Antiques store relocates

After 2-1/2 decades with his own antiques store in Raleigh, businessman George McNeill is changing things up.

Last week, he closed George R. McNeill Fine Antiques & Interiors in North Hills. And he opened a new shop within Hunt & Gather, that collection of antique dealers in High Park Village at 1910 Bernard St.

Selling high-end antiques in a marketplace with many dealers makes more sense in today's economy, McNeill said.

"It's business," he said. "And businesses exist to make money. Either you're making money or you're going broke."

And along with the economy, at age 57, McNeill said, he's getting rid of his solo shop because he wants a little more free time.

"I really looked at it and decided I could make more money, but I can't make more time," he said.

For those wondering about McNeill's other business venture, he is also considering some changes to his Pharaoh's restaurant chain but isn't ready to talk about them publicly.

Two weeks ago, I wrote about Wine and Design, a business in Raleigh's Five Points that offers painting sessions and the opportunity to hang out and drink wine with your friends while you paint.

In Cary, another business has just opened that follows a similar model.

Polka Dot Palette offers sessions for adults and children. It's $25 to $30 for adults or $20 for a shorter children's session, and that includes a canvas, supplies and instruction on how to recreate a painting.

It's open on Thursday and Friday nights and on Saturdays in the Village Marketplace at 600 Gathering Park Circle, half a mile from the intersection of Davis Drive and Morrisville-Carpenter Road.

Local chain Chubby'sTacos will open its fifth restaurant early this summer. It will be in the former deli space at the Falls River Town Center off Durant Road in North Raleigh. The opening of its RTP restaurant at 2806 S. Miami Blvd. in Durham was delayed by one week. It will open Monday.

Other items: In Raleigh, Prosource Fitness Equipment relocated to a larger spot at 6503 Hilburn Drive. ... Also in Raleigh, at BeaconPlaza, Uniform Center will open at 3927 New Bern Ave. in June selling medical uniforms. ... In Cary at Crossroads Plaza, Petco signed a lease for part of the empty Linens N Things space. No word on when it will open. ... In Cary, O2 Fitness opened in the former Impact Athletics at 280 Towerview Court. O2 closed its gym at 2046 Renaissance Park Place last week. ... Also in Cary at Saltbox Village off Kildaire Farm Road, Arthur Murray Dance Studio opened Monday. And Sola Salon Studios will open in the village in July. ... Drop-in child care center RightTime KiDS will open this summer in Wake Forest at the Gateway Commons Shopping Center off the N.C. 98 bypass.