The owners of Main Street Beer and Wine said residents have been knocking on the door wondering when they're finally going to open and officially join Clayton's thriving culinary scene.
"It is an exciting time and it's fun to be part of a town that has rallied around itself," said Main Street Beer and Wine Co-Owner Ashley Techet.
"This area is growing tremendously," said Main Street Beer and Wine Co-Owner Olena Milovanona. "This new population just needs more things. It needs more things to do or places to meet, more restaurants to try -- more variety."
The shop is holding its grand opening Friday.
"We love this community. Everybody has been extremely friendly and very welcoming," said Milovanona.
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Entrepreneurs are working overtime to make sure all those people and their money stay local.
Clayton's population is exploding. Census data shows it shot up more than 70% from 2010.
Five-time James Beard semifinalist chef Scott Crawford was one of the first big names to move into downtown Clayton.
Corina Rice Knott has lived here for years and wanted to be a part of the action. She left her job in sales and opened a provisions shop this past March.
"We do lots of lunch caterings," she said
Her business has taken off thanks to new clientele.
"There are so many people moving here every single day -- new rooftops going up every single day," Knott said. "I just definitely wanted to be a part of that mix and just (give) people an option that they didn't have to drive all the way into Raleigh to have a nice meal."
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Flowers Plantation keeps expanding and the developer is embarking upon another big project.
The Waterfront District is in the planning stage. The mixed-use development will have restaurants, a hotel, condos, and other retail spaces.
The Copper District is simultaneously being developed also as a mixed-used space.
"(It's going to be) almost like a North Hills (or) Fenton type area, which is going to change the fabric of Johnston County where we're going to become a destination," said Clayton Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Dana Wooten. "The growth here has just been insurmountable over the last 3 years."
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