By Faye Prosser

Cary, N.C. — Cary Towne Center is closing on Sunday, Jan. 31, 2021. All stores will shut down by then, except for Dave & Buster’s.

The sign on the Dave & Buster's location indicates that Epic Games is keeping the sports bar and arcade as part of the new Epic headquarters and they "will be relocating across campus at a future date."

Belk will be closing on Saturday, Jan. 30, according to a Belk employee. Customers can still enter the department store from the outside entrances and on Thursday, Jan. 28, there were a number of customers doing some last minute shopping. Most of the remaining merchandise will be sent to a nearby Belk location and they are not having a liquidation sale.

With only a few stores still open for business, the Belk location was one of the only places in the parking lot with more than a couple cars parked outside on Jan. 28, 2021.

There were a few seniors getting some exercise walking in the warm mall just days before the doors close for good, but most stores are now empty and the once busy shopping center is sadly quiet.

My mother and I brought my little girls to Cary Towne Center many times when they were young, 15 years ago. I have fond memories of riding the carousel with the kids and watching them enjoy the toddler rides.

It was very strange to see the parking lot outside the food court completely empty.

The beloved train at Cary Towne Center was removed the week of Jan. 16.

Epic is buying Cary Towne Center from Turnbridge Equities and Denali Properties and plans to make it the new corporate headquarters. The campus should be finished by 2024.

A number of the surrounding businesses in outparcel buildings will stay open including the Starbucks, according to an employee.

The mall, which is located at 1105 Walnut St., Cary, NC, opened in 1979 as Cary Village Mall and has a very interesting history.