THE VILLAGE DISTRICT | THE ESSENTIALS
When it comes to those places you visit more than a few times per month, like supermarkets, gyms, pharmacies, and the like, it’s nice to have them near your home. There’s nothing worse on a lazy Sunday than having to get in your car and drive across town to grab something for dinner. (Of course, we do have lots of food delivery apps in Raleigh nowadays, but that’s not the point here.) And nobody needs another excuse not to hit the gym. The Village District is the epitome of convenience if you want those essentials just a few steps from your front door. From groceries to fitness, these Village District essentials have you covered...
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GROCERY
North Carolina’s own fancy, homegrown grocery store, The Fresh Market, maintains a stronghold at the east end of The Village Distrcit just next to the library. It may or may not be your supermarket of choice for everyday needs, but there’s no denying that it’s one of the nicest supermarkets in this part of the country. Modeled after European markets, The Fresh Market is a foodie heaven. Come here for fresh produce, the choicest cuts of meat, homemade pastries, fresh-cut flowers, and all those “scoop it yourself” dried fruits, nuts, and candies. They’ve also got a great selection of cheese, international food, and wine (with occasional sample stations, if you’re lucky!).
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And don’t forget about the deli and hot bar in the center of The Fresh Market where you can get quality items ready to devour if you don’t have time to make dinner. Pop in for a warm sandwich piled high with hand-sliced meat, or stock up on a bunch of those ready-made dishes behind the glass (you know, the ones that are priced by the pound) and just tell everybody at home that you made it. Oh, and if you didn’t already know, The Fresh Market is one of the most glorious places to roam around during the holidays - that smell!
Did we mention there’s also North Carolina-based Harris Teeter? From pharmacy to bakery to floral shop to butcher, HT has it all. Be sure to sign up for a VIC card and cash in on the weekly savings.
Once you’ve picked up all your groceries, specialty items, and quality wine at The Fresh Market, you might also need a bottle of somethin’ somethin’ to take to your next cocktail party… or just to round out a tough Wednesday at the office. (We get it.) Located just next door to the grocery store for all your other alcoholic beverage needs, you’ll also find a nice little ABC Store. Now that’s convenience!
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And because almost nobody shops at the Fresh Market for every single one of their staple grocery items and everybody needs toilet paper and the occasional case of domestic beer, there’s the ol’ standby The Village District Harris Teeter (yet another NC-based grocery store). This HT will always be there for you… just waiting… because it knows you’ll be back. Sure, it’s chaos in that parking lot sometimes and it’s filled with college students during the school year, but it’s basically the only full-service supermarket located anywhere close to downtown. Trust us, you’ll be thankful it’s there.
Godspeed.
PHARMACY
The old Rite-Aid is gone, but it’s been replaced by a snazzy new Walgreens. Bright, clean, and shiny, there’s a pharmacy inside (obviously) along with all your other drugstore needs. You’ll find rows and rows of makeup, toiletries, over-the-counter medicines, personal care items, school supplies, snacks, batteries, vitamins, candy, greeting cards, gift bags, and all sorts of seasonal stuff. Want to print a few pictures from your phone? You can do that at Walgreens. Need a passport photo taken? They can do that here too.
Psst: They’ve also got beer and wine here in case you don’t feel like braving the Village District Teeter.
Not a fan of Walgreens for some reason? Don’t worry, there’s a CVS over on Hillsborough Street if you need it.
FITNESS
Whether you have a love or hate relationship with exercise, you can’t really argue that you wish your gym were located farther away. The geographic rule of gyms is that they either need to be located near your house or your place of work if you’re ever gonna go. There’s nothing worse than paying for a membership every month that you don’t use. Lucky for the Village Districts residents, there’s an absolute plethora of fitness options around.
Crunch Fitness is a brand new gym in the neighborhood with great reviews and lots of amenities. Seriously, we can’t fault it. Whether you want to take group fitness classes, seek out a personal trainer, or be left alone to your own devices for your workouts, you can do that here. The cheapest base monthly rate includes the use of gym equipment, locker rooms, showers, sauna, towel service, online nutrition program, tanning, and HydroMassage. Of course, there are a few membership options to suit your every need whether you’re a gym rat or reluctant exerciser. Along with lots of studio classes, they also the host occasional outdoor yoga session over in Fred Fletcher Park!
If you’re not into big gyms, The Village District also has multiple, boutique-y fitness spots nearby where you can take yoga, pilates, and spin classes with expert instructors. Pick your poison…
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The national chain of Core Power Yoga set up shop in the neighborhood a couple years ago with trendy classes that range from regular Vinyasa flow to unique blends of hot yoga cardio, weights, and upbeat playlists. They offer seven days of free, unlimited yoga classes so you can feel out whether their vibe is right for you! You don’t even need a reservation to join classes.
Right around the corner, Evolve Movement is another place where regulars rave about the knowledgeable teachers, classes, and movement workshops - it’s been called one of the top studios in Raleigh. If you’re a beginner, they’ve got concierge services along with classes and packages that can ease you into the practice of yoga or pilates.
Raleigh Yoga Center is also just around the corner too, and they have a schedule of yoga classes with options available for all levels, plus drop-in rates and packages.
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If you’re not a burgeoning yogi, there’s also Flywheel Sports in the Village District where you can take intense spin and barre classes. Flywheel’s stadium cycling classes include themed rides like “Old School Hip Hop” with playlists designed accordingly and a visual display where you can compete against other riders in the class. Their instructors are talented, ripped, and super motivational, but don’t say we didn’t warn you. These are tough, sweaty sessions with fun music, and while Flywheel’s classes are a challenge (this ain’t Pure Barre), they’ll keep you coming back.
What are your go-to spots for the essentials in The Village District?
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