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- The Town of Cary has always been one of the safest
and most desirable places to live in America.
Most recently it was once again
recognized for that honor by Money Magazine.
But living,
and chilling were two different things
until just a few years ago in Cary,
when alcohol service moved outdoors in downtown.
- We have four picnic tables in front of Pharmacy.
That is technically public sidewalk.
It's not private property.
So we had to rewrite rules for the Town of Cary
to allow us to put seating on that.
- So many cars drive by this space
and those folks are used
to not seeing anyone sitting out
or hanging outside in downtown Cary
and suddenly it seems like overnight once they opened,
they didn't have to convince people to come sit down here.
It just was a no brainer.
- That's when folks who used to drive by
started to drop in for beer at Tyler Watt's
first business venture, Pharmacy Bottle and Beverage.
- Yes the bottle shop is 16 handles
so we have 15 beers and one sider constantly rotating.
It's always something new it's always something different.
We have about anywhere between 800 and 1000 bottles on the
shelf for you to take to go or drink in-house.
- Aside from a hotdog cart on weekends,
Pharmacy does not serve food.
But you can bring your own.
You can also bring your dog.
Downtown Cary has several good food choices
within walking distance including
postmaster Restaurant and Bar
which is Watt's second business venture in Cary.
- What we've done in both spaces both Postmaster and Pharmacy
is just kind of make an inclusive environment.
Come as you are.
If you feel comfortable in a suit, come in a suit.
If you feel comfortable in flipflops, come in flipflops.
both places are trying to bring food and beverage to you
that are quality, fresh, well prepared, but approachable.
We'd like a little high end, we like a little low end,
and we try to kind of bring that together.
- We always try and keep it from interesting twist
on comfortable items.
I always like to describe my style of food as comfortable.
We want people to see that there is care and time
and effort put into these dishes
but also something that could be like,
I feel like my grandma gave me a warm hug.
- And there's plenty of that warmth to go around
on a summer visit with friends,
we sampled homini hushpuppies,
brisket, shrimp and gumbo
and I tackled a lavender sunflower to drink.
- It's based off a riff on a classic cocktail of sunflower
which is equal parts St. Germain contero, gin and lemon juice.
I just have my own little lavender tea
that I make in-house for the drink,
adds a little bit of floral note to it.
- Watt's Postmaster and Pharmacy operations
are just two of several businesses
that have opened in downtown Cary since 2015.
That's a good thing according to Watt.
He emphasizes the downtown is not about competition
but rather community.
- Since pharmacy opened I'd say there's seven or eight new
locally owned and operated businesses in downtown Cary,
and we all know each other, and we all support each other.
- And so I really think that is was helping grow this community.
- One of the best signs I think that you can see
is when you have one I'll call 'em pioneer small
business owners.
Tyler is one of those in our downtown.
What's happening right now is a small taste of what
can be and where we're going.