I get most of my blog ideas from my clients. They ask me different questions and whalla--it turns into an idea for a post. Today I had a client ask me about Apex shopping, downtown Apex, and "what's new" in Apex.

Apex offers a variety of shopping experiences from large retail centers to its quaint historic downtown located on Salem Street.

Beaver Creek Commons shopping complex, located in the Southeast quadrant of US Highway 64 and NC Highway 55, is the first completed phase of its largest retail center in Apex. Anchored by a SuperTarget and Lowes Home Improvement, there is an additional shopping that includes Linens N Things, Office Max and PetSmart.

Beaver Creek Crossing, the second phase of this mega-center, opened in November 2006. Consolidated Beaver Creek Cinemas is one of the anchors in this neighboring section to Beaver Creek Commons and is joined by Circuit City, Dick's Sporting Goods, Old Navy, TJMaxx/Homegoods, Ulta Cosmetics, Borders Books, Kohl's and Pier 1 imports are coming soon. A number of different restaurants and food establishments can be found, such as Chick-Fil-A, Panera Bread, Qdoba, Chili's, Firehouse Subs, Red Robin Burgers and Longhorn Steakhouse. Both phases combined have a total of 600,000 Square Feet of retail shopping. Some of the local small business owners include a children's haircuttery called Snip-Its, Subway, Hibachi Express, General Nutrition Center, EB Games, Beverly Nails, J. Andrew Salon, Cold Stone Creamery, Cingular Wireless and A Dinner Affair (which is one of those meal preparation businesses) which are either opened or will open soon.

Several other retail centers are just a quick drive down NC Highway 55 from Beaver Creek Commons. Haddon Hall Commons and Olive Chapel Village, both anchored by major grocery stores (Harris Teeter and Lowes), have a vast array of business types ranging from service industries to unique specialty shops to restaurants. While out and about shopping, more restaurants and service industries can be found at the adjacent Peakway Market Square.

Historic Downtown Apex offers a glimpse of the past with the amenities of today. Shoppers in the downtown historic district can enjoy an eclectic mix of antique, home décor, and specialty gift stores intermixed with a variety of dining options, like my new favorite Peak City Bar & Grill. Enhancing the shopping experience are free concerts offered on Friday nights in the Spring and Fall. Additionally, "First Friday" nights, which occur the first Friday night of each month, will allow for later shopping hours at the downtown stores.

The Town of Apex offers a variety of passive and active leisure opportunities to Apex Citizens and residents of Southwestern Wake County. With passage of a $13,000,000 bond referendum in November 2004, the Town currently has several exciting projects underway. They include expansion of the Apex Community Center, Phase 1A of the Beaver Creek Greenway, Phase 1 of the Beckett Crossing Greenway and the restoration of the Towns original Town Hall into a Performing and Cultural Arts Center. Future bond projects will be the completion of the Beaver Creek Greenway, completion of the Beckett Crossing Greenway, Renovation and Completion of the Haddon Hall Greenway, a 160 acre Nature and Environmental Education Park, and land acquisition for a future Athletic Complex. We are proud to offer this variety of leisure opportunities for Youth, Adults, and Sr. Citizens alike.

If you are looking to move to Apex, don't overlook the Town of Apex.