9 retail changes reshaping shopping in the Raleigh NC area
Retail spaces in North Carolina — including grocery stores — are changing with a mix of new store openings, closures, and upgraded services. Lowes Foods recently closed its Cary store and plans to shut other Triangle stores, while at the same time opening new locations in Concord and Kannapolis. Food Lion is both expanding, with a new Johnston County store opening and dozens more adding Food Lion To Go pick-up and delivery services, and investing in remodeling Raleigh and Durham area stores.
National chains like Walgreens and Joann are shuttering local stores, reflecting tough market conditions and changing consumer habits. Meanwhile, new retail experiences are coming, such as Planet Fitness replacing a former Big Lots and Piada Italian Street Food opening in the Wegmans-anchored Wake Forest development.
NO. 1: ANOTHER ALDI GROCERY STORE WILL BE BUILT IN JOHNSTON COUNTY. HERE’S WHAT WE KNOW
This will be the second Aldi store in JoCo. | Published May 13, 2024 | Read Full Story by Renee Umsted
NO. 2: FOOD LION IS OPENING A NEW GROCERY STORE IN JOHNSTON COUNTY. HERE’S WHERE & WHEN
The grand opening — with a movie premiere theme — includes free popcorn. | Published July 12, 2024 | Read Full Story by Renee Umsted
NO. 3: GROCERY CHAIN ADDS TO-GO SERVICES TO 17 MORE NC STORES, INCLUDING IN RALEIGH & GARNER
Customers can order online or through the app and have a store employee load their items into the car. | Published July 15, 2024 | Read Full Story by Renee Umsted
NO. 4: POPULAR NC-BASED GROCER WILL CLOSE 3 STORES IN THE CAROLINAS. RALEIGH IS ON THE LIST
The news comes as the NC-based grocery chain plans to open new locations in North Carolina and South Carolina. | Published July 24, 2024 | Read Full Story by Renee Umsted
NO. 5: FIVE GUYS, ITALIAN STREET FOOD COMING TO TRIANGLE TOWN’S WEGMANS-ANCHORED DEVELOPMENT
This will be the fast-casual restaurant’s third location in the Raleigh area. But it’s not the only business planned for the town. | Published September 5, 2024 | Read Full Story by [email protected] Umsted
NO. 6: POPULAR FABRIC CHAIN CLOSING ALL STORES, INCLUDING IN RALEIGH, DURHAM & CARY. DETAILS
The store has changed course from its earlier decision to close only select stores across the country. | Published February 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by Renee Umsted
NO. 7: WALGREENS WILL CLOSE LOCATIONS IN THE TRIANGLE. HERE’S WHERE (+ EACH STORE’S LAST DAY)
The stores are among the 1,200 U.S. locations expected to close within the next three years. | Published February 26, 2025 | Read Full Story by Renee Umsted
NO. 8: A POPULAR NC-BASED GROCERY STORE WILL CLOSE ANOTHER TRIANGLE LOCATION
The grocer closed two locations in North Carolina, including one in the Triangle, last year. Another store is shutting down soon. | Published April 25, 2025 | Read Full Story by Renee Umsted
NO. 9: THIS POPULAR GYM WILL FILL A FORMER BIG LOTS STORE IN RALEIGH. WHAT WE KNOW
While some Big Lots locations in the Triangle are reopening, many are closed for good, leaving room for new retailers to move in. | Published May 1, 2025 | Read Full Story by Renee Umsted…