You know that feeling when you walk into a store just to "look around" and end up leaving with a weighted blanket, three bags of freeze-dried candy, and a Bluetooth speaker you definitely didn't need? That is the quintessential experience at Five Below in Fayetteville NC. It’s chaotic. It’s loud. Honestly, it’s one of the few places left where a twenty-dollar bill still makes you feel like royalty.
Fayetteville isn't exactly hurting for shopping options, but Five Below has carved out a weirdly specific niche here. It’s the bridge between a traditional dollar store and a big-box retailer like Target. While most people think of it as a place for pre-teens to blow their allowance on squishies, there’s actually a lot more happening behind those bright blue sliding doors, especially if you’re a local looking to save a few bucks on tech or home decor.
The Layout of Five Below in Fayetteville NC
If you’re looking for a Five Below in Fayetteville NC, you’ve basically got two main hubs to choose from. You’ve got the location over at Cross Creek Commons on Skibo Road, and then there’s the one in the Tallywood Shopping Center off Raeford Road.
The Skibo Road location is usually the "main" one people think of. It’s right in the heart of the city’s busiest commercial corridor. Traffic there is, frankly, a nightmare on Saturday afternoons. If you’ve lived in Fayetteville for more than twenty minutes, you already know that Skibo is where sanity goes to die between 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM. But, because it’s in such a high-traffic area, that store often gets the newest shipments first. If a specific "Five Beyond" item—those are the products that cost $6 to $25—goes viral on TikTok, Skibo is your best bet to find it before it vanishes.
The Tallywood location feels a bit more "neighborhood-ish." It’s generally cleaner and slightly less picked-over than the Skibo spot. If you’re trying to avoid the mall-adjacent madness, head to Raeford Road. It’s tucked in with an AMC theater and a Publix, making it a much more relaxed vibe for a quick run.
What actually makes the "Five Beyond" section different?
For years, the brand's whole identity was built on nothing being over five dollars. Then inflation hit, and they introduced "Five Beyond." It’s basically a store-within-a-store. In the Fayetteville locations, you’ll usually find this section toward the back or along one of the side walls.
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This is where you’ll find the $8 yoga mats, the $15 gaming headsets, and the $20 pet beds. Some people think it’s a rip-off because it breaks the "five dollar" promise, but if you compare a $10 Five Below room heater to a $35 one at a department store, the math still checks out.
Tech and Gaming: Hidden Gems or Total Junk?
Let’s be real. You aren't buying a professional-grade mechanical keyboard here. However, for the average person in Fayetteville—maybe a student at Fayetteville Tech or a soldier at Fort Liberty looking for cheap gear for the barracks—the tech section is surprisingly decent.
I’ve seen people scoff at the $5 charging cables. Don't. They work fine for a guest bedroom or a car charger. They also carry a brand called Buqu and their own in-house tech labels. The Bluetooth speakers are surprisingly loud, though the bass is usually pretty thin. It’s the kind of stuff you buy for a beach trip to Carolina Beach where you won't care if it gets full of sand.
They also lean heavily into gaming. You’ll find PC gaming mice, oversized mousepads, and even LED light strips to "gamer-fy" a bedroom. They’ve recently started stocking actual licensed merchandise too—think Marvel, Disney, and Hello Kitty. That’s a big draw for the Fayetteville crowd, especially during the holidays when you need stocking stuffers that don't look like they came from a literal bin.
The Local Shopper’s Strategy
Shopping at Five Below in Fayetteville NC requires a bit of a strategy if you want the good stuff.
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New inventory typically rolls out on Sundays or Mondays. If you go on a Friday night, the shelves often look like a hurricane passed through. The "Five Below" crew does their best, but with the sheer volume of kids and teenagers that swarm these stores after school, the organization can get a little loose.
Seasonal rotations are fast
Five Below doesn't linger on seasons. They are ruthless. You’ll see pool floats in February and Christmas tinsel in September. In Fayetteville, where the weather stays warm well into October, the summer clearance is a goldmine. I once found high-quality beach chairs marked down to $3 because the store was desperate to make room for Halloween candy.
Speaking of candy, the "bulk" section is a major draw. They have the stuff you can’t find at Food Lion or Harris Teeter—weird Japanese snacks, nostalgic 90s candy, and those giant boxes of theater candy that cost twice as much at the actual cinema down the street.
Is it Actually Quality?
It depends on what you're buying.
- Avoid: The extremely cheap makeup if you have sensitive skin. It’s fine for play-makeup for a seven-year-old, but maybe not for your daily routine.
- Buy: The cotton t-shirts. They are often $5 and feature legit graphics from bands or movies. They hold up surprisingly well in the wash.
- Avoid: High-stress fitness equipment. A $5 resistance band is great. A $5 set of weights? The grip might be uncomfortable or the plastic might crack.
- Buy: Storage bins. The fabric cubes at Five Below are identical to the ones you pay $10 for at other stores.
Why Fayetteville Loves This Store
Fayetteville is a town that appreciates a bargain. Between the military population and the college students, there’s a massive demographic of people who need to stretch a paycheck. Five Below fills the gap between "I need this to be cheap" and "I want this to look cool."
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It’s also become a "destination" store. People don't just go to Five Below because they need a specific item; they go for the "treasure hunt" aspect. You never really know if you’re going to find a licensed squishmallow or a surprisingly heavy-duty phone tripod.
Location Specifics
| Feature | Skibo Road Location | Raeford Road (Tallywood) |
|---|---|---|
| Crowd Level | High (especially weekends) | Moderate |
| Parking | Tight, shared with many shops | Ample, easy access |
| Stock Variety | Heaviest on new trends | Better for home & snacks |
| Nearby Eats | Everything imaginable | Publix, local spots |
Common Misconceptions
One thing people get wrong about Five Below in Fayetteville NC is assuming everything is low quality because of the price point. That’s not necessarily true anymore. They’ve shifted their business model to focus on "high-value" items produced at scale.
The "Five Beyond" brand has allowed them to stock items that are genuinely durable. For example, their room decor—pillows, small rugs, and lamps—actually looks like it could come from an Urban Outfitters catalog if you squint a little. It’s a favorite for Fayetteville renters who want to spruce up an apartment without losing their security deposit on expensive furniture.
Another misconception is that it’s just for kids. Walk in on a Tuesday morning and you’ll see plenty of adults buying office supplies, cleaning gadgets, and pet toys. Their pet section is actually a sleeper hit; the dog toys are usually $5 and last just as long as the $15 ones from the big pet chains.
What to Do Before You Go
Before you head out to either the Skibo or Raeford Road locations, check the Five Below app. I know, nobody wants another app on their phone. But, it lets you see if specific "High Value" items are in stock at your local Fayetteville store. There is nothing worse than driving through Skibo Road traffic for a specific weighted hula hoop only to find the shelf empty.
Also, keep an eye on the "New & Now" section near the front of the store. This is where they put the absolute hottest items. If you see something you like there, grab it. At these price points, items rarely stay in stock for more than 48 hours.
Next Steps for Your Shopping Trip:
- Check the Tallywood location first if you want a quieter shopping experience and better chances of finding organized shelves.
- Target the "Five Beyond" section specifically for tech accessories like headphones or USB-C hubs, as these offer the most significant price-to-value savings compared to nearby big-box retailers.
- Inspect the packaging on any electronics before you leave the store; because these items are handled frequently by shoppers, make sure the seals are intact to ensure you aren't getting a returned item.
- Visit mid-week (Tuesday or Wednesday) to avoid the heavy weekend crowds and catch the shelves right after the Monday restock.