10/09/2026
OUR CARY ROOTS. OUR FAMILY'S STORY. OUR FUTURE. đź’™
Cary, we need your help.
For more than 20 years, our family business, The Sea Depot, has been part of Cary's East Chatham Street community. Today, a proposed NCDOT road project could threaten the future of our store and other long-standing neighborhood businesses.
My parents began in the food service industry in New York before moving to eastern North Carolina, where they opened restaurants in Swanquarter and Chocowinity. Along the way, they built relationships with local shrimpers and fishermen, distributing North Carolina seafood up and down the East Coast.
When we moved to Cary in 1989, we began selling fresh NC shrimp from coolers at the old State Farmers Market on Hodges Street. After years of building seafood departments for other businesses, my father took a leap of faith at age 66, investing in and opening The Sea Depot.
Since then, we've been fortunate to serve generations of customers, from those who have supported us since the beginning to newcomers discovering our little hidden gem.
Now, our future is uncertain.
NCDOT's proposed Maynard Road railroad crossing project (P-5718) could significantly affect access, parking, and potentially the future of Sea Depot and neighboring businesses.
We support safer roads and thoughtful growth. But we also believe progress should preserve the family-owned businesses, diverse cultures, and community relationships that have helped make Cary what it is today.
We need your voice.
If The Sea Depot or the surrounding businesses have been part of your Cary experience, please tell NCDOT what they mean to you. Ask how access, parking, and the future of these businesses will be protected, and whether alternatives can reduce the impact. Or, how can the stakeholders work together to support the business.
đź“Ł Public comments are open through October 27, 2026.
👉 Submit your comments directly to NCDOT: https://publicinput.com/w8761
Please share this post, follow us on Facebook and Instagram .sea.depot, and message us if you'd like to stay involved.
Thank you for supporting our family and our East Chatham Street neighbors. We hope to continue serving this community for generations to come.
The Sea Depot Family
Cary Chamber The Heart of Cary Association Shop Local Raleigh El Centro Hispano, Inc North Carolina Fisheries Association, Inc. North Carolina Sea Grant North Carolina Department of Commerce North Carolina Department of Agriculture
Proposed grade separation of the North Carolina Railroad (NCRR) / Norfolk Southern (NS) H-Line and the CSX S-line to replace Maynard Road at-grade crossing in Cary. Study Area Map:
