3 new businesses join Raleigh’s Lake Boone Shopping Center + 3 more on the way
Raleigh’s Lake Boone Shopping Center has seen plenty new activity recently, and more businesses are still to come.
Since late last year, three retailers have opened (or reopened) at the shopping center on Lake Boone Trail and Wycliff Road, anchored by Food Lion. Three others are expected to debut within the next few months.
Here’s a recap of what’s happening at the shopping center.
Duck Donuts expected to open soon
It’s almost time for Duck Donuts to open its newest Raleigh location.
The store at 2414 Wycliff Road is planning to debut the weekend of June 22, said Karen Brown, a senior vice president of property management at York Properties, which owns the shopping center. The opening date depends on when the donut shop passes all its inspections, Brown said.
Duck Donuts did not return The News & Observer’s phone calls placed June 12 and June 14.
Tables and chairs are set up inside the store, and “now hiring” signs are taped on the window.
The North Carolina-based doughnut shop began in the Outer Banks and has since expanded to more than two dozen U.S. states, plus Puerto Rico and Canada.
Known for its made-to-order sweets topped with icing, sprinkles and other morsels, Duck Donuts has existing locations in three Triangle cities: Raleigh, Cary and Durham.
Ace Hardware store arriving summer 2024
An Ace Hardware is moving into an old Walgreen’s at 2642 Wycliff Road.
Store co-owner Paul Owens told The News & Observer in an email that the location will open in early August. A grand opening celebration, including giveaways and grilling demonstrations, is planned for August 23-25.
Owens and his wife and business partner, Brooke Owens, previously told The News & Observer that the Raleigh location will likely offer a larger collection of North Carolina-centric gifts and home decor.
This is the first Raleigh Ace store for the couple, who already operate locations in Lake Gaston, Rolesville, Holly Springs, Angier and Garner.
Lake Boone Starbucks is temporarily closed
The Starbucks at Lake Boone Shopping Center, located next to McDonald’s, is temporarily closed for renovations.
Brown said the location is expected to reopen in July.
A sign placed in the mulch outside Starbucks reads: “We’ll be right back. This store is temporarily closed for some exciting updates.”
The coffee chain did not immediately respond to The N&O’s requests for more information about the Lake Boone location.
Out with the old (McDonald’s), in with the new
The McDonald’s at 3810 Lake Boone Trail was demolished last year to make way for a brand new one.
A store manager told The News & Observer that the restaurant reopened May 3. Customers will notice several updates:
- Two drive-thru lanes
- A third drive-thru window that customers can use if their order is not ready by the time they make it to the second window
- Touch-screen kiosks inside the dining room where visitors can place orders
- A dedicated order pick-up area for mobile and delivery orders
- Five curbside pick-up parking spaces
Though the restaurant has been open for over a month, McDonald’s fans can still take advantage of grand opening deals, including daily specials. For example, every Friday and Saturday through June 22, customers get a free small coffee with the purchase of a breakfast sandwich.
A few months in: Chicken Salad Chick and The Butcher’s Market
A fast-casual restaurant specializing in chicken salad and a North Carolina-based butcher shop have been open at Lake Boone for less than a year.
Chicken Salad Chick opened in November 2023, and The Butcher’s Market debuted in December 2023.
The Lake Boone restaurant was the first Raleigh location for Chicken Salad Chick, though the chain already had a presence in the Triangle, with a store in Cary.
And with the location at 2414 Wycliff Road, The Butcher’s Market has three Raleigh stores in addition to its shops in Cary, Holly Springs, Wilmington and Wake Forest.
This story was originally published June 17, 2024 at 7:00 AM with the headline "3 new businesses join Raleigh’s Lake Boone Shopping Center + 3 more on the way."
