Hunky Dory, a popular vinyl record store opens in downtown Cary. Here’s what to know.

There hasn’t been a place you could find vintage vinyl and get a glass of IPA beer from a bartender spinning records in Cary.

Until now.

Music lovers, beer enthusiasts and everyone in between now have a place to call their own at Hunky Dory. The record store with locations in Durham and Raleigh has opened a new shop on East Chatham Street in downtown Cary.

The 800-square-foot store opened in The Center, next to Hank’s Downtown Dive and Di Fara Pizza Tavern. The Cary Theater is across the street.

Classic vinyl records

“We’ve got a refined mix of heavy-hitters, classic rock, jazz, soul, country records, a full range,” owner Michael Bell said. “About 85% of the records are vintage. ... Everywhere I go, I am always on the hunt for new records.”

Bell, a former journalist who worked in Alabama and in the Southeast, worked at a record store part-time, inspiring him to open his own. The Raleigh native made his way back to the Triangle to open the Hunky Dory in Durham. The store is named after the 1971 David Bowie album.

When is Hunky Dory Cary open?

Noon to 8 p.m. every day of the week.

Bell said the hours may change as time goes on. Since the store opened Dec. 1, customers have been flowing in and out.

“For that weekend, we had three kegs donated from local breweries. On the first day, the first two were gone and then the third on the second day,” Bell said. “We’re really stoked to be there. It’s awesome to be received so well.”

The beer menu, from local breweries, will change regularly.

Is Hunky Dory part of the Cary social district?

No.

Since the Downtown Cary Park opened, the town’s social district has gone active, allowing people to walk within the district limits with alcoholic drinks.

To find participating bars, look for signs Sold Here, Beverages Welcome, or Outside Beverages Not Permitted.

Participating stores include Market 317, The Cotton House, Peck & Plume at The Mayton, SAAP, and the Bark Bar.

What happened to the other locations?

Hunky Dory customers can still find their records at the Raleigh and Durham stores. The Raleigh location was doing well, Bell said, until construction began at the Seaboard Station business strip. A seven-story apartment building and retail space is being built and many businesses are seeing fewer customers because of it, Hunky Dory included.

Still, Bell is hopeful for the Cary location, which he learned about from a developer at Cary’s Chatham Street Realty.

“I couldn’t have dreamed of a better spot,” Bell said.

The Durham store contained thousands of records, posters and other items Bell had collected over the last 13 years that were able to fit inside the Cary location.

Can I sell my records here?

Yes. The store will offer half the retail price for each record it buys, which will depend on age and popularity.

To sell records, call the store at 919-234-1229 or email hunkydorycary@gmail.com.