Any Good Used Bookstores/Coffee Houses in Cary or Chapel Hill? (Raleigh: rent , work)

[FSNRI]

Hi all,

I'm a newbie here (kicks the ground.)

My wife and I are interested in possibly opening up a used bookstore in the Triangle area. I already know there are a couple in Durham--we wouldn't be working there.

I am envisioning a "Hang Out" type of place with a used bookstore, small coffeehouse area, and a very small stage area for poetry readings, acoustic performances, etc.

Are there already places like this in Cary or Chapel Hill? Do you think they would survive, or do you think the rents are too high in retail areas to support a used bookshop/coffee house?

Thanks!

[Nacht]

Between the competition and the rent I don't see how you could make it work in downtown CH. You may want to try Carrboro.

[FSNRI]

What about Cary?

[KThomas]

are you by chance from the NorthWest?

[Zeelee]

This type of place would be just what the triangle needs!! My husband and I just moved to the area from Richmond, VA and have been searching for used bookstores that offer a place to hang out, check out art work, have coffee, etc....hope it works out!!

[lamishra]

There is a used bookstore in Cary (Mike's used books) but it's not the type of used bookstore/hangout/coffee shop you are talking about. That would be nice.
There are plans to revitalize downtown Cary over the next few years and because I live so close, my neighbors and I are really hoping that smaller, independently owned shops like this will spring up.

[Nacht]

Originally Posted by Zeelee

This type of place would be just what the triangle needs!! My husband and I just moved to the area from Richmond, VA and have been searching for used bookstores that offer a place to hang out, check out art work, have coffee, etc....hope it works out!!

Chapel Hill and Carrboro are littered with used bookstores, especially W Franklin St. Off the top of my head there's Skylight Exchange, Internationalist and Chapel Hill Rare Books.

[procfreq]

Are there really several in Durham? All I can think of is the Book Exchange on 9th street and the one in Brightleaf Square--neither of which really do it for me and neither of which I'd call good places to "hang out." Are there good ones that I'm missing?

[raccemup]

Check into historic Downtown Apex. They are really fixing it up and getting more and more stores in. Many of them are very artsy and cultural and that's the kind of clientele they are attracting. It's very quaint and there is a new cultural center going in, a bakery is open, a couple of restaurants and they are still working on another building to add about another block of shops. Many of the shops keep reasonable hours like 10-6 or so, so it's not a stringent 12 hour day if you dont' want it to be. The rents were also way cheaper there then in Cary, I found. I'm signing a least today for a shop down there myself and it was the best rent deal for the location I could find. I think you would do well there as it is really picking up down there. They have lots of different festivals throughout the year there, too. Good luck!

[Snowpea]

Wake County has excellent libraries and so I tend not to visit used bookstores so much. The ones I have been to do not have the 'chill-out' atmosphere.

In Cary:
- 2nd Chance Books is at 1821 N. Harrison Ave. Just South of I-40. http://www.2ndchancebooks.com/about.htm
- Mr. Mike's is at the intersection of N. Harrison and NE Maynard. http://www.mrmikesusedbooks.com/index.htm

In West Raleigh (a few minutes from Cary):
- Nice Price Books is at 3106 Hillsborough St. Close to NCSU. There is parking behind the store. There is also a Cup-a-Joe coffee shop nearby (at 3100 Hillsborough St). I think the two businesses benefit each other but they are separate entities.