LaunchCary training to help start the shop.
- Menu features cold-pressed juices, draft cold brew and local grab-and-go items.
A new, all-day cafe serving juices, coffee and baked goods is now open in downtown Cary.
Local residents Stephen and Jessica McNulty, who are married, wanted to fill a void they saw in the area with their new business, The Refreshery.
Parents of young children, the McNultys wanted a place to hang out with friends that was open all day, including after work hours, and wasn’t a bar.
A couple of years ago, McNulty decided to join the LaunchCary program, which gives entrepreneurs training and resources to start businesses.
“I’ve kind of always had the itch to get out of corporate and be my own boss, do something entrepreneurial,” Stephen McNulty told The News & Observer in a call. “I’ve had a few ideas that I’ve run down the rabbit hole, but nothing I’ve ever really jumped into.”
He began to explore the idea of a cold-pressed juice business, where he could sell products at a high enough price point, and supplement it with coffee, tea and food items.
“People are still looking for something to drink,” McNulty said. “They still want a beverage in their hand. What can that be?”
McNulty had a career in the corporate world but had worked in restaurants earlier in his life. Still, he surrounded himself with resources to prepare for owning a juice store.
He purchased a Goodnature juicer, the brand used by businesses including Whole Foods Market and Erewhon, and worked with a consultant to learn the machine. McNulty also took a course led by owners of a juicing shop to learn recipes and how they built their business.
McNulty knew he wanted to open the business in downtown Cary and decided on a space in the Meridian East Chatham building.
The McNultys built out the 1,100-square-foot store from the ground up, pouring the concrete and completing the walls, electric and HVAC system.
The Refreshery menu
The Refreshery opened in early January, serving a variety of juices (around $10 per bottle) made with no added preservatives or artificial colorings. Among the top-selling juices are the Shark Juice, which is made with pineapple, apple, lemon, lime and blue spirulina, and the Oh Snap, a blend of apple, lemon and ginger.
“We make our juices for you to drink at any time, when you’re just looking for something good to sip on,” McNulty said. “Our juices are not strictly for when you’re not feeling well, or when you need to cleanse, or when you need to just feel better after eating a lot of red meat or something.”
Cold brew coffee and matcha are also available on draft. The Pomegranate Matcha ($8) has been one of the most popular orders, McNulty said. So has the Salted Caramel Cold Brew ($5), made with beans from Five Star Coffee Roasters.
The Refreshery also stocks items from Mama’s Salsa, Breadwaala, Bright & Early Bakery and D’Nardys Cheesecakes, along with grab-and-go overnight oats, chia pudding and stuffed dates.
The Refreshery location and hours
The Refreshery is open at 253 E. Chatham St. in Cary.
Its hours are 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday.
This story was originally published January 21, 2026 at 6:00 AM with the headline "A new, all-day cafe is open in downtown Cary. What’s on the menu."
