New coffee shop & used book and vinyl store opens in downtown Raleigh
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- The Newsagent’s opens in downtown Raleigh offering used media and coffee.
- Store is located in historical Mahler building on Fayetteville Street.
- It has a large inventory of books, magazines, comics, vinyl records and movies.
After several unanticipated delays, a new store meant to help the community reconnect to analog media is now open in downtown Raleigh.
Co-owners Neetzan Zimmerman and Yulia Shamis, who are married, originally intended to open The Newsagent’s on Fayetteville Street last summer. But before they could unlock the doors to the coffee shop and used paperback/magazine/record/movie/comic book store, they had to sort through some issues.
To comply with the fire code, The Newsagent’s needed a second exterior doorway, and adding one proved time-consuming and expensive, Zimmerman told The News & Observer. The store owners also had to negotiate with a neighboring property owner to ensure that, in the case of an emergency, people could cross the other property to safely evacuate. And the use of the building had to be changed from a gallery to mercantile, which caused additional delays.
“We pushed through all the hurdles, and we got to a point where it was basically make or break,” Zimmerman said. “And I said, ‘I want to stay in downtown no matter what.’”
The plus side to all the delays, Zimmerman said, was that it gave the owners more time to fine-tune their vision for the store, which is located in the historical Mahler Building at 228 Fayetteville St.
“It was very important for us to get it just right and really have it transmit that vibe that we want to transmit, both of, hey, this is a space for culture, but also it’s a space just to hang out and sit and think,” Zimmerman said.
The owners pay homage to the building’s past with a mural that showcases the evolution of the property, from jewelry store named for G.H. Mahler to McClellan’s department store to fine art gallery. They also maintained a decorated showcase wall that dates back to the 19th century.
Books, records, comics for sale at The Newsagent’s
Named for newsstands and their proprietors, The Newsagent’s is all about physical items.
Used books, organized by genre marked by color-coded panels, fill shelves. Customers can pick through and listen to pre-owned vinyl records. Separate rooms hold rows of comic books, including Archie and Mad.
The Newsagent’s also sells magazines and movies in multiple formats.
Inventory on display is only a third of what The Newsagent’s has in stock. And more is to come.
“We’re going to start buying, and really, the idea is to make it a living library,” Zimmerman said. “We want people to bring in their books so that we know what people are into.”
Coffee shop inside The Newsagent’s
Guests are invited to stay a while, and enjoy a cup of coffee — or a latte, cappuccino or tea — and perhaps a classic confection such as a Moon Pie, Charleston Chew or Goo Goo Cluster.
Tables, chairs and lounge seating are scattered throughout the space, including in an upstairs area that overlooks the store’s entrance.
“It’s far less a retail space as it is an effort to create a getaway for folks, a place to unplug,” Zimmerman said.
The Newsagent’s will eventually host events such as lectures, though specifics have yet to be decided.
“We want different things for different people based on their interests,” Zimmerman said. “And we want to move away from things that you can get elsewhere, like book clubs.”
The Newsagent’s is now in its soft opening period, operating noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday, and closed Monday. The store’s owners hope to later extend their hours.
This story was originally published February 20, 2026 at 11:43 AM with the headline "New coffee shop & used book and vinyl store opens in downtown Raleigh."
